Danielle Wade is chuffed.
“There is something so special about coming home after a long time away, and I am absolutely thrilled to be back and bringing a BRAND NEW show to Toronto.”
The current New York City resident and I have connected to discuss the holiday musical Chris, Mrs., in which she stars. From December 5 – 31, the show’s world premiere run takes over the Winter Garden Theatre.
Wade is chuffed for at least two reasons. First, she loves the show: “Chris, Mrs. is an easy way to relax from the holiday chaos and spend some time with your loved ones. There will be singing and dancing. We promise you’ll leave the theatre humming a few songs and ready for matching pjs and hot chocolate!” And second, the return to Toronto marks a joyous homecoming – especially because it comes just in time for the holidays, which, she admits, “is one of the main things I miss living in New York”.
In the world of musical theatre, Wade’s name shines brightly on both sides of the border. She first gained widespread recognition in 2012 by winning the Canadian reality TV show Over the Rainbow, which auditioned aspiring performers for the role of Dorothy Gale in the Toronto production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. The production opened at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in December 2012, and her performance as Dorothy launched a career that has showcased her talent and versatility.
In Canada, Wade starred in the biggest roles in a succession of iconic musicals – Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables, Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia, Ariel Moore in Footloose, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Then she made her Broadway debut in the hit musical Mean Girls, based on the Tina Fey movie, and continued in the role of Cady Heron with the first North American tour. She has since performed as Marian Paroo in The Stratford Festival production of The Music Man. And just this past summer, she portrayed Jane Falbury (like Dorothy, a role made famous by Judy Garland) in Goodspeed Musicals’ world-premiere musical Summer Stock, which was adapted from the 1950 MGM/Warner Brothers film starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, and directed and choreographed by Donna Feore.
Wade demonstrates a consistent ability to bring new life to both classic and contemporary musicals. When asked about her favourite role to date, Wade says it is a “toss up” between Anne of Green Gables – “because so many brilliant Canadian leading ladies have trod those same boards”– and Summer Stock, which “was so special. It truly felt like lightning in a bottle. It’s always been my dream to originate a role, and in Summer Stock I got to do just that.” Just as important is the fact that both Anne Shirley and Jane Falbury are “strong, quirky, intelligent women, so sure of who they are. I needed them both in different ways!”
In New York City with her husband, Wade is both a lifelong figure skater and a self-consciously transplanted Canadian: “I tried to play hockey and wasn’t very good. Being good at handling the cold is my whole personality.” In this spirit, she welcomes Chris, Mrs., which is set at the wintry time of Christmas and is Canadian through and through. The production is a creation of Boldly Productions, features no fewer than 17 talented Canadian actors, and was co-written by real-life married couple Katie Kerr (Director / Book Writer / Lyricist) and Matt Stodolak (Music Director / Composer).
Set against a backdrop of holiday cheer and familial bonds, the story centres on the Chris family. It begins in the city, where distinctly un-festive father Ben Chris (Liam Tobin) leverages his late parents’ lodge, in exchange for a promotion. The problem? His brother Charlie (Kale Penny) still runs the lodge. Ben reluctantly packs up his socialite girlfriend Vicki (Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane) and his children – teenage daughter Claire (AJ Bridel) and troublemaking twins Samuel and Samantha – and heads to the lodge to convince him to sell. After discovering a ring in their father’s suitcase, the twins write to Santa for help . . . which seems to appear in the form of Wade’s character Holly Carmichael, a seasonal employee at the lodge. Between Charlie’s nostalgic nature and Holly’s Christmas cheer, it soon becomes a holiday no one will forget.
Wade describes the journey of Chris, Mrs. from workshop to full production as an adventure filled with creativity and collaboration. “New musicals are always filled with adventure”, she says, speaking from experience. “On and off stage, Matt Stodolak and Katie Kerr have carefully constructed a story that we hope leaves the audience in the warmest of holiday spirits.” The duo have been open to suggestions, notes, and the occasional rewrite, and even wrote an entire new (and excellent) song in one night, based on a conversation Wade had with them during rehearsal. “When everyone is on the same team, it’s amazing the product that can happen!”
Wade’s enthusiasm for the role of Holly is palpable, and it perfectly reflects her own love of Christmas: “It is my favourite holiday. I decorated the 1st of November. So it’s not that difficult to try and share that love nightly with the audience and my fellow members.” In her view, the greatest thing about the holidays is that each family celebrates a different way, with their own traditions. So “why wouldn’t you want to incorporate a story of hope, cheer and holiday spirit?” she says. “Matt and Katie have created a beautiful little nugget of cheer,” she enthuses. “It’s truly for the love of it, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
In closing, Wade shares that the biggest surprise in working on Chris, Mrs. has been the magic of teamwork: “We all know that theatre is a group effort, but it is truly something magical to see. Much like in our show – if everyone chips in and gives it their all ‘magic can be real’.” As proof that magic is real (and as a special treat for SesayArts Magazine readers), Boldly Productions is offering a 15% discount on tickets to Chris, Mrs. with the promo code SESAY15. This holiday season, let Danielle Wade and the stellar cast of Chris, Mrs. fill your heart with joy, laughter, and the spirit of Christmas. Reserve tickets here.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesayarts Magazine, 2023
