PSU student portrays high class lawyer

A prim and proper lawyer may not be a lead that excites everyone, but one actor in the upcoming performance of “RENT” couldn’t be more thrilled to play her.

Mariah Leewright, a 22-year-old Portland State University student, will portray “Joanne” in the winter musical at MHCC. Joanne is considered part of the high-class society, a Harvard graduate on the road to becoming a lawyer. However, she is gay and is in a relationship with one of the other lead characters, Maureen (Elizabeth Sanchez).

She is open with her friends about her relationship but keeps it secret at her workplace. She also faces heavy opposition from her parents, who do not approve.“ It’s the late 80s and being gay is still seen as something people wouldn’t be in that profession,” Leewright said

“I think there is this nice dichotomy of this straight-laced character who is not in touch with this whole bohemian scene while she is dating Maureen who is a performing artist and is very much the opposite of her,” Leewright said. “I think the challenge with this character is (that because) this show is so charismatic and so bohemian, it’s a little difficult to play such a straight-laced character,” she said.

Leewright is attending PSU as a theater major. She grew up and went to high school in Minnesota. She eventually moved to Seattle for college, but college didn’t really work for her there. “Eventually I headed to Portland, liked it, then stayed,” Leewright said.

She has high hopes for a future in theater. “I would love to audition one day in New York. There is a part of me that thinks I could make it.” She also has goals to pursue careers in social justice and political theater.

Leewright has been involved with theater since she was in eighth grade. Since then, she has done a variety of things from straight plays to avant-garde theater, and has even had a hand in making her own plays. She has had singing roles, acting roles, and singing/acting roles, a variety of experiences to prepare her for “RENT.” This is her first lead role since high school. “I am very excited because Joanne is one of my dream roles,” she said.

Leewright says that she cannot wait to see how the audience will react to her kissing scene with Sanchez.

Some of Leewright’s hobbies include playing the African drums and slam poetry (or spoken word poems). She said she has played the drums for about eight years and has gotten quite good.

Fun fact: she cannot whistle.

Leewright said she loves her role in a play she treasures. “ ‘RENT’ is definitely one of the plays I have enjoyed the most,” Leewright said.