The 28 year old Broadway star has never forgot where he came from, always coming home to the Midlands to teach the next generation of kids.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The search continues for missing Broadway star Zelig Williams, the 28-year-old who was last seen by family and friends on October 3rd.
Williams is a prominent member of the dance and theater community in Columbia and his disappearance has led to an outpouring of concern from them.
“I knew immediately that he was gonna thrive, besides his amazing talents, hard working talents, but also God-given talents. Again, he was born to do this,” Caroline Lewis-Jones said.
A dance teacher, dance mom and friend, Lewis-Jones remembers meeting 11-year-old Zelig when he came into her class at Southern Strutt Dance Studio.
“I immediately knew how special he was. He would just come to all the dance classes, and he would just show up, and I’d be like, Zelle, you know that, this isn’t your class and he was like, I know, but I’m here so I want to take class. I was like, awesome. so he was just a kid that always wanted to do more,” she said.
A hard worker, compassionate and goofy: That’s how Lewis-Jones describes Zelig. She said the Broadway star has never forgotten where he came from, always coming home to the Midlands to teach the next generation of kids.
“He wanted to teach as much as he can, and go in the studios so he’s taught at Strutt and at PPA, MJDA and Miss Jenkins, he’s been all over teaching because he wants to help kids realize what does it take to get to this level,” Lewis-Jones said.
Former drama teacher Jeanette Arvay Beck recalled Zelig’s first audition.
“He did his normal, wonderful, upbeat, incredible thing, and he walked out of the room, and I remember thinking, holy, goodness gracious, all that talent right there just waiting to blossom. and he did,” Beck said.
Beck said she brought more to the stage than just his dance skills and when he made it on Broadway, she made sure to be there. Time went by but Zelig was still Zelig.
“Even up there, he seemed to bring out the best in others. That’s just his thing is what he does, sunshine,”
Williams was last seen by family and friends on October 3rd. According to investigators, he was driving in the area of the Congaree National Park. His car was later found in a parking lot for the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail near the park.
Family and friends continue to ask the community for prayers and any help to bring him home.
“Whatever your former prayer is cause we all believe different things, I think just keep praying however that looks for you, and keep having the belief that he’s going to come home, because we do feel that. Just keep your eyes open, keep your ears open,” Lewis-Jones said.
Unbound Dance Company will host “Dance for Z” on Sunday, October 20th from 5:15-7 pm. It will be at The Southern Strutt in Irmo, located at 90 Ashbourne Road. All proceeds/donations will be given to the family to help bring Zelig home.
Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward if that information leads to an arrest or conviction.