Meet ‘Mr. Broadway,’ a ‘Hottie’ from "Memphis"

Charlie Williams is a dynamic young dancer who’s making his Broadway debut in Memphis, the new multi-Tony-nominated musical by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, and he sure knows how to put his best feet forward. Thanks to his fancy footwork, the Astaire Awards nominated him as part of the best male dance ensemble on the Great White Way.

What’s more, Williams boasts the picture-perfect looks of an Abercrombie & Fitch model, and has been named “Broadway Hottie of the Month” by Gaylifenyc.org. The 5-foot-9 charmer, who is refreshingly open and out as a bisexual man, also was crowned ''Mr. Broadway'' at ''The Broadway Beauty Pageant.'' Plus, he will be getting more exposure as the pinup poster boy for "Broadway Bares' XX: Strip-opoly,'' Broadway Cares' annual burlesque show of sexy dancers on June 20 at the Roseland Ballroom.

Back at Memphis, Williams, 22, is the only cast member who hasn’t missed a show in over 250 performances on Broadway, and the musical’s leading lady, Montego Glover, calls him “the sweetest, most darling boy in our company.” Her Tony-nominated co-star, Chad Kimball, adds, “Charlie is a joker and so funny, but also kind and caring. We call him ‘Charity Charlie’ because he spearheads all our fund-raising for Broadway Cares, the Equality March and the AIDS Walk. He’s such a great guy.”

Williams was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up in Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina. He worked at the North Carolina Theatre and the Carolina Ballet. At 18, he jumped into his red pickup truck and drove solo cross-country to Los Angeles to make his mark. After he flew to New York, he impressed top choreographer Sergio Trujillo (“Charlie has that all-American quality and an undying passion for dance”) and got cast in the 2008 tryout of Memphis in La Jolla, California. He followed it to Seattle and Broadway, where it opened Oct. 19, 2009.

AfterElton.com recently caught up with Charlie to discuss his role in Memphis, being bisexual and much more.

AfterElton.com: Congratulations on making your Broadway debut in Memphis! It’s received 7 Outer Critics Circle nominations, 7 Drama Desk nominations and 8 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Plus, you’re up for an Astaire Award. How’s it feel?
Charlie Williams: It’s incredible. We’re on a roll, and we’re such a family. When we got all those Tony nominations, I almost cried. That night before the show, our amazing producers came to see us, along with [director] Christopher Ashley, Sergio Trujillo, David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, to tell us how proud they were of us and all our hard work. We’re so blessed.

AE: Memphis is a musical about Huey, a Southern white radio deejay in the 1950s who champions R&B music and falls in love with Felicia, a beautiful black singer. You dance your tail off throughout the show, but you also play a number of characters in the ensemble.
CW: Our director has such a vision for the show; he had us all come up with backstories for our characters. I play a guy shopping in a department store where Huey plays the records, and his name’s David. Then there’s Harold. He’s a backup singer for Felicia. And there’s Moe. He’s a racist who takes a bat to Huey after he sees Huey kissing a black girl.

AE: You joined Memphis in 2008, but Chad and Montego have been playing Huey and Felicia on and off over the past six years. What’s it like to work with such Broadway pros?
CW: Terrific. Chad is an amazingly talented and serious actor, but he’s also a goofball. When we were in La Jolla, he would throw Mexican fiestas at poolside. And Montego is my favorite Broadway diva, and I mean that in the kindest way. She always gives 150% and inspires me.