The Brooklyn, New York native made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. She understudied the role of Effie in the original 1981 production of Dreamgirls and played the part in the 1987 revival. Ms. White has appeared on Broadway in Cats as Grizabella, Rock'N'Roll! The First 5000 Years, the ill-fated Carrie as the standby for Miss Gardner, Once on This Island as Asaka, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as Miss Jones (a role rewritten for Ms. White), Chicago as Matron Mama Morton, and benefit concert versions of Funny Girl (in which she sang the role of Fanny Brice), Hair, and Dreamgirls, reprising her role as Effie, for which she won the Drama League Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Perhaps her most notable role was in Cy Coleman's The Life, for which she won the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her portrayal of a world-weary, no-nonsense, streetwise hooker named Sonja. Her performance of "The Oldest Profession", a song in which Sonja bemoans the life of a prostitute, was a tour de force and received standing ovations nightly.
White's off-Broadway credits include the Public Theater production of the William Finn musical Romance in Hard Times, for which she won the Obie Award, Dinah Was, in which she portrayed the legendary blues and jazz singer Dinah Washington, The Vagina Monologues, and Crowns, for which she won the AUDELCO Award. Her national tours include Ain't Misbehavin' and The Wiz.
White performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic in a concert of works by Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and George Gershwin and his brother Ira, celebrating the orchestra's 50th anniversary. She has also appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center and has toured internationally with her one-woman show From Brooklyn to Broadway. She is heard on the 1991 Madonna recording "Rescue Me". White later appeared on the PBS series Sesame Street including the 1997 VHS release "Elmo Says Boo".
White's television appearances include a regular role on Sesame Street (for which she won an Emmy Award), Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and NYPD Blue. She performed the role of Bloody Mary in the PBS Great Performances presentation of South Pacific. Her screen credits include voiceover work in Disney's Hercules and Anastasia. Film credits include Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Game 6, Pieces of April and Then She Found Me.
Ms. White will appear in the upcoming Broadway musical FELA! in the role of Funmilayo. FELA! begins previews at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on October 19, 2009. Opening Night is November 23, 2009.
http://www.lilliaswhite.com
I Am Changing
Lillias White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at me
I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
I'll be better than I am.
I'm trying
To understand.
But I need
I need
I need your help.
I am changing
Seeing everything so clear.
I am changing.
I'm gonna start right now right here.
I'm hoping to work it out.
And I know that I can
But I need you
I need a hand.
All of my life I've been a fool
Who said I could do it all alone.
How many friends have I already lost?
And how many dark nights have I known?
Walking down that long road. There was nothing u could buy.
All those years of darkness
Could make a person blind.
But now I can see that
I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
I'll be better than I am
But I need a friend
To help me start
All over again.
That would be just fine
I know it's gonna work out this time
Cause this time I am,
This time I am
I am
Changing.
I get my life together now.
I am changing
Yes I know how
I'm gonna start again.
I'm gonna leave my past behind
I'll change my life.
I make it up
And nothing is gonna stop me now.
The song "I Am Changing" by Lillias White is a powerful anthem about transformation and growth. The lyrics speak to the universal human experience of feeling stuck or lost and the drive to make changes in one's life. The repetition of "Look at me" at the beginning of the song seems like a plea for validation from others, but soon turns into a declaration of self-confidence and determination.
By stating "I am changing, trying every way I can," the singer acknowledges that change is a difficult process that requires personal effort and reflection. The line "But I need your help" illustrates the importance of having a support system during this journey. The singer reflects on past mistakes and missed opportunities, but refuses to let them hold them back any longer. The line "All of my life I've been a fool who said I could do it all alone" is a poignant reminder that sometimes we need help from others to achieve our goals.
The chorus is an affirmation that change is possible and that the singer is committed to it. The line "I'm gonna leave my past behind, I'll change my life" suggests that the changes being made are significant and far-reaching. The repetition of the phrase "I am changing" at the end of the song emphasizes that the transformation is ongoing and never-ending. The song is a powerful reminder that change is possible, but it requires personal effort and support from others.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
Pay attention to me and my transformation
I am changing
I am going through a major transformation
Trying every way I can
I am making an effort to change in every possible way
I'll be better than I am
I have hope for a better version of myself
To find a way
To understand
I am trying to find a way to understand and improve myself
But I need
I need
I need your help
I require assistance from someone to achieve growth
Seeing everything so clear
I have clarity about myself and my surroundings
I'm gonna start right now right here
I am ready to initiate my transformation right away
I'm hoping to work it out
I am optimistic about figuring things out
And I know that I can
I have confidence in my abilities to change
All of my life I've been a fool
I have made mistakes in the past
Who said I could do it all alone
I realize that I cannot succeed without help
How many friends have I already lost
I have lost friends due to my mistakes
And how many dark nights have I known
I have gone through tough times and struggles
But I need a friend
To help me start
All over again
I require a friend to assist me in my fresh start
That would be just fine
Having a friend's support would be ideal for me
I know it's gonna work out this time
I am confident about eventual positive outcomes
Cause this time I am
This time I am
I am
Changing
I am certain that I am truly evolving this time
I get my life together now
I am putting my life back in order
Yes I know how
I'm gonna start again
I am aware of how to proceed and intend to start anew
I'm gonna leave my past behind
I am going to move on from my past mistakes and regrets
I'll change my life
I am committed to changing my life fundamentally
I make it up
And nothing is gonna stop me now
I am in charge of my own life and nothing can obstruct my progress
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRY D. KRIEGER, TOM EYEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xavierdallenmusicuniverse6304
The Goddess of Broadway and a beautiful member of the ICONIC Muses, Lillias White.
@chocolatesouljah
Wow! I can't thank you enough for this. I have been so blessed to see Ms. White in the "Dream Girls" tour in San Francisco in March of '84, "The Life" and "How 2 Succeed." And now she is about to step into "Hades Town" as I write this, 9/13/2022 - TONIGHT! Thanks for your timing on this post. Ms. White is a true theatre icon in my book and her work preserved by YouTubers such as wonderful you - a musical theatre museum. 🎼 🙏🏾❤🔥🦋🎶
@kristycatesusera1457
Lillias is a blessing indeed
@chocolatesouljah
@@kristycatesusera1457 Yes, as is your YouTube ID. Kristy Cates is amazing!
@amazingstarzz
LEGENDDDD!!!!!!!
@rosemont2283
Why was the I am I am I am I am in the bridge removed for the shows after the original production
@Broadwayriah
I have no idea why but there were a lot of changes made to Dreamgirls when the LA production opened with Jen & Lillias. If i’m not wrong this was where the show was “finalised” and all the changes were transferred to Broadway such as the bridge and some musical numbers
@dakingbey
That portion was only there to give Effie time for the costume change
@rosemont2283
Best I am Changing? What do you think of her Effie?
@Broadwayriah
Lillias was a good Effie but she’s not my favourite because her vocals seem to centre around her riffs rather than her power. The best I Am Changing is definitely Jennifer’s version, but other strong competitors are Sharon Brown & Julia McGirt-Nixon, the latter of which we don’t have any bootlegs of.