I chatted with Maya Keleher about her career and why “Suffs” is more important than ever

Talk about your background, where you’re from, etc

I grew up in Columbia, Connecticut. I went to the Boston Conservatory for college, where I got my Bachelors in Fine Arts and Music Theatre. I’ve been pursuing it professionally since about 2016.

When did you know you wanted to be a performer?

I inherently always knew performing was going to be in my life. I was always singing around the house, taking dance classes, performing in community theatre. Sophomore year in High School was the time when I really made the decision to pursue it professionally.

What is your favorite musical and why?

Ohh..it changes all the time. Top two right now are “Next To Normal” and “Hair.” I love the way “Next to Normal” tackIes the issue of mental health. With “Hair”, I love how indicative of the era it is and love the message of connection.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

I think I would love to be invisible. I think there are so many things or moments in the world I would love to be a fly on the wall for. I would love to see people’s reactions to those moments.

What is “Suffs” about and who do you play?

“Suffs” is about the unsung women who fought for the 19th Amendment; the right for women to vote. You see a variety of characters from different generations trying to get this amendment passed. You see them butting heads, having a good time, hit rock bottom.

I play Alice Paul, who is an radical, unstoppable force behind the final push to get the 19th Amendment in. She came in towards the end of the movement, with some bold tactics we hadn’t seen portrayed in history. We see her grappling with her humanity and also leading this fight.

It’s ironic this is coming around this time of year because we have an actual Primary about a month away. I’ll be in that primary so I can’t see the show. I did cheat a little bit and watched the “Great Performances” of “Suffs” on PBS and it is PHENOMENAL.

I’m so glad you were able to see it and glad you liked it. Not everyone can afford tickets to the theater, so I’m glad people can experience it on television.

It gives you history that you just don’t know.

So many of us in this company during rehearsals were saying that we never learned any of this in school. I learned that the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920 and the names Susan B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells. I could tell you nothing else about the fight they had to endure.

Why does the musical resonate so much now?

I think it’s the way Shaina Taub wrote it and how we tackle the story. It’s specific to the women’s right movement, but it also broadly taps into the idea that history repeats itself and there will always be something to fight for. I think people are feeling uncertain and there will always be something to fight for.

As a straight-ish white dude, I’ve never had to grapple with not being able to vote or not being able to have my own credit card. People forget that the 1920’s and the 1960’s weren’t that long ago.

Alice Paul was alive into her 90’s and still fought for the Equal Rights Amendment. Women in that direct era couldn’t have their own credit cards. It feels so distant, but it happened right before we came.

For you, what is the most emotionally charged scene or song?

I think in the second act when Alice is in prison and hallucinating this vision of Inez and sings “Insane.” I love singing that song and the emotional journey that it takes Alice on but it’s really taxing. To be at someone’s rock bottom, that takes a lot of emotional space. But I also love doing it so it evens out.

My two favorites are “Keep Marching” and “Great American Bitch.” It’s SO POWERFUL.

I love “Great American Bitch” because we’re reclaiming that power; that heckling culture AND it’s such a fun song. You get to see the characters let loose and it’s good for the audience to humanize them. I love “Keep Marching”, especially for Alice. I’m on show most of the show and I’m experiencing a whole life with these roughly two and half hours. I get so much relief from that song..it’s like closure in a way.

From the beginning of the show to the end, you go through a LOT.

::laughs: I really do!

How do you wind down from that?

It takes me a little bit. The show is like an adrenaline rush. I go back to the room, eat some food, take my makeup off, talk to my husband about the show..it’s about that time I wind down with a book. It takes about two hours for the processing of that nights performance went. I definitely feel it in my body everyday.

Are you excited about bringing “Suffs” to Baltimore?

I am! This is my first time. We’re coming off a week layoff and have a lot of energy. I can’t wait to see how the audiences will receive it there.

“Suffs” marches through Baltimore May 26th – 31st! Buy tix

Follow Maya on IG