Janet Adderley
Broadway actress and acting coach Janet Williams Adderley was born Janet Williams in Marshall, Texas, on September 17, 1956. Adderley’s mother, Velma Bernice MacAfee Williams, a mathematics professor, and her father Dr. John L. Williams, an optometrist, raised Adderley in Houston, Texas; Walter MacAfee, the pioneering radio astronomer, was her uncle. Attending Turner Elementary, Edgar Allen Poe Elementary and Holy Spirit Catholic School, Adderley graduated from Houston’s Performing Arts High School in 1974. At Yale University, Adderley was a member of the Yale Dramat (the Yale Dramatic Association) before graduating in 1978 with her B.A. degree in American studies.
Moving to New York City, Adderley married Nat Adderley, Jr., whom she met at Yale University, in 1979, and started a family. Involved in various entertainment classes and projects, Adderley landed the role of Belle in the Broadway production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Starlight Express. In 1990, Adderley was featured in the play A...My Name is Alice and appeared in television commercials in America and Britain. In 1991, Adderley relocated to Hollywood where she appeared in regional theatrical productions. In 1994 and 1995, Adderley appeared in the television series Sweet Justice with Cicely Tyson; she also appeared in the 1999 movie Annie, and I Am Sam in 2001.
In 1994, Adderley started a performing arts class for her daughter and fourteen other children; as the word spread, The Adderley School for the Performing Arts in Pacific Palisades was formed. At The Adderley School, students were instructed in all of the elements of musical theatre by performing youth versions of Broadway shows.
A2005.094
Female
4/1/2005
Adderley
Married
Yale University
Turner Elementary School
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Edgar Allen Poe Elementary School
Holy Spirit Episcopal School
Janet
Marshall
ADD01
Fall
Texas
Southern France, Italy
Love You Madly. Just Breathe.

California
9/17/1956
Los Angeles
United States
Steak
Acting coach and stage actress Janet Adderley (1956 - ) founded The Janet Adderely School for the Performing Arts.
Adderley School for the Performing Arts
Red
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Janet Adderley's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Janet Adderley lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Janet Adderley describe her mother's family background, pt. 1
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Janet Adderley describes her mother's family background, pt. 2
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Janet Adderley describes her father's family background, pt. 1
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Janet Adderley describes her father's family background, pt. 2
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Janet Adderley talks about her family's academic and occupational history
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Janet Adderley tells the story of her parents' meeting
Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Janet Adderley describes her immediate family
Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Janet Adderley describes her earliest childhood memory
Tape: 1 Story: 11 - Janet Adderley describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Janet Adderley talks about how Alvin Ailey's 'Revelations' sparked her interest in African American traditions and history
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Janet Adderley recalls an influential teacher at G.B.M. Turner Elementary School in Houston, Texas
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Janet Adderley describes her childhood personality and her time at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Marshall, Texas
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Janet Adderley talks about attending The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Janet Adderley describes her childhood neighborhood, the Third Ward, Houston, Texas
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Janet Adderley describes her acting style and her influences
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Janet Adderley reflects on her understanding of race being impacted by music
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Janet Adderley talks about her black role models
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Janet Adderley talks about her three most influential teachers at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Janet Adderley reveals the reasons she chose to attend Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Janet Adderley talks about attending Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Janet Adderley talks about African American studies at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Janet Adderley talks about her husband, Nat Adderley Jr., and his family
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Janet Adderley talks about performing with the Yale Dramat at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Janet Adderley recalls her early involvement in professional theater and 1989 Broadway debut in Andrew Lloyd Weber's 'Starlight Express'
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Janet Adderley talks about working as a black actress in regional theater
Tape: 3 Story: 9 - Janet Adderley reflects on the growing opportunities for black actresses
Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Janet Adderley recalls the end of her marriage and her hiring as the standby for Belle the Sleeping Car in Andrew Lloyd Weber's 'Starlight Express'
Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Janet Adderley recalls how her persistence earned her the role of Belle the Sleeping Car in Andrew Lloyd Weber's 'Starlight Express'
Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Janet Adderley talks about transitioning from Broadway to film acting
Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Janet Adderley talks about her role on the television show 'Sweet Justice' and teaching her first theater class
Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Janet Adderley describes how her performing arts classes grew into The Adderley School for the Performing Arts
Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Janet Adderley describes the work she does with her performing arts students
Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Janet Adderley describes her teaching philosophy
Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Janet Adderley describes her technique for preventing divas and emphasizing teamwork in an arts classroom
Tape: 4 Story: 9 - Janet Adderley talks about scholarships for students who cannot afford to attend The Adderley School for the Performing Arts
Tape: 5 Story: 1 - Janet Adderley talks about the future of The Adderley School for the Performing Arts and her theater career
Tape: 5 Story: 2 - Janet Adderley describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community
Tape: 5 Story: 3 - Janet Adderley reflects upon her life
Tape: 5 Story: 4 - Janet Adderley reflects upon her legacy
Tape: 5 Story: 5 - Janet Adderley reflects on her role as a black woman in a predominately white community
Tape: 5 Story: 6 - Janet Adderley describes how she would like to be remembered
Tape: 5 Story: 7 - Janet Adderley narrates her photographs
1$1
2$4
7$4