Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.Nolan Williams, Jr.Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.Nolan Williams, Jr.Nolan Williams, Jr.
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PRESS ROOM

Scarlet & Grey

An interview with Nolan Williams, Jr. (St. John's College High School Alumni Magazine, pub. February 19, 2025)

Eagle News Online

Event at Le Moyne honors Black filmmakers (February 23, 2025)


The Daily Orange

SIFF's Honoring Outstanding Black Filmmakers Amplifies Black Creativity (February 5, 2025)

The Eagle Online

Kennedy Center hosts 21st annual 'Let Freedom Ring' concert (January 31, 2025)

NBC-4

Celebrations in honor of MLK Day happening in DC (January 14, 2025)

WORD IN BLACK

OP-ED: Our Union May Be Imperfect, But it’s Worth Fighting For (October 22, 2024)

BLACK AMERICA WEB

Vote 2024: Inside Freedom Advances' "Rise Up & Fight" Campaign (November 2, 2024)

iHEART RADIO

Podcast Interview with Nolan Williams, Jr. (October 31, 2024)

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER

https://spokesman-recorder.com/2024/11/06/rise-up-fight-imperfect-union/

NBC-4

Election Day… in the DC Area (October 29, 2024)

NEWSBREAK

NEWorks Productions’ ‘Freedom Advances’ Campaign Uses Art to Rally Voters for 2024 U.S. Election (October 25, 2024) 

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

OP-ED: Freedom Summer 60 years later: Rise Up & Fight (October 22, 2024)

BROADWAY WORLD

Video: Christopher Jackson, John Riddle & More Join 'Freedom Advances' Campaign (October 21, 2024)

HEAD2TOE MAGAZINE

NEWorks Productions is Using Creative Arts to Encourage Voters through the 'Freedom Advances' Campaign! (October 18, 2024) 

STYLE WEEKLY

STREET TALK: Democracy Remix (October 15, 2024) 

11 ALIVE: ATL & CO

Nolan Williams, Jr. discusses FREEDOM ADVANCES campaign (October 14, 2024) 

THE ZEBRA

An Interview with Nolan Williams, Jr.—Composer, Producer, Lyricist, Playwright, and Cultural Curator (October 8, 2024) 

WHISK & QUILL

An Interview with Nolan Williams, Jr. (October 6, 2024)


NBC-4

Composer Nolan Williams Jr.'s new civic anthem is a call to vote (September 25, 2024)

WUSA-9

Freedom Advances Initiative (September 25, 2024)

OPERABASE

Symphonic Gospel Celebration and Praise | London Symphony Orchestra

THE CHAUTAUQUAN DAILY

Multi-hyphenate creative Nolan Williams Jr. closes AAHH series (August 21, 2024)

ADVENTIST REVIEW

Stroke Rehabilitation Program Supports Survivors through Music-making (July 4, 2024)

DC THEATER ARTS

Jonathan McCrory on ‘The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout,’ a safe space for healing from social unrest (May 9, 2024)


BROADWAY WORLD

The Kennedy Center and the National Black Theatre to Present A COLLECTIVE SONIC RING SHOUT (April 18, 2024)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Local, Federal Leaders Highlight Democracy at Emancipation Day Luncheon (April 17, 2024)

KENNEDY CENTER MAGAZINE

Let Freedom Ring (January-February 2024)

THE ZEBRA

Kennedy Center to Celebrate MLK, Jr.'s Legacy with Headliners (January 11, 2024) 


ACROSS THE ARTS

Washington Douglass Chorale inaugural concert leads list of top ten classical music performances of 2023. (January 1, 2024)

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Georgetown University present the Let Freedom Ring Celebration (December 12, 2023)

THE WASHINGTON POST

Performance Review: What choir is this? D.C. meets the Washington Douglass Chorale. (December 5, 2023)

WUSA-9

The Washington Douglass Chorale reflects the rich diversity of the region's population. (November 30. 2023)

MD THEATRE GUIDE

Theatre Review: 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill' at Baltimore Center Stage (September 24, 2023)

Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine

Bringing Broadway To Dr. Phillips: "Grace" Was Here (July 7, 2023) 

Orlando Sentinel

Dr. Phillips Center helps develop new musical ‘Grace,’ focused on Black family  and culture (June 21, 2023)

Broadway World

Broadway-Aimed Musical GRACE Continues Development in Orlando (May 26, 2023) 

EIN Presswire

Luminary DC Conductors Scott Tucker and Nolan Williams, Jr. join forces to form the Washington Douglass Chorale (May 9, 2023)

ABC-8 News

Meet the Artistic Directors of the Newly-Formed Washington Douglass Chorale (May 9, 2023)


American University

DC History Center Exhibit Features American University Student Photography (April 27, 2023)    

The Washington Informer

Exhibition Observes 50 Years of DC, with Home Rule (April 12, 2023)

Broadway World

Dr Phillips Center Welcomed 15000 Middle Schoolers For 6th & Jazz Program (February 24, 2023)

The Washington Informer

'Grace' the Musical, an Award Winner (February 8, 2023)

Broadway World

Winners Announced For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Washington, DC Awards (January 27, 2023)

WUSA-9

What's a product or service you'd like to show.

The Washington Informer

A Grand Return for 'Let Freedom Ring' (January 18, 2023)

The Washington Informer

Return of MLK Tribute 'Let Freedom Ring' at the Kennedy Center (January 11, 2023)

(Photo credit: Jermoni Dowd - Courtesy of NEWorks Productions)

Broadway World

Nolan Williams, Jr. Presents First-Ever Grace Awards During Kennedy Center Colloquium Celebrating African American Foodways (July 19, 2022)

(Photo credit: Marvin Joseph)

Broadway World

Nolan Williams, Jr. Presents First Kennedy Center Colloquium Celebrating African American Foodways (July 8, 2022)

Positively Gospel

Nolan Williams, Jr. captures seven Telly Awards (June 11, 2022)

News Features

NBC4-Washington recently released this news feature on Nolan (May 20, 2022)

The Washington Post

'An African American Requiem' turns national grief into powerful music (May 24, 2022)

Playbill.com

Get a First Look at New Musical Grace Making Its World Premiere at Ford's Theatre (April 7, 2022)

District Fray Magazine

"Grace" How Sweet the Sound at Ford's Theatre (March 23, 2022)

Broadway World

BWW Exclusive: First Look at the World Premiere of GRACE | March 21, 2022 

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

New musical ‘Grace’ at Ford’s to celebrate African American food and family (February 3, 2022)

Playbill.com

Playwright Nikkole Salter Joins Nolan Williams, Jr. as Co-Book Writer for Grace (January 27, 2022)

Variety.com

  'Grace' Musical To Hold Industry Readings Before Worldwide Premiere (July 12, 2021) 

Washington Informer

Tribute Concert to Dr. King, ‘Living the Dream …’ Coming to Kennedy Center - Performance to Feature Local Choirs and Newly Commissioned Work by Nolan Williams | April 6, 2022

Washington Informer

MLK’s Ideas Celebrated in ‘Living the Dream’ Tribute at Kennedy Center | April 14, 2022

Washingtonian

How DC Nourished a New Musical About Black Food Traditions | April 19, 2022

Nolan's 2022 appearance on The Donnie Simpson Show discussing his musical, GRACE

Check out these reviews of GRACE, the MUSICAL...

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

David Friscic, BroadwayWorld

READ REVIEW

"...a knockout of a musical"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

Andre Hereford, MetroWeekly

READ REVIEW

"...unstoppably entertaining"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

Gregory Ford, D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

READ REVIEW

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

Jordan Wright, The Zebra Press

READ REVIEW

"...a delectable delight"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

Gail Choochan, The Free Lance-Star

READ REVIEW

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

Brenda Siler, The Washington Informer

READ REVIEW

MORE NEWS FEATURES

Reuters

Yahoo! Entertainment

Playbill.com

The show must go on: Broadway comes back with new investors, bold plans (August 18, 2021)

Playbill.com

Yahoo! Entertainment

Playbill.com

In the News... New Musical Grace Will Have Two Industry Presentations in August (July 13, 2021)

Yahoo! Entertainment

Yahoo! Entertainment

Yahoo! Entertainment

‘Grace,’ Musical About Gentrification, Preparing For Worldwide Debut With Industry Readings (July 12, 2021)

BroadwayWorld.com

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

Yahoo! Entertainment

 Ford's Theatre 2021-2022 In-Person Season & On-Sale Dates Announced (June 22, 2021)

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

New musical by DC composer 'Grace' coming to the Ford's Theatre (June 9, 2021)

Washingtonian

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

Let's Talk D.C. WJLA-ABC 7

DC Theater Reopenings: What We Know So Far (May 21, 2021)

WTOP Radio

Washingtonian Magazine

Ford’s Theatre plans world premiere of Black culinary musical for Spring 2022 (May 18, 2021) 

Washingtonian Magazine

Washingtonian Magazine

A DC Composer Will Debut a Musical About African American Food Traditions at Ford's Theatre (May 6, 2021) 

The Washington Informer

 Why D.C. Statehood? The Real Story (April 28, 2021)

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

 New Musical GRACE to Have World Premiere at Ford's Theatre in Spring 2022 (April 21, 2021) 

Playbill.com

BroadwayWorld.com

Playbill.com

 Nolan Williams Jr. Explores the Intersection of African American Food Traditions and Theatre in GRACE (April 20, 2021)

HUR@HOME INSPIRATION

Check out Nolan's virtual chat with Jacquie Gales Webb to learn more about his inspiration for GRACE and other career highlights. 

ARCHIVAL FEATURES

CNN.com

America's first woman billionaire is promoting diversity in the arts as well as the c-suite (April 6, 2021)

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

Composer Nolan Williams Jr. Partners with EatOkra for Apple Guide for New Musical GRACE (March 5, 2021)

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

VIDEO: Signature Theatre Releases 10th Episode of The Signature Show (March 2, 2021)

BroadwayWorld.com

BroadwayWorld.com

Philadelphia Inquirer

 AKA NYC Announces Inaugural Projects For The Black Producer 500 Hours Initiative (March 2, 2021) 

Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Inquirer

Composer Nolan Williams Jr. shares his favorite Black-owned restaurants in the Philadelphia area (February 26, 2021)

USA Today

Philadelphia Inquirer

USA Today

"To help heal racial wounds, Black national anthem would become America's hymn under proposal" (January 12, 2021)

BBC World Service News Day

"American composer Nolan Williams, Jr. speaks about his voting anthem" (November 3, 2020) 

CNN.com

"Black Americans are fired up and flocking to the polls" (October 27, 2020) 

U.S. News & World Report

"Celebrities unite to various get-out-the-vote efforts" (October 22, 2020)

Associated Press (AP)

"Celebrities unite to various get-out-the-vote efforts" (October 22, 2020)

Atlanta Voice

"#Election2020: 10 leading Black newspapers join forces to host 'Voting With Purpose' live event" (October 18, 2020)

Playbill.com

"In the News: Billy Porter, Christopher Jackson Featured in 'I Have a Right to Vote' Video..." (September 25, 2020)

WURD Radio

"Star Studded Music Video Highlights Voting Rights" (September 18, 2020)

WUSA-9 (CBS)

"D.C. composer Nolan Williams Jr. presents the star-studded 'I Have A Right To Vote' video | Most D.C. Thing" (September 4, 2020)

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

"Get out the vote. Share this vid." (August 22, 2020)

BroadwayWorld.com

"I Have A Right To Vote Launches National Voter Awareness Effort" (August 17, 2020)

Harlem World Magazine

"Billy Porter And Others At Star-Studded Voting Anthem And Voter Awareness Effort" (August 17, 2020)

NBC-4

2019 March On Washington Film Festival (February 11, 2020)

VIDEOS

WKLA-4 Detroit, MI

Decision 2020 segment featuring 103-year-old activist Talu Massey (October 21, 2020)

Fox 5 Washington D.C.  

'I have a right to vote' composer (August 30, 2020) 

WUSA-9 Washington, D.C.

"D.C. composer delivers strong voting rights message in a new star-studded music video" (August 30, 2020)

FOX 5 D.C. 

Nolan and Chef Carla Hall, culinary ambassador of GRACE, dish with FOX 5 about the new musical - FOX 5 D.C. (May 28, 2020) 

MORE ARCHIVAL FEATURES

The Washington Post Magazine

The Washington Post Magazine

The Washington Post Magazine

"I want to spend the rest of my days exploring music and the arts in ways  that bridge communities and that speak inconvenient truths and that  challenge and press us towards being our better selves — as individuals, as communities, as a nation."



READ ARTICLE

The Washington Post

The Washington Post Magazine

The Washington Post Magazine

GRACE, centered on the history and legacy of African American food traditions [is] the fourth musical created by Williams, who grew up in the District and has pursued an eclectic career...






READ ARTICLE

The Georgetown Voice

The Washington Post Magazine

The Georgetown Voice

Williams, the [Let Freedom Ring]  celebration’s musical director for the past 17 years, ...[announced] his STIRRING THE WATERS ACROSS AMERICA tour, a Civil Rights-themed production... The night ended with [a] ...musical tribute featuring... 10-time-Grammy-winner Chaka Khan.

READ ARTICLE

Leo Weekly

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

The Georgetown Voice

“[GRACE] was inspired when I started looking at food traditions, the way those traditions shape family and community and the way persons who migrated from enslavement in the South made their way north and discovered that their food was an economic commodity. ...I’m fascinated by that history...” 

READ ARTICLE

The Washington Post

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

[Williams has had] an eclectic career of scoring and producing music for television, editing hymnals, programming for diplomatic and cultural institutions, conducting orchestras and choruses... and composing and arranging.




READ ARTICLE

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

 Electrifying. Awakening. These are words to describe the heart-rending workshop presentation of STIRRING THE WATERS ACROSS AMERICA performed at Studio K at The REACH. To call it anything less would be just plain wrong.




READ ARTICLE

Courier Journal

Washingtonian Magazine

Washingtonian Magazine

The annual festival, the nation’s leading incubator for new play development, is a longstanding cultural highlight for theatre lovers, artists and producers from across the country.


READ ARTICLE

Washingtonian Magazine

Washingtonian Magazine

Washingtonian Magazine

 Williams has channeled [his] varied passions into a catalogue that spans genres...





READ ARTICLE

Broadway World.com

Washingtonian Magazine

The Philadelphia Inquirer

A powerful new musical premiered in a staged reading by composer/ playwright Nolan Williams, Jr., September 25 in Washington, DC...

DEVINE HAMER GRAY


READ ARTICLE

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Community Mass is Williams’ baby, a multi-composer work that uses the Bernstein Mass as its general inspiration. It was impressive a few months ago at  Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church. And here, sporting new orchestrations by Williams, ...[it] had even greater impact.  

READ ARTICLE

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The focus is on Leonard Bernstein and his "advocacy for social justice,  particularly the way in which he leveraged the platforms that he had in  order to extend opportunities to a diverse group of artists..."  




READ ARTICLE

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philly astronaut Bluford gets his props at the Mann - and a soaring orchestral number in his honor...


Williams has a musical language all his own. It brims with vernacular American optimism.



READ ARTICLE

Like so many artists around the globe, Nolan's work has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Nolan had the opportunity to share his candid thoughts with Michael Brodeur, classical music critic for The Washington Post. Here's a link to the article, published on April 9, 2020.

READ ARTICLE

Copyright © 2021, Nolan Williams, Jr. 

All Rights Reserved.

COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marvin Joseph 

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