Steph La Rochelle Explained

Steph La Rochelle
Birth Name:Stephanie La Rochelle
Birth Place:Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Nationality:Canadian
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, actress
Years Active:2012–present

Stephanie La Rochelle is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. She first became known for finishing in second-place on the 2012 Canadian reality television series Over the Rainbow. Since then, La Rochelle has released an EP Wildflower, which is nominated for a Juno Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year at the 2024 Juno Awards.[1] La Rochelle also originated the role of Zoe Murphy in the Canadian production of Dear Evan Hansen, which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 2019.[2]

Early life

La Rochelle is from Ottawa, Ontario, and attendedSt. Mark Catholic High School in Manotick.[3]

Career

In 2012, La Rochelle auditioned for Over the Rainbow, a Canadian reality competition based on the 2010 BBC series of the same name. The winner 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. La Rochelle was named one of the top ten contestants by Lloyd Webber.[4] La Rochelle finished in second place behind winner Danielle Wade.[5]

She subsequently had various acting roles. This included guest appearances on Heartland, where she played a young homeless aspiring country singer who was performing on the streets as a busker. La Rochelle also appeared in the 2017 series Played, and in several episodes during the second season of Backstage.

In 2019, La Rochelle made her professional stage debut as Zoe Murphy in the Canadian premiere production of Dear Evan Hansen. The musical opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, before closing on July 21, 2019.[6] Later that same year, La Rochelle reprised her role of Zoe Murphy for the North American tour of Dear Evan Hansen until the tour was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] She rejoined the tour once performances resumed in 2021, before leaving the tour in June 2022. La Rochelle made her West End debut, where she joined the production as Zoe Murphy for a limited run in Dear Evan Hansen.[8]

In October 2022, La Rochelle released Wildflower, her debut recording.

Credits

Television

ShowTitleRoleNotes
2012Over the RainbowHerselfSecond place
2015HeartlandBrookeEpisode S8.E12: "Broken Heartland"
2017PlayedWillowMain role
2017BackstageFrances O'Connell12 episodes
2018Zombie at 17Jasmine MandevilleTV film
2019In the DarkWeed dealerEpisode S1.E7: "The One That Got Away"

Theatre

YearProductionRoleTheatreCategory
2019Dear Evan HansenZoe MurphyRoyal Alexandra TheatreCanadian production / Mirvish Productions
2019–2022First National Tour[9]
2022Noël Coward TheatreWest End

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/juno-awards-2024-nominations-charlotte-cardin-daniel-caesar-talk-1.7105439 "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees"
  2. Web site: Nestruck . J. Kelly . Dora-winner Evan Buliung, country singer Stephanie La Rochelle join Toronto production of Dear Evan Hansen . The Globe and Mail . 19 March 2024 . 16 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Steph La Rochelle Album Release Party Sat., Oct. 22 . Manotick Messenger . 19 March 2024 . 22 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Canada’s Top 10 Dorothy’s Revealed for CBC’s Over The Rainbow! . CBC Media Centre . 19 March 2024 . 17 September 2012.
  5. Web site: Danielle Wade lands Dorothy role after winning popular vote on Over the Rainbow . National Post . 19 March 2024 . 6 November 2012.
  6. Web site: Gans . Andrew . Toronto Production of Dear Evan Hansen Will Close in July . Playbill . 19 March 2024 . 23 May 2019.
  7. Web site: Clement . Olivia . Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen to Welcome Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and More . Playbill . 19 March 2024 . 14 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Rabinovitz . Chloe . CCMA Nominated Artist & Actor Steph La Rochelle to Debut New EP WILDFLOWER . BroadwayWorld . 19 March 2024 . 14 October 2022.
  9. Web site: Arnegger . SJ . 'Dear Evan Hansen' Announces Broadway, National Tour And West End Casts . iHeartRadio Broadway . 19 March 2024 . 20 September 2021.