“It was the people that invested in my talent and motivated me to chase after my dreams. The opportunity to work in various shows added to my love of musical theater and performing. The experiences that Southern Mississippi afforded me played a pivotal part in my journey to Broadway.”
ALUMNA
Nikisha WIlliams
ADVICE “Do not compare yourself to other people’s talent or their journey. Everyone is different and there are many factors that play a part in getting certain roles or jobs. Focus on yourself and highlight your strengths wherever you go.” “Don’t neglect the power of creating art with friends. You can learn so much from anything that you do. Continue to study and always remember that you can grow and become better at your craft.” “Most importantly, your career does not define you. Take the time to find other things that make you happy and feed your soul so that you will always stay grounded in your truest self.”
“Being a part of Southern Miss programs gave me the knowledge and preparation needed to pursue my professional career. The choral department gave me the opportunity to perform at festivals, conferences and venues outside of the country including Italy, Romania, and Jamaica.”
ABOUT Nikisha Williams, a native of Mobile, Alabama, got her start in music playing piano and alto saxophone, but found her way to singing, specifically, musical theater. Her first show, Little Shop of Horrors, became the catalyst to pursuing a degree in music at The University of Southern Mississippi. There, she performed in the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s production of Sweeney Todd. After graduation, she headed the choral department at White Station High School before moving to New York City where she booked her first national tour as a swing in The Color Purple. From there, she became part of the Philip Touring Company of Hamilton: An American Musical, as an ensemblist and understudying all of the Schuyler Sisters. The connections made while moving to New York has afforded Nikisha the opportunity to perform with musical theater stars such as Jeremy Jordan, Shoshana Bean, Natalie Wiess, Titus Burgess, and André De Shields to name a few. Her most recent credit includes singing in Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical with Wayne Brady and Kevin Chamberlin.