The Journey
Nema Williams — whose name means "Sun" in Tibetan — was born in Kyoto, Japan, and spent his early childhood in Kathmandu, Nepal, with his mother, brother, and Tibetan stepfather. At age four, he moved to America when his California-born mother relocated to Oakland to be closer to family.
A shy kid by nature, Nema found his voice through theater. With encouragement from his cousins, he joined a local youth theater group and immediately fell in love with performing. In exchange for tuition, he mopped floors and helped build sets — and eventually took the stage himself, starring in Grease and landing leading roles in Oh, What a Lovely War and A Christmas Carol.
When funding cuts shuttered the theater, Nema found himself back on the streets with too much time and too little supervision. But a pivotal night at Dorsey's Locker, a small Oakland bar hosting an open mic comedy show, changed everything. He grabbed the microphone and never looked back.
From Kyoto to Kathmandu to Oakland — and stages around the world — Nema Williams brings a unique perspective and undeniable energy to every performance.
