Honoring a Legend, Mel Williams
- Jaret B Barron
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 18
Acting Coach, Artistic Director of Theater for a New Generation, 2025 Jasai Awards Honoree
When we talk about legacy, mentorship, and impact in theater, Mel Williams is a name that resonates through generations of performers, including my own experience. Four out of his 10 transformative years at The High School for Creative and Performing Arts, Mel Williams was my drama teacher, instilling lessons that went far beyond stage presence, focusing on truth, vulnerability, and honoring every story. Mel didn’t just teach drama, he trained actors.
His own journey began in 1967 at the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner, followed by an internship with Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio. Over more than 40 years, Mel has acted and directed across regional theaters in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Vermont, Boston, and New York City.
As the Artistic Director of Theater for a New Generation, he continues to coach advocates of professional stagecraft, leading scene study and production classes and organizing showcases in New York City and beyond. He’s personally trained some of entertainment’s most renowned talents, including Queen Latifah, Common, Michael K. Williams, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, and Wesley Snipes.
Mel’s belief that “acting is a skill you learn by doing” underpins his approach—immersive, practical, and performance-centered. His Advanced Acting Program empowers actors to develop original material and perform it in professional showcases.
This August, we’re celebrating Mel Williams not only for his storied resume but for the countless futures he’s shaped: actors equipped with skill, confidence, and meaning. His influence reverberates through every stage and screen where his students perform.
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