View source for Luanda de Hilster

{{Infobox artist
| name          = Luanda Lia de Hilster
| image         = Luanda_Lia_headshot_2025.png
| caption       = Luanda Lia in 2025
| disciplines   = Musical theatre actress · Singer · Dancer · Choreographer
| birth_name    = Luanda Lia de Hilster
| also_known_as = Luanda Lia; Luandalia; Luanda de Hilster
| born          = {{birth date and age|2005|9|29}}<br />Torrance, California, U.S.
| nationality   = American and Brazilian
| based_in      = Edmond, Oklahoma
| relatives     = [[David de Hilster]] (father)<br />[[Doris de Hilster]] (mother)
| education     = Boca Raton Community High School (2023)<br />University of Central Oklahoma (2023–)
| degree        = Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Musical Theatre, University of Central Oklahoma (expected May 2027)
| training      = [[Showtime Performing Arts Theatre]]; [[Taylor Made Dance & Theatre]] (2020–2023); Broadway Artist Intensive
| years_active  = 2017–present
| notable_roles = Miss Adelaide (''Guys and Dolls'')<br />Reno Sweeney (''Anything Goes'')<br />Minnie Fay (''Hello, Dolly!'')<br />Heather McNamara (''Heathers'')
| dance_styles  = Ballet, tap, jazz, modern, samba
| voice_type    = Mezzo-soprano
| instruments   = Ukulele
| awards        = Dream Awards nominee, Best Supporting Actress (2022, 2023)
| website       = [https://luandalia.com luandalia.com]<br />[https://luanda.dehilster.com luanda.dehilster.com]
}}
'''Luanda Lia de Hilster''' (born September 29, 2005), known professionally as '''Luanda Lia''', is a Brazilian-American musical theatre actress, singer and dancer. She is studying for a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre at the University of Central Oklahoma, where her roles have included Miss Adelaide in ''Guys and Dolls'' and Reno Sweeney in ''Anything Goes''.<ref name="luandalia">{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/ |title=Luanda Lia |website=luandalia.com |access-date=2026-11-06}}</ref><ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/bio/ |title=Bio |website=luanda.dehilster.com |access-date=2026-11-06}}</ref>

== Name ==
"Luandalia" is her first and middle names run together. Since 2025 she has used '''Luanda Lia''' as her professional name, and it is also the name of her website (luandalia.com) and social media accounts.<ref name="luandalia" />

== Early life ==
Luanda was born in Torrance, California, to [[David de Hilster]] and his Brazilian wife, [[Doris de Hilster|Doris]]. Her birth is documented in her father's feature documentary ''Einstein Wrong – The Miracle Year''.<ref name="bio" /> She grew up in the Los Angeles area and studied ballet and tap in Long Beach from the age of five. Her parents led a Brazilian samba school in California, so she grew up around samba music and dance.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="talent">{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/ |title=Nurturing a Natural Talent |author=David de Hilster |website=luanda.dehilster.com |date=2018-09-11}}</ref> She holds dual U.S. and Brazilian citizenship and speaks and sings in Portuguese.<ref name="bio" />

In 2014 the family moved to Boca Raton, Florida.<ref name="bio" />

== Education and training ==
At Boca Raton Community Middle School she was co-president of the Junior Thespian troupe. She attended Boca Raton Community High School from 2019 to 2023.<ref name="bio" /> Outside school she trained at [[Showtime Performing Arts Theatre]] in Boca Raton, run by [[Marilyn Perry]], and from 2020 to 2023 studied at [[Taylor Made Dance & Theatre]] under [[Angela Morando-Taylor]]. There she took part in its college-preparation conservatory and the College Audition Project, and in 2022 she received the studio's Dot Taylor Scholarship and was named Head Studio Captain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/ |title=Luanda Wins Taylor Made Scholarship & Named Head Studio Captain |website=luanda.dehilster.com |date=2022-05-30}}</ref> She also attended the Broadway Artist Intensive in 2022 and 2023.<ref name="resume">{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/resume-2/ |title=Resume |website=luandalia.com |access-date=2026-11-06}}</ref>

In fall 2023 she entered the musical theatre program at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre, expected in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/luanda-to-study-musical-theater-at-the-university-of-central-oklahoma/ |title=Luanda to Study Musical Theater at the University of Central Oklahoma |website=luanda.dehilster.com}}</ref><ref name="resume" />

== Career ==
=== Florida (2017–2023) ===
Luanda's early roles were in school and community musicals in Boca Raton. They included the Sour Kangaroo in ''Seussical'', Sebastian in ''The Little Mermaid'', and Alexi Darling in ''Rent'' with an adult cast at Showtime Performing Arts Theatre.<ref name="bio" /> In December 2019 she played Heather McNamara in ''Heathers'' at Showtime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/ |title=Luanda Lands Supporting Role in Heathers |website=luanda.dehilster.com |date=2019-08-23}}</ref>

At Boca Raton High School she played Kathryn Schaub in ''Radium Girls'' (2021), Mrs. Tottendale in ''The Drowsy Chaperone'' (2022) and Minnie Fay in ''Hello, Dolly!'' (2023). For the last two roles she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Dream Awards, the Palm Beach County high school musical theatre awards held at the Kravis Center.<ref name="dream22">{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/ |title=Luanda Nominated for Best Supporting Actress |website=luanda.dehilster.com |date=2022-05-16}}</ref><ref name="dream23">{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/ |title=Luanda Earns Dream Awards Nomination for a Second Year |website=luanda.dehilster.com |date=2023-05-10}}</ref> She also won Superior ratings and perfect scores at Florida District and State Thespian competitions.<ref name="bio" />

=== Oklahoma (2023–present) ===
At UCO she has appeared in ''Legally Blonde'' (2024) and as a Merry Murderess and dance captain in ''Chicago'' (2026), directed by Nathan Peck.<ref name="resume" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/luanda-lia-named-dance-captain-in-chicago-production-by-director-nathan-peck/ |title=Luanda Lia Named Dance Captain in Chicago Production by Director Nathan Peck |website=luandalia.com}}</ref> She was assistant director of ''City of Angels'' (2025).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/luanda-named-assistant-director-for-city-of-angels-at-uco/ |title=Luanda Named Assistant Director for City of Angels at UCO |website=luandalia.com}}</ref> Her first lead role at UCO was Miss Adelaide in ''Guys and Dolls'' at Mitchell Hall in September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luanda.dehilster.com/luanda-gets-first-lead-at-uco/ |title=Luanda Gets First Lead at UCO |website=luanda.dehilster.com}}</ref> In fall 2026 she was double-cast as Reno Sweeney in ''Anything Goes'', part of Mitchell Hall's centennial season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/luanda-lia-cast-as-reno-sweeney-in-anything-goes/ |title=Luanda Lia Cast as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes |website=luandalia.com}}</ref>

Her professional work in Oklahoma includes:
* Bailey in ''The Polar Express Train Ride'' at the Oklahoma Railway Museum (2024)<ref name="resume" />
* Directing and choreographing a Christmas production for Hobby Lobby's creative division (2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/luanda-lia-tapped-to-direct-and-choreograph-hobby-lobby-christmas-number/ |title=Luanda Lia Tapped to Direct and Choreograph Hobby Lobby Christmas Number |website=luandalia.com}}</ref>
* Her debut with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, as a swing in ''Annie'' at the Civic Center Music Hall (June 2026)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luandalia.com/luanda-joins-the-cast-of-annie-at-the-okc-civic-center/ |title=Luanda Joins the Cast of Annie at the OKC Civic Center |website=luandalia.com}}</ref>

== Selected credits ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Production !! Role !! Venue / company
|-
| 2017 || ''Seussical'' || Sour Kangaroo || Boca Raton Community Middle School
|-
| 2018 || ''Bye Bye Birdie'' || Mrs. McAfee || Boca Raton Community Middle School
|-
| 2019 || ''The Little Mermaid'' || Sebastian || Boca Raton Community Middle School
|-
| 2019 || ''Rent'' (school edition) || Alexi Darling / ensemble || [[Showtime Performing Arts Theatre]]
|-
| 2019 || ''Heathers'' || Heather McNamara || [[Showtime Performing Arts Theatre]]
|-
| 2021 || ''Jekyll & Hyde'' || Red Rat Dancer || Boca Raton High School (streamed)
|-
| 2021 || ''Radium Girls'' || Kathryn Schaub || Boca Raton High School
|-
| 2022 || ''The Drowsy Chaperone'' || Mrs. Tottendale || Boca Raton High School
|-
| 2023 || ''Hello, Dolly!'' || Minnie Fay || Boca Raton High School
|-
| 2024 || ''Legally Blonde'' || Kate / Kiki / Judge || University of Central Oklahoma
|-
| 2024 || ''The Polar Express Train Ride'' || Bailey || Oklahoma Railway Museum
|-
| 2025 || ''City of Angels'' || Assistant director || University of Central Oklahoma
|-
| 2025 || ''Guys and Dolls'' || Miss Adelaide || University of Central Oklahoma
|-
| 2026 || ''Chicago'' || Merry Murderess; dance captain || University of Central Oklahoma
|-
| 2026 || ''Annie'' || Swing || Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
|-
| 2026 || ''Anything Goes'' || Reno Sweeney || University of Central Oklahoma
|}

== Honors ==
* Dream Awards nominee, Best Supporting Actress: 2022 (''The Drowsy Chaperone'') and 2023 (''Hello, Dolly!'')<ref name="dream22" /><ref name="dream23" />
* Dot Taylor Scholarship, Taylor Made Dance & Theatre (2022)
* Superior ratings at Florida District and State Thespian festivals (2019–2022)<ref name="bio" />

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://luandalia.com Luanda Lia] – official website
* [https://luanda.dehilster.com luanda.dehilster.com] – earlier website and news archive (2017–2025)
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVKEEJqCdyV-wZCKUj7LHm9C2U0IMyJIY ''Guys and Dolls'' (UCO, 2025)]: performance playlist on YouTube, as Miss Adelaide
* [https://youtu.be/mI1kUnRGg5s Reel – Fall 2025] on YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Hilster, Luanda}}
[[Category:Theatre artists]]
[[Category:Musicians and singers]]
[[Category:Dancers]]
[[Category:Living people]]