 Photo by Dan Demetriad
|
| Elizabeth Williams-Grayson, soprano and actress, has enjoyed a professional career in musical theatre, opera, classical/pops concert stage, and television. Her versatility in singing and acting has allowed her to play roles such as Eliza in “My Fair Lady”, Laurie in “Oklahoma”, Maria in “The Sound Of Music”, and Marsinah in “Kismet”, to name a few. Her most memorable role was starring as Guenevere opposite Richard Harris as King Arthur, in the Broadway Nat’l tour of “Camelot”. Reviewers said, “Elizabeth is a beautiful Guenevere in face, figure and vocal ability. Her singing reminds one of the young Julie Andrews.” The Pittsburgh Press said, “She is one of the few opera-trained voices one hears these days in musical theatre. The voice was velvety and rich-sounding.” Elizabeth debuted with the Opera Co. of North Carolina in 2005 as Valencienne in “The Merry Widow”. The News and Observer noted, her “clear, easily produced soprano that soared through the lilting music.” She also covered the role of Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni” in 2006. In 2007, she performed the role of Musetta in OCNC’s “La Boheme”, “A world class production with an outstanding cast”, as quoted from Classical Voice of North Carolina reviewer. In 2006, Elizabeth made her debut with Greensboro Opera as Kate Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly”. Other operatic credits include Jackie Kennedy Onassis in Michael Daugherty’s “Jackie O” (2003) and Ariel in Lee Hoiby’s “The Tempest” (2004), with Long Leaf Opera in Chapel Hill. Elizabeth also was privileged to perform the Southern Premiere of American opera composer Jake Heggie’s “At the Statue of Venus”, with Jake accompanying at the piano. The 22-minute opera scene for soprano and piano was performed at the 2007 Long Leaf Opera Summer Festival in UNC-Memorial Hall. On the concert stage, Elizabeth has performed as soprano soloist with the Milwaukee “Music Under The Stars” Symphony in Washington Park singing Italian and French operatic excerpts from “Madama Butterfly”, “Rigoletto”, “Il Barbiere Di Siviglia”, “Faust”, “Romeo and Juliette”, and “Lakme”, along with Broadway Hits. She has also sung as soprano soloist with the Durham Choral Society and the North Carolina Symphony performing Haydn’s “Mass In Time Of War” and Vaughn-Williams “Dona Nobis Pacem”. Other performances include a “Holiday Pops” concert with the Asheville Symphony and Handel’s “Messiah” as soprano soloist with the Greensboro Oratorio Society and Symphony. When not on stage, Elizabeth enjoys acting in film and regional TV commercials and print work. Upcoming performances 2007-2008: Debut with Augusta Opera as Guenevere in “Camelot”, Countess Ceprano/Gilda cover in Greensboro Opera’s “Rigoletto”, and Soprano Soloist in a “Holiday Pops” concert with the Fayetteville Symphony. Also, Soprano soloist in Carmina Burana at UNC- Memorial Hall. Elizabeth presently lives in Durham, NC, with her husband, Arthur(Owner/Chef –Grayson’s Café) and their two daughters, Stephanie and Juliana. |
