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AJ Bridel

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AJ Bridel
Born
Amanda Jeanette Bridel[1]

(1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 30)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2010–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

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Bridel was born in Calgary, but raised in Kitchener, Ontario.[1] 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.[4][5] She performed in the organization's productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Footloose, and 13.[5]

Bridel attended Eastwood Collegiate Institute, in Kitchener.[6] An honours student in high school, Bridel enrolled in the musical theatre program at Sheridan College but withdrew to appear on Over the Rainbow.[5] Bridel has since completed courses through Queen's University.[7]

Career

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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.[8] The play was performed at the Stratford Festival between July 13 and September 24, 2011.[9]

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.[10][5] During the competition, Lloyd Webber commented that "there are probably several roles that I would cast her in right away."[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] Bridel appeared on Canada AM, where she performed The History of Wrong Guys, a song her character performs in the show.[14] For her performance as Lauren, Bridel received a nomination for Outstanding Female Performance in a Musical at the 2016 Dora Awards.[15] She also was nominated for and won a 2016 Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18] Bridel then starred as Maid Marion in the 2019 Ross Petty production of Lil' Red Robin Hood.[19] 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.[20]

In 2017, Bridel was named the new Anne in the Charlottetown Festival's production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, the longest running annual musical theatre production.[21][22] Bridel reprised her role of Anne in the 2018 production.[23]

In April 2022, Bridel began starring in the main voice role of Pipp Petals in My Little Pony, replacing Sofia Carson.[3][24] 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 My Little Pony: Make Your Mark. 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

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In 2018 Bridel was nearly involved in the 2018 Toronto van attack, having been about 5 minutes away when it occurred.[23]

Theatre credits

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Year Production Role Theatre Category Ref.
2011 The Little Years Mary Studio Theatre Regional / Stratford Festival [8]
2015 The Wizard of Oz Dorothy Gale Dunfield Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment [29]
2015–2016 Kinky Boots Lauren Royal Alexandra Theatre Toronto / Mirvish Productions [13]
2016 Mamma Mia! Sophie Sheridan Capitol Theatre Regional [30]
Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty Elgin Theatre Regional / Ross Petty Productions [17]
2017 Anne of Green Gables: The Musical Anne Shirley Regional / Charlottetown Festival [21]
A Christmas Carol Jane Elgin Theatre Regional / Ross Petty Productions [31]
2018 Anne of Green Gables: The Musical Anne Shirley Regional / Charlottetown Festival [23]
2019 You'll Get Used To It...The War Show Woman 1, Various characters St. Jacobs Country Playhouse Regional / Drayton Entertainment [32]
Lil' Red Robin Hood Maid Marion Winter Garden Theatre Regional / Ross Petty Productions [33]
2020 Kinky Boots Lauren Hamilton Family Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment [34]
There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays Holiday Spirit Virtual revue Regional / Ross Petty Productions [20]
2022 Mamma Mia! Sophie Sheridan St. Jacobs Country Playhouse Regional / Drayton Entertainment [35]
2023 Rock of Ages Sherrie Elgin Theatre Regional / More Entertainment Group [36]
Chris Mrs. Claire Chris Winter Garden Theatre Toronto: World premiere [37]
2024 Rosamund Princess Rosamund Jeanne Lamon Hall Toronto: Fringe Festival [38]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Over the Rainbow Herself Third-place finalist
2018 A Christmas Carol Jane Television special
2020 Odd Squad Sister Sally #2 2 episodes
Private Eyes Tiffany Episode: "Tappa Kegga Daily"
2021 Glowbies Sixty Main role (voice)
2022 Murdoch Mysteries Susan Halliday Episode: "There's Something About Mary"
2022–2023 My Little Pony: Make Your Mark Pipp Petals Main role (voice)
2022–2024 My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale Main role (voice)
2022 My Little Pony: Make Your Mark Netflix animated special
My Little Pony: Winter Wishday Netflix animated special
2023 My Little Pony: Bridlewoodstock Netflix animated special
Accused Female Supporter #3 Episode S1.E7: "Brenda's Story"

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Shelby Chloe

Audiobooks

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 Out of the Shadows Narrator [39]
2021 The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story [40]
2022 Prague [41]
Every Summer After [42]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure Pipp Petals [43]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 BroadwayWorld Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Kinky Boots Won [44]
2016 Dora Awards Outstanding Female Performance in a Musical Nominated [45]
Toronto Theatre Critics Award Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Won [46]
2023 Dora Awards Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical Rock of Ages Nominated [27]
2023 ACTRA Toronto Award Outstanding Performance: Gender Non-Conforming or Female Voice My Little Pony: Make Your Mark Nominated [47]

References

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