News | Entertainment
10 Feb 2025 12:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Vanessa Williams' late mother Helen has been honoured on Broadway

    Helen Williams - who worked as a music teacher - passed away in London on December 28 due to complications from "acute liver failure" after flying to the British capital for a special trip to celebrate her 85th birthday to see Vanessa on stage in a musical adaptation of the film 'The Devil Wears Prada' - and now she has been remembered by the cast of 'A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical', which was produced by her famous daughter


    The special performance of the show last week was watched by 150 New York City music students, who were invited to see the production to commemorate Helen's love of Broadway and her passion for teaching.

    Famous faces in attendance included 'Ugly Betty' star Michael Urie and TV host Bevy Smith, as well as Vanessa herself.

    A source told New York Post column PageSix the show's star James Monroe Iglehart led the cast in a "New Orleans style procession from the stage and through the audience as they waved white handkerchiefs to celebrate her life".

    The insider told the publication Vanessa was "greeted by [the] band outside of [the theater] Studio 54, where fans and patrons gathered to join a dance party on the street".

    After Helen's death last month, Vanessa confirmed the sad news in a statement which read: "On December 28th, the world lost a powerhouse, dynamo and force of nature packed into a 5ft frame.

    "Our mom, Helen Williams, aka Gaga to many, took her final bow in London 20 days after celebrating her 85th birthday surrounded by family and friends.

    "It's impossible to describe all she meant to everyone because each person saw a different facet of her. Loyal friend to many, icy stares to a chosen few. "We will miss it all."

    After the tragedy, Vanessa took a brief hiatus from her role in the London stage show.

    A message on 'The Devil Wears Prada's Instagram page stated: "Due to a sudden loss in her family, Vanessa Williams will not be appearing from Wednesday 8th to Wednesday 15th January. During this time, the role of Miranda Priestly will be played by Debbie Kurup. Vanessa will return to The Devil Wears Prada from Thursday January 16th. "

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     10 Feb: Princess Anne has expressed her gratitude to the medical staff who treated her following her horse accident
     10 Feb: Demi Moore will always be part of a "family" with her ex Bruce Willis
     10 Feb: Angelina Jolie has revealed how her iconic 'Tomb Raider' role forced her to quit smoking and overhaul her physical routine
     10 Feb: A new Britney Spears book promising to expose the full truth of her turbulent life story is being released
     10 Feb: Megan Fox has reportedly ended her relationship with Machine Gun Kelly "for good"
     10 Feb: Bianca Censori has literally laughed off the controversy still raging around her naked red carpet appearance at the Grammys
     10 Feb: Russell Brand has seen his production company amass more than £8million
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Three-time Super Bowl winner Riki Ellison believes Philadelphia's chances of toppling Kansas City in the Super Bowl will be determined by the output of their running back More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Banks have been working through a backlog of lending requests, that left customers facing weeks-long delays More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Princess Anne has expressed her gratitude to the medical staff who treated her following her horse accident 12:42

    Auckland:
    Two people are moderately injured after being hit by debris that fell from a building on Auckland's Queen Street, also splintering a glass roof 12:27

    International:
    Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza Strip's Netzarim Corridor as part of ceasefire deal 12:17

    Entertainment:
    Demi Moore will always be part of a "family" with her ex Bruce Willis 12:12

    Golf:
    Celebrations for Josh Geary after a day of golfing mayhem on the coast south of Melbourne 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Angelina Jolie has revealed how her iconic 'Tomb Raider' role forced her to quit smoking and overhaul her physical routine 11:42

    National:
    ‘America First’ trade policy is pushing economic self-sufficiency – but history shows this is harder than it seems 11:17

    Education:
    Can schools enforce uniform policies like short hair for boys and skirts for girls? 11:17

    Entertainment:
    A new Britney Spears book promising to expose the full truth of her turbulent life story is being released 11:12

    Rugby League:
    Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni was convinced his team could reach the NFL Super Bowl for the second time in three years, despite a poor start to the season 11:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd