A show business triple threat starring in a touring production of a Tony Award-winning musical, Kristen Beth Williams is a long way from her humble beginnings in Dallas. But she’s got a mighty trip ahead of her.
When Williams was nine, she saw her first show: Cats at the Music Hall at Fair Park. She was hooked. She went to theater camp, starred in summer productions, and toted her talents along with her to high school. It wasn’t long before she went to the big stage, from Dallas Summer Musicals to Broadway.
Williams has her BFA from the University of Oklahoma and fine-tuned her acting chops with roles in Pippin, Anything Goes, and Promises, Promises, to name just a few. She even made it to London’s famous West End to play Dale Tremont in Top Hat.
She’s been on several national tours, for White Christmas and The 101 Dalmatians Musical, but Williams says none have been as big as her current tour with A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which is at the Winspear from Aug. 16-28. The show won Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Book, and Best Musical in 2014.
The hero of Love and Murder is Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey), a man who finds out he’s heir to a fortune, and thereby a title and a whole lot of power. The problem is that he isn’t next in line, but rather, eight victims — relatives, that is — are ahead of him. Navarro plans to kill his way to the top and win the heart of his mistress Sibella Hallward, played by Williams.
While Williams can dance, act, and sing, Hallward is a different kind of threat.
“She is self-centered, greedy, thinks very highly of herself, and likes to toy with the affections of Monty,” she says.
Williams isn’t anything like her character, but she relishes tapping into the conniving aspects of Hallward.
“I love playing her. She’s a delicious character,” Williams says. “She has so many layers that I get to play with every night. It’s a dream role.”
She loves it so much that she ended up signing on until the production finishes its tour. Love and Murder will play around the country until March 2017, when the 20-month endeavor comes to an end. Touring takes a massive toll, but Williams says that even though her whole life is boiled down to two suitcases and a trunk, the people she travels with make it worthwhile.
“We’re not a large company. There’s only 38 total people that we travel with, including crew, management, and musicians,” Williams explains. “We’re a very small, tight-knit group, and for all of us to sign on and stick with each other after a year on tour is pretty phenomenal.”
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is at the Winspear Opera House from Aug. 16-28.
When Williams was nine, she saw her first show: Cats at the Music Hall at Fair Park. She was hooked. She went to theater camp, starred in summer productions, and toted her talents along with her to high school. It wasn’t long before she went to the big stage, from Dallas Summer Musicals to Broadway.
Williams has her BFA from the University of Oklahoma and fine-tuned her acting chops with roles in Pippin, Anything Goes, and Promises, Promises, to name just a few. She even made it to London’s famous West End to play Dale Tremont in Top Hat.
She’s been on several national tours, for White Christmas and The 101 Dalmatians Musical, but Williams says none have been as big as her current tour with A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which is at the Winspear from Aug. 16-28. The show won Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Book, and Best Musical in 2014.
The hero of Love and Murder is Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey), a man who finds out he’s heir to a fortune, and thereby a title and a whole lot of power. The problem is that he isn’t next in line, but rather, eight victims — relatives, that is — are ahead of him. Navarro plans to kill his way to the top and win the heart of his mistress Sibella Hallward, played by Williams.
While Williams can dance, act, and sing, Hallward is a different kind of threat.
“She is self-centered, greedy, thinks very highly of herself, and likes to toy with the affections of Monty,” she says.
Williams isn’t anything like her character, but she relishes tapping into the conniving aspects of Hallward.
“I love playing her. She’s a delicious character,” Williams says. “She has so many layers that I get to play with every night. It’s a dream role.”
She loves it so much that she ended up signing on until the production finishes its tour. Love and Murder will play around the country until March 2017, when the 20-month endeavor comes to an end. Touring takes a massive toll, but Williams says that even though her whole life is boiled down to two suitcases and a trunk, the people she travels with make it worthwhile.
“We’re not a large company. There’s only 38 total people that we travel with, including crew, management, and musicians,” Williams explains. “We’re a very small, tight-knit group, and for all of us to sign on and stick with each other after a year on tour is pretty phenomenal.”
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is at the Winspear Opera House from Aug. 16-28.
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