Vanessa Williams Talks Sunday Matinee Routine

Vanessa Williams recently spoke with The New York Times and discussed her daily pre-show rituals. Williams is currently starring in the Broadway production SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, set to begin performances April 22nd.

For Sunday performances, Williams said she regularly attends church before heading to the theatre. "Since Sunday is a matinee day for me for the time being, I wake up by 8:30 and get the kids awake and dressed - no denim - so that we can leave for church by 10. No breakfast, no coffee: church comes first. We usually go to the 10:30 Mass at the Church of Saint John and Saint Mary. I'm in the adult choir and Sasha is in the children's choir, and sometimes we get to sing together. For Easter Sunday I sang a solo in 'Rise Again.'"

Following the performance, Williams said she enjoys heading into the city to meet her family for dinner. "The matinee finishes around 5; so I go back upstairs to my dressing room on the top floor, take off the wig, and then walk back down the 42 stairs to the lobby. That's my little workout, walking up and down all those stairs. I'll either drive home or meet the kids in New York for dinner; I have an apartment on the West Side, and they just opened a restaurant in the building, so I might go there for a glass of wine and a quick bite."

To read the full article from The New York Times, click here.

Sondheim on Sondheim opens officially on April 22nd, 2010 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement through Sunday, June 13th, 2010.

Sondheim brought us Into The Woods, Company, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, West Side Story and Gypsy (to name a few). By writing songs that reflect the complexity of his characters, he has changed the way we define a great musical. But even though millions of fans know his songs by heart, few know much about Stephen Sondheim himself. Until now. Roundabout presents Sondheim On Sondheim, an intimate portrait of the famed composer in his own words and music. Through the use of exclusive interview footage, you'll get an inside look at Sondheim's personal life and artistic process. An ensemble cast of Broadway's best will perform brand-new arrangements of over two dozen Sondheim tunes, ranging from the beloved to the obscure. Directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, this unique experience will take you inside the life and mind of an ordinary New Yorker... with an extraordinary talent.

Sondheim on Sondheim creative team includes David Loud (Music Direction & Arrangements) and Dan Knechtges (Musical Staging). The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (Sets), Susan Hilferty (Costumes), Ken Billington (Lights), Dan Moses Schreier (Sound) and Peter Flaherty (Projections).

Tickets are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212)719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the Studio 54 Box Office (254 West 54th Street). To become a Roundabout subscriber visit www.roundabouttheatre.org or call Roundabout Ticket Services (212)719-1300. Ticket prices range from $36.50-$126.50.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride