Islander chosen to star in Watermark Theatre production after nationwide search

Brielle Ansems was sitting amongst the crowd at P.E.I.'s Waterfront Theatre catching the 2010production of Pygmalionwhen she saw a performance that changed her life.

Marvelledby Rebecca Parent's performance as Eliza Doolittle one of the lead characters in the play Ansemscouldn't help but think maybe one day she'd be the one onthat stage.

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"I just remember looking at her and just being like 'oh wow,she's just so good, she's so strong' 'I would love so do this,'" she recalled to CBC'sMainstreet.

I would just love if there were some girls in that audience this summerthinking the same thing: that if they want to do this, it's more than possible.Brielle Ansems

Fast forward eight years and Ansems has fulfilled that dream. After a nationwide search, she was chosen to star as Josie Hogan in the Watermark Theatre's production of the Broadway playA Moon for the Misbegotten.

"I got an email from the [general manager]of the Watermark and she told me that theywere offering me the part," she said.

"I was in bed, I was allsettled, ready to go to sleep I was so tired. I opened up the email and I immediately had to put my laptop aside, jump out of my bed and have a dance party in my bedroom."

'It's a little daunting'

The Ontario-born singer-songwriter and actor moved to Montague, P.E.I., at a young age and got some of her first gigs playing cilidhs and benefit concerts in the area, she said.

As Ansemsgrew older, sheperformedin school plays and played music across the province before getting a "serious taste" for theatre by taking part in some productions across P.E.I. andthe Maritimes.

She eventually turned her attention todinner theatre for several years before eventuallylanding at Holland College's School of Performing Arts.

"It's a little daunting, it's something I definitely went back and forth on for quite a while," she said.

She said was lucky to have such a great support system,but acknowledged thatshedidhesitateon fully committing to acting as she unsure if she was ready to take the plunge.

But landing the role as Josie Hogan was "a good sign" that she made the right choice.

"When I found out I got it it just kind of letme know 'OK, I'm on the right path, this is going to be good, I'm supposed to be doing this,'" she said.

Inspiring girls to take on big roles

Information on the rest of the cast hasn't yet been revealed, but rehearsals begin soon and Ansems is already working on her character's Irish accent.

When she thinks back to that show she saw when she was a teenager, Ansemssaid she hopes someone just like her is sitting in the audience this summer and is movedby her performance.

"I would just love if there were some girls in that audience this summer thinking the same thing that if they want to do this, it's more than possible," she said.

"To see such a strongly written female character being the lead in a show, I think it's a really important thing to see right now."

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