From grill to stage, Comeaux High football shines in the lead role of a musical | high schools

When Kylan Williams was 4 years old, he took the stage at Alice Boucher Elementary School as Michael Jackson, and he went on to entertain classmates, faculty, family and friends with an impressive performance in part of the school’s black history curriculum.

It was almost 12 years ago.

Never in her wildest dreams had Williams anticipated this performance that would see her appear in more than 30 plays and short films.

LATERRANCE WELCH, ACADIANE

“I’ve always loved singing,” Williams said. “I feel like I’ve always been a singer and I really liked dancing. So once I started acting, I just felt like I had a chance to be a triple threat by being able to sing, dance, and act.

Williams’ mother, Brandy Batiste, remembers her son as a toddler, doing his best Michael Jackson impersonations early and often – for everyone to see.

“Kylan was walking around the house singing Michael Jackson and Chris Brown songs 95% of the time,” Batiste said. “He would walk down the hall or create his own personal scene on any surface he could climb on.”

Williams, a 16-year-old junior at Comeaux High, is also in speech and debate and is a member of the Spartans football team where he started as a linebacker last season.

His father is former NFL and LSU running back Keiland Williams.

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“Kylan is a special person,” said Joshua McClymont, director of fine arts at Ascension Episcopal. “Not just for what he is able to do on stage and on the football pitch, but overall. He is a rare person who is able to bring it to both facets of the arts and athletics.

Williams, who admits it wasn’t until his performance as ‘Flounder’ in ‘The Little Mermaid’ at age eight that he realized his acting talent, will be on stage this week in as the lead of the world’s longest running musical “Les Miserables School Edition” presented by Christian Youth Theatre. Williams will play Jean Valjean, a man released from years of unjust imprisonment who breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life.

“My character Jean Valjean is a very caring person,” Williams said. “He has compassion for others, especially the people he cares about and loves. What I love about the character is that he’s not defined by his past or the mistakes he’s made in his life. His willingness to live as a man of God to overcome something inspires me.

Williams initially did not pursue the lead role and auditioned to be Police Inspector Javert.

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“Kylan has the skills to play this role,” McClymont said. “Kylan brings a quiet confidence to this character. I feel like he was really able to capture the role of Valjean.

There will be five screenings of Les Miserables at Angelle Hall on the University of Louisiana campus at Lafayette, starting Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by another screening at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday there will be two screenings at 2pm and 7pm before the final screening at 2pm on Sunday. Tickets are $17 if purchased online and $19 at the door.

“There are a lot of great messages in this play that I think everyone is going to love,” said Williams, who previously played Gavroche when he was part of the cast at age 9. “There are a lot of messages that I think will touch a lot of people in many ways. I hope the true message of the story reaches everyone in the auditorium.

McClymont and Williams hope her success in the arts will inspire more athletes to ignore “stereotypes” and pursue their passion on stage.

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“To have someone so gifted on the football field to have the courage to want to pursue the arts is amazing,” McClymont said. “There is a stigma that comes with doing theater and people tend to look down on and degrade things they don’t understand. I’m sure Kylan was blown away in the locker room, but he basically said, “I’m still going to do it because I’m an individual and I have a big passion for performance.”

Despite the chatter, Williams said he never considered not continuing to participate in the arts.

“I got some backlash and heard some of the rude comments,” Williams said. “Playing and acting has always been a big part of me and it’s something I’m passionate about. Football and other sports were just born. Playing on stage made me who I am today. When I’m on stage, I have the opportunity to do things that a lot of people can’t do.

Additionally, Williams said “he was raised to be his own person.”

“I’m very comfortable being myself and doing the things I love to do,” Williams said. “My mom raised me to be a leader not a follower. She motivates me to be my best and the results are amazing.

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