Liane Mayaone of the most versatile personalities of Brazilian musical theater, she stands out for her multifaceted career as an actress, singer, dancer, choreographer and director. With training at renowned institutions such as O Tablado, the National Conservatory of Music of Rio de Janeiro and the Villa-Lobos School of Music, as well as studies in New York and under the guidance of renowned classical ballet teachers, Maya He has an impressive academic record that reflects his dedication to the performing arts.
Throughout his professional career, Liane He participated in more than 25 theater productions, earning praise for his performances in shows such as “As Damas de Paus”, “Crazy For You” and “Além do Ar – Um Musical Inspirado em Santos Dumont”. The latter earned him the nomination for the Bibi Ferreira Award. His talent also shone in productions such as “The Addams Family,” “Cabaret,” “The Sound of Music” and “Gypsy.” She currently faces the challenge of playing Velma Von Tussle in the musical “Hairspray”, the antagonist whose complexity requires a performance marked by cruelty and prejudice.
Parallel to his work in the theater, Liane is ready to present Dona Zefa to the public, a new character from the musical series “Uma Garota Comum”, produced by Disney+. This project marks his return to the screen after memorable appearances in iconic programs such as “Planeta dos Homens” and “Escolinha do Professor Raimundo”.
In an exclusive interview with Manequim magazine, the actress spoke about the challenges of bringing characters with retrograde values to life and the responsibility of representing relevant social issues through art. See below:
1. What was it like for you, Liane, to delve into the personality of Velma Von Tussle, a character so different and contrary to the inclusive and diverse values that the musical “Hairspray” itself celebrates?
“As an actress, I am interested in the universe of human beings and delving into the personality of Velma Von Tussle, the villain of the musical ‘HairSpray’, was a challenge. In addition to Velma who is my opposite, I had to create a body and voice that they went together in the interpretation”.
“I couldn’t take sides and would have to immerse myself in cruelty and prejudice, to act as a counterpoint to the idealistic Tracy Turnblad. I knew I had a responsibility to show with this character the intolerance and prejudice of Baltimore in the 1960s and that we too have experienced different moments in our recent history.”
2. The musical “Hairspray” raises serious questions about racism and intolerance, issues that Velma represents. What is it like for you to tackle these issues on stage and how do you hope audiences react to your character’s role in the plot?
“My character raises issues dating back to the 1960s, but often hidden between the lines in the attitudes and behaviors of our current society.”
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“The audience’s reaction is very direct towards the villain of the story, who from the first scene appears prejudiced until the final moment, when the program airs and they are finally exposed and lose everything.”
3. Playing such an amazing character with retrograde values can be challenging. Did you find any aspect of Velma that you were able to understand or at least explore with an empathetic eye?
“Well, when we deal with a character the questions are very direct: what is your dream? What are you afraid of? What is your frustration? These questions are asked and obviously empathy happens when you start digging into the psyche of the character. and she discovers how much she had no love, she was raised to be the best, she was rejected and saw her dream frustrated. This immersion humanizes the character and you begin to understand her motivations and justifications.
4. His career is marked by different works, from television comedy to musical scenes and music with As Frenéticas. How have these experiences shaped your view of the art world and influenced the way you act?
“I began my training in classical ballet and opera singing, then came the Tablado Theater School. I started acting at the age of 15, as the protagonist of the first musical directed by director Wolf Maya, and then continued with a long career nationally and internationally.
“At the age of 18 I went to TV Globo to act with comedy geniuses: Jô Soares and then in the programs of Chico Anysio and ‘Escolinha do Professor Raimundo’ in the role of Dona Clarinha. I worked in soap operas and series Globo, I was a director and choreographer of theater and TV, I was part of many rock and soul groups and for 8 years I was part of one of the formations of the group ‘As Frenéticas'”.
“Furthermore, I started teaching at CAL, a training school for actors in Rio for 30 consecutive years, in Musical Theater and body and voice for the stage actor. This diversified experience in different fields was certainly fundamental for the artist I am today.”
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“Today I am an actress who delves into both drama and comedy. The teachers I have had in singing, dancing and theater and the directors I have had the privilege of working with have been fundamental for me today, with humility, to venerate them and feel immense gratitude to them for the knowledge I have received.”
5. How do you feel knowing that your work as Velma could help audiences think about topics like racism and prejudice, and what message do you hope this interpretation leaves?
“I am an artist committed to art that transforms and makes us reflect. I am sure that even within a musical comedy, the character Velma Von Tussle is fulfilling the mission of making the audience reflect on their values with the themes: racism , homophobia, fatphobia, ageism and beauty standards in society.
I hope that these issues are increasingly discussed and put on stage so that society moves forward with respect for diversity and the freedom to be a free society.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
