Much like Dorothy Gale, Danielle Wade was caught up in her very own whirlwind, thrown head first into the technicolour world that is Toronto’s musical theatre scene. After winning the coveted career-making role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz on CBC’s reality TV show Over the Rainbow, she went on to play the lead role in the Mirvish production of the hit musical for several weeks. She would parlay that show into a year-long North American tour. Now, she is set to return to a Toronto stage starring in Ross Petty’s holiday production Cinderella.
“It’s scary because you’re given what you’ve always wanted,” the bubbly 22-year-old says. “But then what do you do from here? It’s every emotion you can feel, all at the same time.”
It’s easy to see why Canada voted for her in the CBC talent competition that launched her career. Her hearty laugh comes from a place of genuine happiness, and denotes a complete lack of pretension. As charming as she is talented, this humble young lady sees beauty in simple things and gets inspiration from, she says, “anyone doing the thing that they love.”
However, a year-long montage of hotel beds and takeout food has taken its toll on the LaSalle, Ont., native. Missing the comforts of home, she has, in her downtime, moved into her own apartment back home and has also adopted a kitten and named him Hobbes (as in Calvin and Hobbes). True to his namesake, he is already causing trouble.
Wade is 100 per cent ready to ditch her “ruby slippers for a pair of glass ones,” as she so playfully reports on Twitter. She will now take on the role of Cinderella and share the stage with Crumbum and his/her colourful cast of characters in Ross Perry’s annual Christmas panto, Cinderella: The Gags to Riches Family Musical at the Elgin Theatre.
Jeff Lillico, Toronto theatre’s resident romantic lead, will attempt to win her over, starring opposite her as Max Charming.
“I’m excited to see what happens with [Cinderella] because we haven’t even started rehearsals yet,” says the excitable ingenue. She admits that the crew’s infamous hilarity may pose some problems. “There is no way I’m going to be able to keep a straight face onstage!”
And although lesser performers would feel intimidated to join such an established crew, Wade looks to the challenge instead as “an awesome opportunity! That’s what you always have to do with everything,” she begins, as she earnestly reveals her acting philosophy. “Of course you’re nervous. That’s an obvious statement. You’ve got to get over that and just use it.”
Acting for Wade is a chance to explore the human experience. As she ponders dream roles, she pines for divergent characters, such as Éponine in Les Misérables, and Penny in Hairspray.
“You can go onstage one day and be a hopeless, forlorn lover, and another you can be a goofy teenaged girl who doesn’t know how to dance,” muses Wade.
Music, in addition to acting, is a central force in her life. Not only does she sing with an emotional depth and maturity that is hard to fathom, given her happy-go-lucky nature, but she also plays guitar and the piano.
The journey began in her tween years, when she was given vocal lessons for her birthday. What began as an outlet for singing her favourite Disney songs would eventually lead to tackling tough classical pieces at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Wade speaks of her commitment to her craft as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But there is nothing too natural about a teen voluntarily waking at the break of dawn each morning just to travel 16 kilometres from LaSalle to a neighbouring town to attend 7:30 a.m. music and drama classes. Only to trek back each afternoon to attend her regular classes.
“I was trying to work hard. In life, you’ve got to work hard,” says Wade with a casual offhandedness. Although her success may have begun via reality TV, it is her exceptional determination that has firmly placed her at the helm of her career’s trajectory.
With the constant deluge of opportunities that keep coming for Wade, who can blame her for starting to think big as she stares down the yellow-brick-road of her own good fortune?
Cinderella, at the Elgin Theatre, runs until Jan. 4. For ticket information go to www.rosspetty.com.
