Erika Amato

Although Erika is probably still best known as lead singer of the alternative band Velvet Chain, (who garnered a large cult following through their appearances on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show and soundtrack album), she is also an accomplished professional actress, working consistently on the theatrical stage, as well as in TV and film. Having just made the move to NY from LA, Erika recently made her NY theatrical debut as "Hesione" in Triumph Of Love at the Astoria Performing Arts Center (April 25 - May 11, 2008). Next, she'll be playing "Miss Jones" in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at the beautiful Fireside Theatre in Wisconsin (August 21 - October 19th, 2008.

Of all her recent credits, Erika is most proud of her role as the Voice of the "Clinic Director/Bad Fairy" (and playing a myriad of other roles) in the World Premiere of the American Sign Language musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, CA. Her work in the show garnered her both an Ovation Award nomination (for Featured Actress in a Musical) and a Backstage West Garland Award Honorable Mention. The show featured both deaf and hearing actors, and was easily the most challenging and rewarding theatrical experience Erika has had to date. Sleeping Beauty Wakes was a co-production of Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre, with music by NY-based band GrooveLily, book by Tony Award winner Rachel Sheinkin, and direction and choreography by multiple Tony award nominee, Jeff Calhoun.

Some of Erika's other recent credits include: "Betty Haynes" (the Rosemary Clooney role) in Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Welk Resort Theatre of Escondido, CA), Sunset Boulevard at the Hollywood Bowl (starring Betty Buckley and Len Cariou), "Reno Sweeney" in Anything Goes (Candlelight Pavilion - Inland Theatre League Award nominee), "Dorothy Brock" in 42nd Street (Welk Resort Theatre), the "Snow Queen" in the original musical, The Snow Queen (Disney Workshop - music by Alan Menken), a "Marseillaise"-singing French bar patron in the Actors' Fund Benefit reading of Casablanca at the Pantages Theatre (starring Christian Slater and Anne Heche), Cherry/Sarah in Paint Your Wagon (Geffen Playhouse), the Evil Queen/Hag in Snow White - An Enchanting Musical (Disneyland Resort), Hippolyte in The Bungler (West Coast Ensemble), Fay Templeton in George M! (Fullerton CLO), Wallis Simpson in Madly In Love (Odyssey Theater), Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (Starlight Musical Theatre), Yvonne in Sunday in the Park with George (West Coast Ensemble - Ovation nominee for Best Musical), Maria in The Sound of Music (Saddleback CLO), and Luisa in Nine (Chance Theater - OCWeekly "Best Performance in a Musical" nominee, named one of the "Top 10 Best Performances of 2002" by the Orange County Register).

Television and Film credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bringing Up Jack, VH-1's Sparkle Lounge, Quantum Leap, starring roles in the indie features A Couple of Days and Nights and Smack (among others), and as a featured singing voice in the Danger Rangers TV series on PBS and the Disney feature film, Enchanted, starring Susan Sarandon, Amy Adams, and Patrick Dempsey.

For more info about Erika's work with Velvet Chain, please visit the band's official website: www.velvetchain.com.