Tune Tuesday: Vanessa Williams Is Still In ‘The Comfort Zone’

I have had Vanessa Williams’ 1991 hit “Comfort Zone” running through my mind constantly since I took a quick trip last week to catch her sold-out weeklong engagement at 54 Below in New York City.

Totally the recharge I needed.

As longtime readers of TRR know, Vanessa and I bonded during our years at college as Music Theatre majors at Syracuse University before her huge career took off.

Factoid: While Vanessa did initially find the national spotlight after being crowned Miss America back in 1983, she was not a ‘pageant baby.’ She only entered three pageants in her life – Miss Syracuse, Miss New York, and finally Miss America. She just happened to win all three.

She was approached during our sophomore year to compete in Syracuse. It wasn’t something she’d ever thought about but when the pageant folks mentioned their was college scholarship money involved if you win, she said ‘yes.’ The rest is history.

Over the years, she and I have remained close and catch-up whenever we’re in the same area. But this time I flew to NYC because it had been a few years since I saw her sing her own music in concert and I needed some “V time.”

Her set at 54 Below was exactly what the packed house wanted: all the hits and some of her Broadway highlights. Her vocals, as always, were totally on point, and moved from hit to hit to hit  (“Comfort Zone,” “Saved the Best For Last,” “Work To Do,” and more) with ease.

On Sunday, she headed back to London where she’s been starring in the hit West End stage musical The Devil Wears Prada for almost two years as the diabolical fashion magazine editor “Miranda Priestly.” Because Vanessa always has “Work to Do.” 🙂

If you find yourself in London, make sure you catch her star turn in the show.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!