AJ Bridel explained

AJ Bridel
Birth Name:Amanda Jeanette Bridel[1]
Birth Date:1994 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupation:Actress, singer
Years Active:2010–present

Amanda Jeannette Bridel (born March 26, 1994), known as AJ Bridel, is a Canadian actress and singer. She first rose to prominence as a finalist on Over the Rainbow, where she finished in third-place.[2] Since then, Bridel originated the role of Lauren in the Canadian premiere of Kinky Boots at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and has appeared in several regional productions across Ontario. In 2022, Bridel started voicing the main character Pipp Petals in the My Little Pony series.[3]

Early life and education

Bridel was born in Calgary, but raised in Kitchener, Ontario.[4] Bridel was first drawn to musical theatre after listening to the music for Les Misérables from a CD owned by her parents.[1] As a teenager, Bridel was a member of the Kitchener Waterloo Musical Productions, a non-profit community theatre organization.[5] [6] She performed in the organization's productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Footloose, and 13.[6]

Bridel attended Eastwood Collegiate Institute, in Kitchener.[7] An honours student in high school, Bridel enrolled in the musical theatre program at Sheridan College but withdrew to appear on Over the Rainbow.[6] Bridel has since completed courses through Queen's University.[8]

Career

In 2011, at the age of 18, Bridel was cast in her first professional production as Mary in The Little Years, a play by John Mighton.[9] The play was performed at the Stratford Festival between July 13 and September 24, 2011.[10]

In 2012, Bridel auditioned for Over the Rainbow, a Canadian reality competition based on the 2010 BBC series of the same name. The winner of the series would star in the role of Dorothy in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new stage musical of The Wizard of Oz at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Following a boot camp held by Lloyd Webber, Bridel was chosen as one of the ten contestants.[11] [6] During the competition, Lloyd Webber commented that "there are probably several roles that I would cast her in right away."[12] On November 4, 2012, Bridel was eliminated in third place.[2]

Bridel was cast as Dorothy Gale in a production of The Wizard of Oz that was produced by Drayton Entertainment in March 2015.[13]

In 2015, Bridel was cast as Lauren in the Canadian production of Kinky Boots, which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre between June 2015 and May 2016.[14] Bridel appeared on Canada AM, where she performed The History of Wrong Guys, a song her character performs in the show.[15] For her performance as Lauren, Bridel received a nomination for Outstanding Female Performance in a Musical at the 2016 Dora Awards.[16] She also was nominated for and won a 2016 Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.[17]

Between 2016 and 2020, Bridel appeared in four Ross Petty Christmas pantomimes. In 2016, Bridel appeared in her first Ross Petty pantomime, where she starred as Sleeping Beauty in Sleeping Beauty.[18] She also appeared in the 2017 production as Jane in A Christmas Carol, which was also filmed and aired on Family Channel and CBC across Canada.[19] Bridel then starred as Maid Marion in the 2019 Ross Petty production of Lil' Red Robin Hood.[20] In 2020, she appeared in There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays, which was performed as an online revue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]

In 2017, Bridel was named the new Anne in the Charlottetown Festival's production of , the longest running annual musical theatre production.[22] [23] Bridel reprised her role of Anne in the 2018 production.[24]

In April 2022, Bridel began starring in the main voice role of Pipp Petals in My Little Pony, replacing Sofia Carson.[3] She currently voices the character in the made-for-YouTube 2D animated series My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale and in the Netflix animated series . Bridel also reprised her voice role in the 2022 Netflix animated specials, My Little Pony: Make Your Mark and My Little Pony: Winter Wishday. She also lent her voice to the video game My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure.[25]

In 2023, Bridel starred as Sherrie in a Canadian production of Rock of Ages that played at the Elgin Theatre between February 23 and May 20, 2023.[26] At the 2023 Dora Awards, Bridel was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role.[27] Later that same year, Bridel starred as Claire in the world premiere of Chris Mrs. The musical ran between December 5 and 31, 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre.[28]

Personal life

In 2018 Bridel was nearly involved in the 2018 Toronto van attack, having been about 5 minutes away when it occurred.[24]

Theatre credits

YearProductionRoleTheatreCategory
2011The Little YearsMaryStudio TheatreRegional / Stratford Festival
2015The Wizard of OzDorothy GaleDunfield TheatreRegional / Drayton Entertainment[29]
2015–2016Kinky BootsLaurenRoyal Alexandra TheatreToronto / Mirvish Productions
2016Mamma Mia!Sophie SheridanCapitol TheatreRegional [30]
Sleeping BeautySleeping BeautyElgin TheatreRegional / Ross Petty Productions
2017Anne ShirleyRegional / Charlottetown Festival
A Christmas CarolJaneElgin TheatreRegional / Ross Petty Productions[31]
2018Anne ShirleyRegional / Charlottetown Festival
2019You'll Get Used To It...The War ShowWoman 1, Various charactersSt. Jacobs Country PlayhouseRegional / Drayton Entertainment[32]
Lil' Red Robin HoodMaid MarionWinter Garden TheatreRegional / Ross Petty Productions[33]
2020Kinky BootsLaurenHamilton Family TheatreRegional / Drayton Entertainment[34]
There’s No Place Like Home For The HolidaysHoliday SpiritVirtual revueRegional / Ross Petty Productions
2022Mamma Mia!Sophie SheridanSt. Jacobs Country PlayhouseRegional / Drayton Entertainment[35]
2023Rock of AgesSherrieElgin TheatreRegional / More Entertainment Group[36]
Chris Mrs.Claire ChrisWinter Garden TheatreToronto: World premiere[37]
2024RosamundPrincess RosamundJeanne Lamon HallToronto: Fringe Festival[38]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Over the RainbowHerselfThird-place finalist
2018A Christmas CarolJaneTelevision special
2020Odd SquadSister Sally #22 episodes
Private EyesTiffanyEpisode: "Tappa Kegga Daily"
2021GlowbiesSixtyMain role (voice)
2022Murdoch MysteriesSusan HallidayEpisode: "There's Something About Mary"
2022–2023Pipp PetalsMain role (voice)
2022–presentMy Little Pony: Tell Your TaleMain role (voice)
2022My Little Pony: Make Your MarkNetflix animated special
My Little Pony: Winter WishdayNetflix animated special
2023My Little Pony: BridlewoodstockNetflix animated special
AccusedFemale Supporter #3Episode S1.E7: "Brenda's Story"

Audiobooks

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019Out of the ShadowsNarrator[39]
2021The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story[40]
2022Prague[41]
Every Summer After[42]

Video games

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2015BroadwayWorld AwardBest Leading Actress in a MusicalKinky Boots[44]
2016Dora AwardsOutstanding Female Performance in a Musical[45]
Toronto Theatre Critics AwardBest Supporting Actress in a Musical[46]
2023Dora AwardsOutstanding Leading Performance in a MusicalRock of Ages
2023ACTRA Toronto AwardOutstanding Performance: Gender Non-Conforming or Female Voice[47]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ouzounaian . Richard . Young Kinky Boots star AJ Bridel brims with big-city confidence . The Star . 19 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160120161053/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2015/11/01/young-kinky-boots-star-aj-bridel-brims-with-big-city-confidence.html . 20 January 2016 . en.
  2. Web site: Ouzounian . Richard . Over the Rainbow: Danielle Wade is Dorothy . Toronto Star . 5 February 2023 . 5 November 2012.
  3. Web site: New ‘My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale’ Series to Debut on YouTube . 2022-05-17 . Animation World Network . en.
  4. Web site: Ouzounaian . Richard . Young Kinky Boots star AJ Bridel brims with big-city confidence . The Star . 19 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160120161053/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2015/11/01/young-kinky-boots-star-aj-bridel-brims-with-big-city-confidence.html . 20 January 2016 . en.
  5. Web site: Hill . Valerie . K-W Musical Productions marks 70th anniversary with ambitious show . The Record . 5 February 2023 . 16 October 2018.
  6. Web site: Rubinoff . Joel . A.J. Bridel is Over The Rainbow . The Record . 5 February 2023 . 27 June 2012.
  7. Web site: Tomasek . Keith . AJ Bridel on playing Dorothy & more . Stratford Festival Reviews . 5 February 2023 . 23 February 2015.
  8. Web site: Hobbs . Anna . Anne of Green Gables actor falls for PEI . Vacay . 2 February 2023 . 19 August 2017.
  9. News: Walker . Angela . Newest Anne already a big fan . 19 January 2020 . CBC.
  10. Web site: Hoile . Christopher . The Little Years . Stage-Door . 5 February 2023 . 24 July 2011.
  11. Web site: Canada’s Top 10 Dorothy’s Revealed for CBC’s Over The Rainbow! . CBC Media Centre . 6 February 2023 . 17 September 2012.
  12. Web site: CBC Over the Rainbow Performance #7 - AJ Bridel - All That Jazz . YouTube . 5 February 2023.
  13. Web site: Hill . Valerie . Stunning Wizard of Oz launches Cambridge's 2015 theatre season . Peterborough Examiner . 5 February 2023 . 9 March 2015.
  14. Web site: Ouzounian . Richard . Toronto's Kinky Boots has its Lola and other cast . Toronto Star . 2 February 2023 . 22 April 2015.
  15. Web site: Canada AM: AJ Bridel performs . Canada AM . 2 February 2023.
  16. Web site: Announcement: 2016 Dora Mavor Moore Award Nominees . Mooney on Theatre . 5 February 2023 . 30 May 2016.
  17. Web site: Fisher . Steve . Morrow . Martin . The Winners from the 2016 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards . Torontoist . 5 February 2023 . 27 May 2016.
  18. Web site: Fricker . Karen . Ross Petty’s Sleeping Beauty keeps all ages entertained: review . Toronto Star . 5 February 2023 . 4 December 2016.
  19. Web site: Yeo . Debra . Ross Petty Christmas Carol panto gets two extra shows . Toronto Star . 20 January 2023 . 28 December 2017.
  20. Web site: Dunn . Bryen . Ross Petty Productions presents “Lil’ Red Robin Hood” – on stage until Jan 4, 2020 . Buzz Mag . 3 February 2023 . 28 November 2019.
  21. Web site: Simmons . Galen . Dan Chameroy to bring Plumbum back for annual Ross Petty holiday show this weekend . Stratford Beacon Herald . 3 February 2023 . 18 December 2020.
  22. Web site: Hobbs . Anna . Anne of Green Gables actor falls for PEI . Vacay.ca . 5 February 2023 . 19 August 2017.
  23. Web site: Anne of Green Gables musical hits world record. live. CBC. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309040052/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/anne-of-green-gables-musical-hits-world-record-1.2565129 . 2014-03-09 .
  24. Web site: Ross . Shane . Anne of Green Gables actress misses Toronto van attack by minutes . CBC . 2 February 2023 . 26 April 2018.
  25. Web site: My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure (2022) . Behind the Voice Actors . 2 February 2023.
  26. Web site: Nestruck . J. Kelly . Rock of Ages is back on stage rocking Toronto - more schlocky than ever, for better or worse . The Globe & Mail . 12 June 2024 . 1 March 2023.
  27. Web site: Crowley . Helene . Announcing the 2023 Dora Mavor Moore Award Winners . Intermission Magazine . 12 June 2024 . 28 June 2023.
  28. Web site: Murphy . Aisling . A musical inspired by holiday Hallmark movies is coming to Toronto. Here’s what to expect from the show . CP24 . 12 June 2024 . 2 December 2023.
  29. Web site: Hill . Valerie . Stunning Wizard of Oz launches Cambridge's 2015 theatre season . Peterborough Examiner . 5 February 2023 . 9 March 2015.
  30. Web site: McEwen . Todd . Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre welcomes smash hit musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ . MyKawartha.com . 3 February 2023 . 26 July 2016.
  31. Web site: Dunn . Bryen . Ross Petty’s “A Christmas Carol” onstage Nov 24 to Dec 31, 2017 . The Buzz Mag . 12 January 2023 . 24 November 2017.
  32. Web site: Myslik . Jaime . You’ll Get Used to It … The War Show offers poignant tribute to Second World War . The Wellington Advertiser . 3 February 2023 . 13 June 2019.
  33. Web site: Dunn . Bryen . Ross Petty Productions presents “Lil’ Red Robin Hood” – on stage until Jan 4, 2020 . Buzz Mag . 3 February 2023 . 28 November 2019.
  34. Web site: Rubinoff . Joel . Former Kitchener reality star enjoys career resurgence in drag queen musical . The Record . 3 February 2023 . 29 February 2020.
  35. Web site: Smash hit ABBA Musical Mamma Mia! extended by popular demand before the show even opens . Wellington Advertiser . 3 February 2023 . 15 June 2022.
  36. Web site: Iconic Broadway Show Rock of Ages Roars Onto The Toronto Stage This Winter . Newswire . 3 February 2023 . 1 November 2022.
  37. Web site: Wild . Stephi . Liam Tobin, Danielle Wade, and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane Join World Premiere Of Chris, Mrs in Toronto . BroadwayWorld . 18 October 2023 . 4 October 2023.
  38. Web site: Rosamund - A New Musical in Toronto at Jeanne Lamon Hall 2024 . BroadwayWorld . 19 June 2024 . en.
  39. Web site: Out of the Shadows . Audible . 3 February 2023.
  40. Web site: The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story . Audible . 3 February 2023.
  41. Web site: Prague . Audible . 3 February 2023.
  42. Web site: Every Summer After . Audible . 3 February 2023.
  43. Web site: My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure (2022) . Behind the Voice Actors . 6 February 2023.
  44. Web site: Henry . Alan . 015 BroadwayWorld Toronto Award Winners Announced . BroadwayWorld . 12 July 2024 . 18 January 2016.
  45. Web site: Announcement: 2016 Dora Mavor Moore Award Nominees . Mooney on Theatre . 5 February 2023 . 30 May 2016.
  46. Web site: Fisher . Steve . Morrow . Martin . The Winners from the 2016 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards . Torontoist . 5 February 2023 . 27 May 2016.
  47. Web site: Dirie . Ahmed . ACTRA Toronto reveals noms for 21st annual awards . Playback . 12 July 2024 . 3 April 2023.