UPSCALE (March 1995)

The Sweetest Days of

VANESSA
Williams

by Sherri A. Mc Gee

The Broadhurst theater in New York City is packed on this chilly winter evening just before curtain call. A quiet hum of anticipation fills the theater as people find seats und read their programs.

In a short time, they'll be enjoying a two-and-a-half hour odyssey into the most exciting, and some say, the most intelligent show to hit the Broadway stage this season. "Kiss of the Spider Woman," starring Vanessa Williams, is enjoying tremendous success thanks to the dawning of its newest star.

Williams is making her, at-long-last, Broadway debut in "Kiss," and is receiving thunderous applause for her dual roles as the alluring movie goddess Aurora, and the lethal Spider Woman.

Since June 1994, when Williams took over the role, she has succeeded in elevating the seven-time Tony Award winning musical to new heights. She consistently sells out the house, night after night. And it's evident from the wild response from this evening's crowd, they love her performance, und they love her too. So do the critics. Whether singing an elegant solo or getting downright funky and feisty in a dance number reminiscent of Josephine Baker, she epitomizes the exuberance of a sex symhol. Although Williums doggedly tries to run from that image, it just won't go away. The all she gives on stage in "Kiss," including strenuous dance numbers that require harnesses to climb, is nothing short of spectacular. Considering the nearly 200 shows (of which she has not missed a single one) already under her belt, and the grueling eight-show-a-week schedule, Williums' performance is extraordinary by any performer's standard.

How does she maintain such a hectic schedule? "There are other people who depend on me, and it's my name out there above the title, so I feel I owe it to people who come to see the show to be there," she says.

In fact, David Richards, chief theater critic of the New York Times said of Williams' dazzling performances, "Whenever she's on stage, the temperature in the Broadhurst Theater shoots up about 20 degrees. The air conditioning bills are going to be hell to pay but the box office is bound to start jumping as word of her performunce gets around."

The word is that in the nine months since Williams took over from the legendary Chita Rivera, ticket sales have skyrocketed, boosting revenues by as much as $100,000 a week. The pressence of Williams in the starring role has also attracted a more diverse audience of younger theatergoers and African-Americans who now fill the majority of theater seats. This evening's performance is no exception.

Call these the sweetest days of Vanessa Williams, and you'd be right. This "sista" who prefers to give her best at all times has more than triumphed throughout every area of her multifaceted cureer, which includes stage, the silver screen and, of course a highly successful recording career.

In between rehearsals and performances for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," Williams -- songstress extraordinaire -- was equally busy recording songs for her much anticipated third album of the Wing/Mercury label titled, The Sweetest Day's. The album is a 12-track journey in which she freely swings from sultry jazz to acoustical soul to Brazilian pop. The Sweetest Day's is just that -- laid back and smooth with a universal theme of love.

It is a departure from the more uptempo dance tunes like, "The Right Stuff," "Running Buck To You" und "Work To Do" which garnered her worldwide success, and an armful of multi-plutinum und gold records, yet it's the kind of album you reach for when you're feeling mellow und want to just chill.

From the beginning interlude that starts with the wham of a guitar, to "The Way That You Love Me," a head nodder co-produced by Williams, the album is sure to have fingers snapping and folks jammin'.

There are also two selections the Latin influenced, "Betcha Never," and the mid-tempo "You Can't Run" that were produced by Grammy-award-winning producer Babyface, who wrote the two songs after catching Williams' sultry performance in "Kiss."

But why this type of album when dance music has brought her fame and fortune? Williams says, "The vibe we went for was more of an acoustic sound with plenty of guitar, simple vocal deliveries and a lot of air in the track. For this particular album, I just wanted 'me' to be revealed." She notes, "we usually recorded with lava lamps glowing, incense burning and candles flickering, creating an intimate environment that would convey that same kind of laid-back vibe." The result is a piece of work that's sure to place Williums in a whole new category.

Other highlights on Days include, "Constantly," a pretty ballad that's pure Vanessa, backed by only the strum of a guitar. "Most of the vocals were cut with just me and the guitarist, live in the same room facing each other," says the Grammy-award winner. The album also includes the cuts "Sister Moon" written by Sting, und "Ellamental" a tribute to the first lady of song, Ella Fitzgerald. There's also a remake of the Patti Austin number, "You Don't Have to Say You're Sorry."

Williams makes no apologies about her life. Born and raised in suburbun Millwood, N.Y., she had no choice but to excel in music, especially with two purents who were, und still are, music teachers. Developing a keen ear for music at an early age eventually led her to enroll at Syracuse University where she majored in musical theater.

It was in 1983, during her junior year, when 19-year-old Williums won the Miss America title; she was the first African-American to win this coveted title. However, not long after the celebrated win, nude photos of her were published in a crap mens magazine. The controversial aftermuth resulted in her resignation, but left her an even stronger and more empowered woman. Now, today, on having to still address the much asked question of how she overcame the scandal und controversy, Williams simply says, "I don't dwell on my past, I just muke sure each success is better than the next one."

Indeed. Because when officials from the Miss World Organization invited the internationally-successful Williams to serve as a judge for the Miss World Pageant in South Africa, an offer that included an all-expenses-paid safari through Africa for her and her family as a bonus, she didn't hesitate. While many in Williams position would shy away from anything to do with pageants, Williams graciously accepted. "Would you turn down an opportunity to take your family on an all-expenses-paid sojourn through Africa -- FREE? I think not," she explains.

But Williams' tenacious spirit didn't let one mistake ruin her life or her dreams. More than a decade later, she's received a slew of awurds including two NAACP Image Awards and seven Grammy Award nominations, to name a few, and she's on her way to wrapping up more.

So it's no doubt that these days are truly sweet for Williams. She is a womun who has it all. She is comfortuble with her life, happy with her cureer, at peace with herself and content with the family that she calls her strength and foundation. They include three beautiful children Melanie, 7, Jillian, 5 and Devin, 2, as well as the support and companionship of her manager/husband Ramon Hervey II, who has guided her career from the beginning.

Perhaps moving back to the East coust after living in Los Angeles was just the re-examination the family needed. The family now lives near her parents, and her children have the opportunity to lead somewhat normal existences in the "burbs". "Sometimes you need to re-exumine what's going on and make the necessary changes to correct the sitnation," she says.

And though there isn't much opportunity for downtime; no real time to just chill out and relax, Williams says her biggest joy is simply sitting down for a family dinner or washing and combing her children's hair -- that's really enough to keep her grounded.

Williams subscribes to the philosophy that there are always more mountuins to climb, always new challenges to confront. "I know there are a lot of things that I can achieve; goals are attainable things that become the next plateau," she says looking to the future.

And the future is quite bright. After her nine-month stint in "Kiss" is over, there are plans to go out on a worldwide tour to promote The Sweetest Days, as well as talk of another Broadway show with the same producers of "Kiss of the Spider Womun." She also looks forward to expanding her role to producing with an ultimate goal of handling other acts. The songbird is also working on an album featuring favorite songs and completing a children's album.

On her budding film cureer which included roles in TriStar Pictures' "Another You" (with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder) and "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" (with Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson), Williams is mulling over two upcoming film projects. Currently, she is guest hosting the weekly R&B video show, "The Soul of VH-l" for the VH-1 cable network. Williams is also hoping to do more work like the CBS movie, "Stompin' at the Savoy" und the NBC mini-series, "The Jacksons: An American Dream", which won her an NAACP Image Award.

But the essence of Williams' life is reflected quite clearly on the inside cover of her latest album, The Sweetest Days: "I would like to be witty and clever... But I'm way too tired. Tired from three beautiful children, one supportive husband, loving friends and a flourishing career that encompasses Broadway, recording and more. Be careful what you wish for because it can all come true." -- Vanessa Williams