BETHEL –  Anson Williams is still shining the light on those who deserve it.

It’s a lesson that he and his fellow “Happy Days” actors Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Don Most were taught 50 years ago by their boss and mentor, Garry Marshall, who created one of the most successful and popular shows in television history. The idea is to make good things happen and help those who deserve to have a light shined upon them. 

Williams, known globally for his iconic role as Potsie Weber on Happy Days, has spent more time behind the camera as an award-winning screenwriter, director and producer.  

He is now teaming up with Bethel Woods Center for the Arts to direct “Crazy Mama” a one-woman show about how mental illness can rip a family apart, then stitch it together with hope, love and some laughter. The show will preview at The Museum at Bethel Woods Theater from April 12-14. It is based on his wife Sharon Scott Williams’ award-winning memoir that chronicles the soul-crushing grip of her mother’s mental illness, the steely resilience of the human heart, and how, by the grace of some invisible power, Sharon’s dream to get her real Mama back comes true.

This true story stars two-time Prime Time Emmy nominee Lee Purcell, who starred in “Adam at Six A.M.,” “Valley Girl,” and “Persons Unknown,” among others, with music performed by James Jackson.

Williams said that Bethel Woods is the ideal venue to premier this show, “Given Bethel Woods’ mission to provide access to the arts, their creative arts therapy programs, and their overarching vision of making the world a better place through the power of music and the arts.”

In a recent early morning interview from his California home, Williams talked about the lessons he learned about family while on the set of Happy Days and how it will connect with audiences who come to see Crazy Mama. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

You often talk about the positive influence Garry Marshall had on you.

None of us got big-headed because Garry actually cared about us. He sat us down early in the show and said, ‘You guys are going to be famous. There’s going to be a light on you. Your responsibility is to take the light and shine it on someone who has something to offer.’ He also told us to take advantage of Paramount Studios (where “Happy Days” was shot). He said, `It’s a college for you guys. Observe directors, producers, come to writing sessions. Acting might not be your life’s work – especially you Anson.’ And we all abided by that. By the time “Happy Days” ended we were all prepared to continue in the industry.  The fame and all of that were nice, but that was secondary to taking advantage of the opportunity to learn a lot. I’ve directed over 300 shows and I try to pay Garry forward. It was the best and most caring and generous advice anyone could give a young actor.

Best memories of Happy Days?

It’s not the set. It’s playing softball over the China Sea in Okinawa against the Marines, being with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany playing against the troops, it’s being in the locker room at Dodger Stadium as a team. Garry was a sports nut and he wanted to put together a softball team with the show.  We were all ex-athletes, except for Henry, but we taught Henry how to pitch. Garry thought if you put together a team, you’ll always have your team member’s back. He thought that would come back to the set. Stop egos. We’d be closer. More collaborative. It worked. 50 years later Henry, Ron, Don and I are still best friends, a text away. 

Fonzie was so popular that the producers considered renaming the show “Fonzie’s Happy Days.”

People realize how popular Henry was at the time. He’s the number one star in the world. Beatles times two. Crazy. Henry could have had anything he wanted. On set, we had the lousiest dressing rooms. Trailers with shag carpeting, probably mold in it. Junk. They offered Henry the works and he said, ‘No, keep everything the same. It’s going to change everything.’ As popular as he was, he wouldn’t let anything change. It kept the team together. Henry was the one who said no way, it’s Happy Days. He’s the one who said any change would sink the show.

Difference between directing theater to television?

In film, especially on television, everything is very fast. You have to know so many elements. You have a hundred people on the set. You don’t have a lot of time to perfect things so you have to go with your instincts. It’s a much more pressure situation. Theater is a much more personal experience. You have the time with your actors. You have time to stage. It’s a much more long-term collaboration to get things right. At the same time, it’s loose, it changes every time. It’s an organic situation. You don’t know if you have it right until there’s an audience in front of you. And they’ll let you know right away.

The show uses humor to treat heartache.

That’s what’s so wonderful about the show. We deal with mental illness through love and laughter. The show opens with a blues man singing, doing an original song, “Crazy Mama” and he stops, saying ‘the statistics on mental insanity are, that one out of four people are suffering from a mental illness. Look at your three best friends. If they’re okay, it’s you!” And that starts the show and people are laughing. 

The show is really about hope and miracles and the importance of family. And you don’t run from problems, you stick through it with humor, hope and love. 

You ran for mayor in California. Lost in a close race. Why do that?

You sound like Ron Howard, “What are you doing?” It was all from the heart. I live in this little town and I saw major problems that I thought I could help. So, I ran. You see sides of people you never knew existed. I was accused of so many things. I had no idea what an awful person I was until I ran for mayor. 

People still reminisce about Happy Days. Why?

People ask us all the time, why was it such a success. The chemistry was one-in-a-million. Something just blasted into people’s hearts. Also, Garry wrote a show that gives, a family around the table, eating together, and talking together. Givers not takers. No matter how cool Fonzie was, he would do the most unhip thing if it would help his friends. We were there for each other. Something that felt very comfortable and very needed. Family. Love. Friendship. It feels good because we damn well need it today. Yeah, we need more Happy Days. 

IF YOU GO:

WHEN: Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: The Museum at Bethel Woods Theater at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

TICKETS: General admission is $40; member pricing is $35. Or go to: www.BethelWoodsCenter.org/CrazyMama