Anthony Williams in a Parkersburg Actors Guild Guild Builders production of Disney’s “Descendants” where he played Jay, the son of Jafar. Williams loves being on stage as he also deals with the effects of having corneal dystrophy which affects his vision. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Anthony Williams wants to see as much as possible, because there may come a day when he won’t be able to see anything.

The 16-year-old Parkersburg High School sophomore wants to get in as many sights as possible as he was diagnosed with corneal dystrophy when he was 2 years old.

“It impacted my life at first and it will always impact my life,” he said. “It is something that I will always have.

“It is not going to stop me from doing anything I love.”

Corneal dystrophy is a group of genetic eye diseases that cause the cornea to lose clarity due to a buildup and accumulation of abnormal material in the clear and transparent layer of the eye. His condition means he has a fog over his eyes which currently makes him more nearsighted than anything. Farsightedness is more difficult for him.

Anthony Williams loves participating in productions at the Parkersburg Actors Guild where he has performed on stage as well as worked behind the scenes. He was diagnosed with corneal dystrophy when he was 2 years old which affects his vision. Right now he can see things close up while things farther away tend to blur together. (Photo Provided)

He has been involved in performing in shows at the Parkersburg Actors Guild which his friends Tim and Brooklyn pushed him to do. He has been in “Spongebob: The Musical” where he played Plankton and “Little Women” where he played Theodore Lawrence and Disney’s “Descendants” where he played Jay, son of Jafar.

Williams has also worked as a tech backstage, first on a production of the “Wizard of Oz” and other productions.

“Ever since the stage presence, the friendships and the families you can make along the way with the stage casts have been so special and it is something I would never give up for the world.”

His favorite role was Jay in “Descendants.”

“It was a really fun character to portray,” Williams said. “There were times during ‘Descendants’ when they would call my name and I wouldn’t respond unless they said ‘Jay’ because I wouldn’t hear them (because he was so much in character).”

Anthony Williams portrays Theodore Lawrence in a recent production of “Little Women” with the Parkersburg Actors Guild. (Photo Provided)

A couple of the shows he would like to do someday is “Chicago” where he would want to perform in the ensemble for the dancing and music in that show and “Hello Dolly” where he would want to play Cornelius Hackl because the character is “out there” and that character “would be fun to portray.”

Part of his eye condition makes him more sensitive to light and he had to wear aviator glasses because the stage lights were too bright for him.

“It can affect my performing, but I have always been able to find a workaround,” he said.

He also has a red/green color blind deficiency.

A lot of the stage tech stuff he works on are color coordinated. At the Guild, Williams works with a lot of glow-in-the-dark tape on the floor for where the props go as the tape is color coded for each scene.

Anthony Williams, center, portrays Plankton in the recent Parkersburg Actors Guild production of “Spongebob: The Musical.” (Photo Provided)

“Sometimes that can be a problem, but for me I am quick to learn and to memorize things so the moment I do something I will have it memorized.

“My best way of tracking things with color is memory.”

Williams said he likes doing moves around in his living room which helps him with his choreography. He was involved in the Honor Choir for two years. He does plays at his church, the Good Shepherd Church which is referred to by some locally as “The Pink Church” because of its color. He serves as an acolyte at the church where he will dress in robes, carry torches or crosses during the ceremony as a way of honoring God. Singing is something he still loves to do in church with “Silent Night” and “Amazing Grace” among his favorites to sing.

During Christmas Eve, the church will sing “Silent Night” while holding lit candles with the lights off.

“It is such a fun experience,” he said. “That song is just so beautiful when you have so many people participating in it.”

Anthony Williams portrays Jay, the son of Jafar, in a Parkersburg Actors Guild Guild Builders production of Disney’s “Descendants” in January 2023. Despite having corneal dystrophy, the 16-year-old Parkersburg High School sophomore is trying to get as many sights and memories in as he can. (Photo Provided)

His condition will deteriorate over time, but he can get a surgery once he is out of high school to possibly fix it. Currently, he is not sure if he will pursue that option.

“I have grown to kinda love my visual disability,” Williams said. “It has grown to be a part of me throughout the years.

“Honestly, it might be something I keep with me.”

After high school, he wants to keep being involved in theater and different productions.

“That will always be with me no matter what, but I want to go to college for cosmetology and help with hair and makeup for different shows and productions if they ever need it,” he said. “Having that cosmetology license would be good to have under my belt if I want to advance further in it.”

The cast of the recent Parkersburg Actors Guild production of “Spongebob: The Musical” where Anthony Williams played the part of Plankton. Being involved in theater productions continually sparks an interest in performing. (Photo Provided)

Williams is looking at doing that at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. He is currently auditioning for upcoming shows as well as doing tech work for an upcoming production of “Willy Wonka” which he said “will be fun to see on stage.”

Tech work involves a lot of the behind-the-scenes work from painting to helping with costumes, lights, props and so on. Many times he is helping to move stuff on and off stage.

His favorite subject in school is English as he is a fan of literature. Last year, he was part of the National English Honor Society with the classic “Romeo and Juliet” being a favorite. He also likes to play video games, including his favorite “Overwatch” and likes to read graphic novels, including the one he is reading currently called “School Bus Graveyard” where the characters are trapped the real world and the world of when they are asleep, a kind of dreamworld.

Through the story the main characters have to fight demons referred to as “phantoms” and they have to do it before their alarm clocks go off in order to stay safe, Williams said.

He talked about how many different stories have a meaning for the readers who take time to experience it.

“Every story has a moral,” he said.

He is thankful for the support of his family, his parents Ruth and Marlon and his sister, Nerissa.

Currently, he still has most of his vision, but things from afar are more blurred together. He has a tendency to tilt his head at an angle when he is looking at something.

Williams is trying to take in as much as he can, because there may come a day when he won’t be able to see.

“Having the knowledge that one day I am going to wake up and my vision is going to be gone, I want to take advantage of this,” he said. “I want to go places and I want to do things.

“I want to get as much sight and memories in my head before my vision is gone. If you really want to do something, push for it. Do not give up on it.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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