As a performer, Brady Cudmore doesn’t just sit around and wait for gigs to happen.
He goes after them.
Over the past year, the P.E.I. native has attended dozens of auditions in New York City.
And he has tasted his share of success.
Cudmore landed a lead role in Honestly Abe - The Musical, became a regular performer at Jelsomino, an upscale Manhattan nightclub, and is a host/performer in a weekly rising star showcase at the Sky Lounge at Hotel Indigo.
On a personal note, last week he released Turn Off the Lights, the latest single from his new CD, This Is Brady Cudmore, now available on CD Baby.
“It’s going incredibly well. I feel so lucky,” says the Bluefield High School graduate who moved to New York City four years ago to follow his dream of becoming a pop star.
Now 22, he realizes that relocation was only the beginning.
“Coming here was just the first part of going somewhere. What I needed to do was really believe in myself, look for opportunities and when they presented themselves, work really hard,” says Cudmore, during a telephone interview.
People who notice him performing in different places often ask him where he gets his energy.
“I tell them I love what I’m doing so it’s not hard to keep on going,” Cudmore says.
His employers are also impressed with his work ethic.
“Brady is a professional. His singing and acting are excellent and he is a great asset to our ensemble cast. He has been with the show for a year now in its off-Broadway run,” says Michael Strozier, director of Honestly Abe - The Musical.
New York producer Kevin Bertotti, who directed Cudmore in a video, calls him a “natural talent.”
“Brady excels on both the performance and production side of things. He can put in madman hours and work as hard as anyone else and do everything needed of him and more. He’s also paying his dues, working in the city on the type of pieces that require journeymen work to be put in,” says Bertotti, in a telephone interview.
Robert Wohler, a friend who saw him sing and dance at Jelsomino last week, is excited about Cudmore’s performance.
“Brady has the ability to sing, play several instruments, dance and act,” says Wohler, vice-president of ABC Television Network, who is also inspired with the performer’s story.
“Brady took a major step just by coming to New York. Most people would be intimidated. (Now that he’s here) each role he takes on helps him to sharpen his skills as an entertainer. He has already has come a long way,” says Wohler, during an Internet interview.
On days when he’s not working, Cudmore continues to get up early to catch the open casting calls taking place across the city.
“I have to be completely honest. It’s hard sometimes. I get sleepy. I get annoyed about hearing ‘no.’ ”
But getting regular gigs help him keep things in perspective.
“I’m booked so much I’m thankful that I decided to follow my dream,” says Cudmore.
His latest news is that he has been cast in The Mersey Boys, a movie about The Beatles.
“I will be playing George Harrison. We’ve had a couple of read-throughs. Shooting starts in late January,” says Cudmore.
In the immediate future, Cudmore is planning to come back to P.E.I. later this month for his father’s birthday.
“I miss my family,” says Cudmore, who is looking forward to sampling his mother’s home cooking and getting some shut-eye.
“Let’s be honest. I love sleeping. Sleep is an important thing for me.”
AT A GLANCE
Brady Cudmore fast facts
He’s the son of Timmy and Faye Cudmore, Hampshire, P.E.I. and the brother of Ryan Cudmore.
Since last January, he’s been playing in Honestly Abe - The Musical, at the Actors Temple Theatre in New York City. He plays Allen Gentry, Lincoln’s best friend.
Since last January, he’s been performing at Jelsomino. “The coolest part of the job is getting to meet a lot of key players in the entertainment industry,” says Cudmore, who hosted events for this season’s cast of Project Runway, Victoria Secrets and a gothic beauty magazine.
He credits his work ethic to his parents: “I’ve watched my mom and dad go through so many things. And they’ve always had a smile on their face no matter how tough things got. They’ve always worked so hard. I see how hard they have worked to pay for me.”
Links to see Cudmore performances: Go to http://oneworldartists.com/JELSOMINO/NYC-NightClubFaces.html, http://oneworldartists.com/Indigo/PenthouseShows.html.
