“I already put beauty pageants aside,” says Ámar Pacheco, who is preparing for his first theatrical role as “The Little Mermaid”

Ámar Pacheco from Guayaquil is grateful for all the wonderful moments and experiences that being elected Miss World Ecuador 2020 gave her, but she believes that it is time to put aside the crown and beauty pageants to now follow her artistic vocation.

And, in a brilliant combination of her two passions, singing and acting, she will debut this month in musical theater by the director Jaime Tamariz as the star of the story The little Mermaid, a Daemon production that will be seen on the main stage of the Sánchez Aguilar Theater starting on Thursday, December 15. This premiere also marks the tenth anniversary of the Christmas plays directed by Tamariz.

At 23, Ámar will become Ariel, the princess of the underwater story and who, coincidentally, was her favorite childhood character (“I watched the movie thousands of times!”). The ex-virreina of Guayaquil 2017 also spoke with this newspaper about her leading role.

How has your character been taking shape?

It is my first macro theater play, because until now I had only done micro theater or had participated in television productions with non-leading roles, but I have always felt acting deep within me and singing, above all. I’m learning every day from the rest of the cast, from people who already have a lot more experience and for me it’s like coming to school. I also can’t believe Jaime Tamariz is directing me! For me it is an acting preparation and I hope to do it perfectly and that they keep calling me!

During rehearsals, what has been the biggest challenge so far?

Being suspended in a stage that has been built for this work. It is the ‘machine’ in which I have to be floating and it has been a bit difficult because I have to be aware of my corporeality, the movement of my hands, to understand that I am in the sea and that there is a certain density in the sea, that everything goes slower. So concentrating on performing, floating and singing at the same time is a bit complex.

Do you already have a favorite moment from the play?

The chant Part of him, which I have always learned in English. I have sung this song since my childhood, in fact with that song I had my first singing lessons and interpreting it now, remembering the feeling that is required to sing it is very exciting. Part of him It’s definitely my favorite moment.

How does this role fit into your professional path?

The little Mermaid It’s definitely a before and after. After this, I hope to go long with acting (…) Acting is something I’m really passionate about and I want to take it seriously, more seriously than I already have and I hope to continue this path with more courses and prepare myself in other ways to grow in this industry. I’m going to keep preparing.

What is it like to make your own way as the daughter of Silvana and Gustavo Pacheco, two renowned artists?

I have done that since I worked on my first production. For example in three families (ecuavisa), where I had a character with continuity, the people on the set didn’t know who my parents were until halfway through the season and by then they recognized me for who I was, for my personality, for my qualities, more than for being daughter of my parents.

And what would you say to those who think they have some influence on your career?

Actually, I am very grateful to my parents, they are the love of my life. Thanks to them I have art in my veins and so I will never feel bad. I am proud to have the parents that I have, but I think that I have been building my own name on my own with all the things that I have done and in which I have developed. But if one day they tell me: ‘Ah, The Little Mermaid is the daughter of Silvana and Gustavo Pacheco’, well yes, they are my parents and I have no problem with that.

Almost ‘science fiction’

For Jaime Tamariz, staging The little Mermaid it sounded like doing ‘theatrical science fiction’, he also commented in an interview for this newspaper. From facing all the details and the setting of an underwater territory to the characteristics of characters inspired by sea creatures. He admits that the support of the other creative teams was essential for this production.

“It was something that seemed attractive to me, but all that special dimension that is under the sea seemed to me that on a technical level it was complicated to execute,” he recalls with the relief of now having everything resolved and ready to captivate his audience, who have attended their functions for a decade for their traditional family and Christmas plays.

“What more can I say? Thank you!, and I promise to continue working hard, to give the best of myself, but above all thank you very much for accompanying me all these years”, he expresses, also celebrating that in 2022 they had a record of 400 tickets redeemed on the first day. “And that only happens because we have faithful characters who are already waiting for December to come to see us.”

To The little Mermaid, Tamariz has also wanted to incorporate an important message of conservation of the oceans and, taking the initiative, part of its scenery has been built with recycled materials (egg trays and plastic bottles to shape coral reefs). And get ready for some impressive giant tentacles!

A stellar cast

Along with Ámar Pacheco, other recognized names will appear on the scene, some of them already regulars in Daemon’s credits.

Ariel Zöller (Prince Erick)

Fabo Doja (King Triton)

Magda Salinas (Ursula)

Hugo Alejandro Chavez (Sebastian)

Ney Calderon (Scuttle)

Claudia Camposano (Flounder, voice and movement)

More information about ticket redemption: Village (@village.ec) and CityMall (@citymall_gye).