Zelig Williams is now getting a chance to live his dream of performing in theater as he joins the cast of Hamilton on Broadway.

The Pace junior has loved theater since his childhood and it spawned after his fourth grade role as the Mayor of Munchkin City in The Wizard of Oz.

His love for the art only grew stronger in high school.

“[The thing I get out of performing the most] is the joy it brings me,” Williams said. “I love being on stage and seeing people smile in the audience. That makes my heart happy, and it’s like I’m doing something to make their lives better and I’m telling them a story that could eventually help them keep working towards what they want to do, and staying strong when things get weary, especially with Hamilton.”

Williams then attended the South Strutt dance studio where he met his mentor actress Mandy Moore.

“Moore taught me ever since I was a little nugget. She did musical theater pieces at my studio when I was younger,” Williams said. “I started dancing at the studio when I was around 12 and I didn’t know anything about the dance world. So the first thing she said to be was ‘spit your gum out.'”

Pace has also had a major role in molding him as an actor and teaching him the ways of the industry.

“Pace has made me the dancer I am right now,” said Williams, who’s a Commercial Dance major. “Especially from all the teachers that come and teach us, how to produce ourselves to others, and make connections with different people. And little things like paying your dresser, as well as things like learning your body and learning what helps you stay in this business as long as you possibly can.”

Williams auditioned for Hamilton during his freshman year, but his schedule was too packed to perform then. He auditioned again as a sophomore before finally getting the role for his junior year.

“I waited five months to hear back from them and I didn’t hear anything so I thought they didn’t need me,” Williams said. “I was in Long Beach, Calif. when I got a call from them asking me to come back and audition. So I came back in and sung for them, and from there a day after they told me they needed me to be a part of their show. It was pretty crazy and unexpected.”

Williams plays Man-Four, who is part of the ensemble; his character is used to show emotions from each of the other characters during the play.

“My character is every emotion from each character, so it’s not like I’m just one specific thing throughout the show,” Williams said. “We show that through different pieces and the songs we sing.”

The actor finds his role demanding because he is in approximately 95 percent of the 2 hours and 45 min show and performs eight shows a week. Williams said that since Hamilton is a group orientated play he had to learn all the songs to support his fellow actors.

“It took me a week and a few days to learn everything, it was a lot, it was the whole show,” Williams said.

Williams encourages people to never give up on their dreams and to keep God in their lives.

“I’ve held onto God and trusted in him, and he’s given me something that I’ve dreamed of,” Williams said.