CANADA (Sasha Stoltz Publicity): Actress Tonya Lee Williams will receive the Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award at the Black Theatre Workshop (BTW)’s 26th Annual Vision Celebration Gala a week from Saturday in Montreal for her contribution in the Black performing arts.
Williams remains best known as fan favorite Dr. Olivia Williams on the top-rated daytime soap, The Young and the Restless. Her other notable roles includes Octovia Jones on the CBC drama The Border, and most recently as Maxine Williams on the VisionTV sitcom She’s The Mayor.
Tonya made her debut as the host of the children show Polka Dot Door, which led to guest spots on What’s Happening Now!, Gimme a Break!, Hill Street Blues, Falcon Crest, and Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future.
Her role as Linda Dukes on the groundbreaking African-American NBC soap Generations led Tonya to her highest-profiling role to date: Dr. Olivia Winters as Y&R, earning her two Daytime Emmy nominations and two NAACP Awards.
In 2001, Tonya created and founded Reelworld (www.reelworld.ca), a film festival celebrating cultural diversity with the screening of films, documentaries, music videos, and shorts to both Canadian and international audiences.
The Vision Celebration begins with cocktails at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, dancing and entertainment an hour later at 6:30pm.
For tickets, call the Box Office at 514-932-1104 (ext. 226); more information on the Black Theatre Workshop can be found at www.blacktheatreworkshop.ca
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