Whether it’s encouraging community members to achieve their full potential, or growing personally as an artist, Mya Harrison has shown she doesn’t have a “Fear of Flying.”
Mya’s vocal and dancing abilities have landed her the status as an R & B diva, and now “Chicago” is giving her something to sing about.
Mya, who was cast as Mona in Rob Marshall’s “Chicago,” appeared alongside actors Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
With her touring and dance experience, Mya has been prepared for performing beyond the recording studio. But with “Chicago,” she had to call upon her improvisational skills.
“My first time to see ‘Chicago’ was in the audition. No script or tape to go off of, just me stating my case,” she said. “My part was so small, it’s a transition. The past and dancing experiences conditioned me for the part.”
Mya said she was unsure whether her lack of familiarity with “Chicago” impacted her performance positively or negatively.
“I was told to improvise,” she said. “I just felt right and ready. I’m very proud of it.”
At the age of 23, Mya has hit “Ghetto Superstar,” as well as two studio albums tucked under her belt. A third is in the works.
With the maturity found in her 2000 sophomore effort, “Fear of Flying,” Mya showed her growth as an artist, after joining various tours such as the 1999 Lilith Fair. During that summer, Mya gained experience performing on stage with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders.
“Lilith Fair was youth and R&B,” Mya said. “It’s a different style of music — everyone was attentive. I learned a lot from Sarah and Sheryl.”
Gaining recognition from her tours, Mya began focusing on her other talents, especially her dancing background. Tap dancing in her kitchen as a girl, Mya found inspiration from the talents of other performers, particularly Prince and Sammy Davis, Jr.
“Sammy Davis, Jr. was definitely a role model,” she said. “He just had a sparkle, he had class and style and loved to do what I love to do.”
Looking to further broaden her horizons as a performer, Mya intends to transition to the Broadway stage if an opportunity arises.
After “Chicago,” Mya has a better perspective on the difference between live and recorded performances.
“There’s a definite difference being live versus on-camera. In a film, you do it in segments and days. On stage, you improvise — there’s more interaction with the crowd. It’s a longer process,” she said.
Mya said she gains strength to pursue her passions through her strong family ties.
“My mom is a full-time worker — she taught me to work very hard in whatever I do. It’s to be self-sufficient; it’s for survival; it’s for personal sanity and confidence,” she said.
Mya uses her success to reach girls trying to find their own wings while struggling with issues as personal sanity and confidence. She counsels adolescent girls with low self esteem, where she encourages them to hold on and believe things will get better with time.
Mya said she knows how success in a career can be the sole motivation to keep going, even for those with low self-esteem.
“We’re living examples of that — the most successful people have the lowest self-esteems,” she said.
