Despite early acclaim for her performances in such Broadway musicals as "Barnum" and "Ain't Misbehavin'," White fell on hard times and was homeless for a time during the late 2000s. While she was sleeping in Washington Square Park, David Taylor, an NYPD sergeant who recognized Ms. White from her regular gigs in West Village piano bars and clubs, helped find her a place to live, and with help from her other friends (including her girlfriend, Donna Barrett), White was able to audition successfully for an Encores! concert performance of "Finian's Rainbow," which led to a Broadway production of the same show. White's "Riches to Rags to Riches" story was covered by news organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CBS News, The Advocate, and WPIX-TV (Channel 11 in New York).
