Maya Teckwani, a junior at Pascack Valley High School, will star as the lead role of Elle Woods in the upcoming musical Legally Blonde, performed by the Pascack Theatre Program. 

Teckwani began acting in elementary school when she performed in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. She played the lead roles in both. Teckwani said that besides Legally Blonde, her favorite performance was Beauty and the Beast.

“That was really fun because I got to play my favorite Disney Princess [Belle], and I had a really good time,” Teckwani reminisced.

Her love for theater began when she saw Mamma Mia! at the age of 10.

“Mamma Mia is definitely my favorite musical without question,” Teckwani said. “It’s just so good. I love ABBA; I love Mamma Mia… I think that’s what really pushed me to start doing theater in the first place.”

Teckwani joined the Pascack Theatre Program when she transitioned to PVHS in 2022. Her first performance at PV and first-ever play was Museum: a comedy set during the last day of an art exhibition that follows various characters as they venture through the gallery.

“Doing the play was very interesting, and I loved it; that’s why I continued,” Teckwani said. “The play was [a] very good [way] to get more acting experience.”

Pascack Theatre directors and producers Merielle and Thomas Lupfer have worked with Teckwani since the Museum production during her freshman year.

“Maya’s passionate [about]  what happens here, and that’s evident in everything she does,” T. Lupfer said. “She’s always willing to help people run through a dance step again, work on a vocal phrase again, or run a scene again.”

The directors also noted how much they’ve seen her talent flourish over the three years they have known her.

“I have seen Maya’s confidence in her abilities grow,” M. Lupfer said. “Over the time that we’ve worked with her, she has always been very talented, but she has really embraced the work of building her skills and the joy of sharing the results of that work. You can see it in her confidence on stage.”

With this growing confidence noted by her directors, Teckwani hopes to become an eight-show senior— meaning she intends to perform in all eight productions offered during her time at PVHS.

Teckwani’s mindset is set on success: “[Working on Legally Blonde is] definitely challenging,” Teckwani said. “I would say it’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but I know it’s going to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, in the end.” 

M. Lupfer also explained how playing a role such as Elle Woods is a challenging feat.

“Elle gets mistaken for being sort of superficial and shallow early on, and the audience has to believe that she can be mistaken for being that way while also realizing, in her first scene, that she’s more than that,” M. Lupfer said. “It’s a tricky balance: playing shallow and silly is one thing, and being very genuine and smart is another, and Maya captured [that] really well from the audition process.”

M. Lupfer wasn’t the only one who noticed Teckwani’s talent. T. Lupfer also noted how Teckwani brought a sense of warmth and kindness through her singing and acting in a way no one else did. He explained that she was the best vocal match for the role.

Teckwani’s effort and talent are not only noticed by her directors but also noticed by her peers and friends.

Abby Campbell, a sophomore at Pascack Valley who performs with Teckwani in the Pascack Theatre Program, described how much she looks up to Teckwani as a performer and a person. 

“I aspire to be as kind as her… as giving as her, [and] as talented as her,” Campbell said. “She’s so incredibly talented.”

Campbell emphasized how she believes Teckwani is the “perfect fit” to play Elle Woods.

 “[Elle Woods and Teckwani are] both really bubbly, really kind, both really smart, and they’re really compassionate to others. They’re always there for you,” Campbell said.

Kayla Klas, a junior at PVHS who has been performing with Teckwani since they were in middle school, only had positive things to say about PV’s future Elle Woods. 

“Maya’s been doing theater far longer than me, but in 8th grade, I needed something to do, so Maya actually was the one who convinced me to do theater,” Klas explained. “She was like, ‘Kayla, just do it’ and I was like, ‘you know what, fine.’” 

Klas has been involved in theater ever since. She also noted Teckwani’s admirable work ethic. 

“Anything you throw at her, it’s always 110% no matter what,” Klas said.

Not only does Teckwani put in a great deal of effort, but she also does it with a positive disposition.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Maya have a negative attitude about theater being like ‘Ugh, I don’t want to be here,’ ‘Ugh, I’m tired,’ ‘Ugh, I’m this,’” Klas said. “She’s always ready to go.”

Teckwani’s peers and directors have taken notice of her talents over the years, but they’re not the only ones. Last year, Teckwani earned a Metro Award.

According to Helen Hayes Youth Theatre’s website, “The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on the exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses, and devoted creative teams who take to the stage every spring in high schools in Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Bergen counties.”

Teckwani won Outstanding Acting Performance by a Female-Identifying Performer for her performance as Taylor McKessie in High School Musical.

“Her work in that show was something that we heard from a lot of people about,” M. Lupfer said. “Over and over in conversations with lots of people was, ‘Who was that girl who played Taylor?’ and ‘That girl who played Taylor was amazing!’”

Despite Teckwani only being a sophomore at the time of the performance, audience members and the Metro Awards took note of her talent and abilities. 

Teckwani brings a disposition to the Pascack Theatre Program that is unique to her. Her mindset and work ethic have lifted up her peers as she continues on the path to becoming Elle Woods. 

As M. Lupfer said, “[Teckwani brings] a great deal of love both for the work that she does and for the people that are a part of this community.”

This spring, you can see Teckwani perform as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde from March 14th through the 22nd. More about the production can be found at pascacktheatre.org.