Richie Wilcox
Encyclopedia
Richie Wilcox is a Canadian singer, actor and theatre director, who was also a contestant on the first season of reality television
show Canadian Idol
.
Born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia
, Wilcox's first national performance came on a Rita MacNeil
Christmas television special when he was nine years old. He subsequently studied drama at University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University
) and Dalhousie University
, graduating with honours from the Theatre Studies program at University of King's College
. Before Idol, he was assistant manager of a deli.
In 2003, on the first season
of Canadian Idol, Richie Wilcox finished in a three-way tie for eighth place. He was eliminated after the first week of Top 11 performances, although fellow Halifax
singer Gary Beals
went on to finish in second place.
After Idol, from 2003 to 2005, Wilcox wrote a weekly column about reality shows for The Daily News
.
Wilcox has performed in and directed numerous theatre productions in Halifax. He is the co-founder of the independent theatre company, Angels & Heroes. After four increasingly successful seasons with the indie troupe and two summers acting and directing in a company called Festival Antigonish, Wilcox went on to complete a Masters in Theatre Direction at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas
before returning to Halifax in 2007. He won a Merritt Award
for Emerging Theatre Artist in 2007. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in theatre at York University
in Toronto
.
Wilcox is openly
gay
.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
.
Born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia
New Waterford, Nova Scotia
New Waterford is a Canadian urban community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.-Geography:New Waterford is located north of Sydney and northwest of Glace Bay. It is named after the city of Waterford, in Ireland. It is located near the ocean and is bordered on one side by cliffs...
, Wilcox's first national performance came on a Rita MacNeil
Rita MacNeil
Rita MacNeil, CM, ONS is a Canadian country and folk singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray the following year, although she has had hits on the country...
Christmas television special when he was nine years old. He subsequently studied drama at University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University , formerly the "University College of Cape Breton" , is a Canadian university in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
) and Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, graduating with honours from the Theatre Studies program at University of King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
. Before Idol, he was assistant manager of a deli.
In 2003, on the first season
Canadian Idol (Season 1)
The first season of Canadian Idol debuted on June 9, 2003. Ryan Malcolm of Kingston, Ontario was the eventual winner.-Auditions:Auditions were held in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax, and St...
of Canadian Idol, Richie Wilcox finished in a three-way tie for eighth place. He was eliminated after the first week of Top 11 performances, although fellow Halifax
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
singer Gary Beals
Gary Beals
Gary Beals is a Canadian singer who is best known for being the second-place finisher in the first season of the reality television series Canadian Idol...
went on to finish in second place.
After Idol, from 2003 to 2005, Wilcox wrote a weekly column about reality shows for The Daily News
The Daily News (Halifax)
The Daily News was a tabloid newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia that was published from 1974 until ceasing operations in February 2008.-History:...
.
Wilcox has performed in and directed numerous theatre productions in Halifax. He is the co-founder of the independent theatre company, Angels & Heroes. After four increasingly successful seasons with the indie troupe and two summers acting and directing in a company called Festival Antigonish, Wilcox went on to complete a Masters in Theatre Direction at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
before returning to Halifax in 2007. He won a Merritt Award
Robert Merritt
Robert Gray Merritt was a Nova Scotia playwright, film critic, and educator.Merritt was born in Yonkers, NY, the son of John Gray and Mildred Merritt...
for Emerging Theatre Artist in 2007. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in theatre at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Wilcox is openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.