News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

FELA's J.L. Williams Returns to Riverdance's 20th Anniversary Tour

By: Sep. 29, 2016
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Riverdance - the Anniversary Tour returns to the USA from January to June 2017. J.L. Williams rejoins the ongoing 20th Anniversary tour and will be featured for the first time as the "Baritone Soloist" who sings "Freedom/Heal Their Hearts" as well as reprising his role as one of two African American tap dancers in the showstopping number "Trading Taps".

Williams made his Riverdance debut back in the fall of 2015 in Canada. He also played the northwest of America and a limited engagement in Dublin this past summer.

No stranger to Irish dance shows, Williams started his international career nearly 15 years ago with the critically acclaimed show "Magic of the Dance" where he was a co-star to Irish dance World Champions John Carey and Alan Kenefick. Williams was also apart of the Japan & North American tour of 42nd Street as Andy Lee and made his Broadway debut in 2009 with the Tony Award winning show "FELA!" Williams has also been featured in television on "The Gregory Hines Show" in 1998 and "Strong Medicine" in 2001. Williams film debut came in 2012 in the NetFlix film "Freedom" starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

In recent times, Williams has switched entertainment hats by establishing his Production Company Tap Soul Productions (www.tapsoulpro.com) in September of 2012. Tap Soul Productions has produced several concerts including "What's going on with Jarran Muse?" and most noted two Off-Broadway productions entitled "Show me the TAP... Show me the SOUL!" at the Hudson Guild Theatre and " The JL Show" at the 777 Theatre. Williams also released a music single EP entitled "Crazy".

JL Williams states " It is a pleasure and safe working experience being with the RiverDance Company and is extremely excited to rejoin the anniversary tour in a new role."

For the tour schedule, ticket information, and ticket purchases go to the Riverdance official website www.riverdance.com.

Pictured: Jarran Muse, (Marvin Gaye in Motown), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Tony winner) and JL Williams (FELA) at the Closing of "Show Me the Tap... Show Me the Soul!. Photo by Rose Billings.







Videos