NEWS
Current/Upcoming Performances
and Recent News
Mary the Magdalene - Erika will be playing "Rivka" - a blind midwife and friend to Mary Madgalene - in the upcoming backers' audition/reading of the new musical, Mary the Magdalene. The show will be performed at Chelsea Studios in Manhattan on August 4, 2010.
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Cinderella - Erika recently returned to the Fireside Theatre in Wisconsin to play the "Fairy Godmother" in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. The show ran
May 6 - June 27, 2010. Please visit www.firesidetheatre.com for more info.
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The Adventures Of Trixie Tickles at Upright Citizens Brigade - Erika played Announcer/Teacher/Snickers (the dog) in this sketch comedy musical by Shawn Northrip. The show was performed at the world-renowned Upright Citizens Brigade theater in NYC on 4/15/10. Click here for tickets.
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Starving Artist Monday's Featuring Erika Amato - Come join us at Sweet Caroline's Rock & Roll Piano Bar, in the heart of the Theatre District, every Monday night for an evening of fun and entertainment. Your host, Steve Watts, will be playing and singing a mix of pop, rock, and singer-songwriter favorites, as well as inviting YOU to join him on stage! Got a new pop/rock song you've been eager to try out? Well, this is your chance... bring in your audition book and perform for your friends!
On Monday, April 12th, the special guest is Erika Amato. Come on out and hear her sing an array of classic pop/rock hits from Elton John to Madonna.
322 W. 45th St., New York, NY
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Signs Of Life - Erika recently completed a hugely successful run in her first Off-Broadway role as "Berta" in the World-Premiere musical Signs Of Life. The musical tells the true story of Terezin - Hitler's "City For The Jews" - and ran February 16 - March 21, 2010 at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre. Please visit www.amasmusical.org for more info.
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Toy Story - Erika had so much fun reprising her role as "Bo Peep" in the Disney workshop of the new musical version of Toy Story.
The workshop was held in Anaheim, CA from Jan 3 - Jan 13, 2010.
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Definitely Dickens Holiday Carolers - Erika spent the holidays singing alto (and sometimes soprano - and even tenor) with this wonderful a cappella caroling group. Featuring intricate arrangements and tight harmonies,
the group had dates throught the NY metropolitan area. Check out www.definitelydickens.com for clips, pics, and booking info.
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The Sound Of Music - Erika recently returned from the renowned Fireside Theatre
in Fort Atkinson, WI where she played Elsa Schraeder (AKA "The Baroness") in one of her favorite musicals, The Sound Of Music! The show enjoyed a hugely successful run from August 27th - November 1st. Check out www.firesidetheatre.com for tickets and info.
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We Don't Sing On Subways...Yet - Erika's been involved with this concert-fundraiser series at the Stonewall Inn since its
inception on May 5th. Produced by Jamie Price, the evening brings together talented NY-based musical theatre performers to belt out some tunes and raise money for various charities/causes. The last show was on December 1st, 2009 and was a fantastic success! Stay tuned for more info!
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Erika was a huge hit at Leap Back - the 20th Anniversary Quantum Leap Convention in Los Angeles. Erika performed various selections from her jazz album and her work with Velvet Chain at the Friday Night Theme Party on March 27th, 2009, and also spoke with the fans as part
of a "celebrity panel" the following day. A good time was had by all.
Check http://www.leapback2009.com for more info.
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Erika was recently cast as "Karen" - the leading lady - in a reading of the new musical (In)Fidelity, which performed to sold-out houses at the WOW Cafe Theatre in Manhattan's East Village (Feb. 20th & 21st).
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Erika returned to her position as a full-time
alto with prestigious Christmas caroling group, Definitely Dickens Holiday Carolers in November, 2008. This was Erika's 6th season with the company, but her first in New York...it was great spending the holidays in the Big Apple!
Please visit www.definitelydickens.com for more info or to book the group for an event.
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Erika makes her Midwestern theatrical debut!
She was thrilled to play "Miss Jones" in the classic musical, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at the Fireside Dinner Theatre
in Fort Atkinson, WI. The show ran from August 21 through October 19, 2008. Please visit www.firesidetheatre.com for more info.
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Erika made her NY theatrical debut in the musical,
Triumph Of Love, at the Astoria Performing Arts Center. She played the "stern philosopher" Hesione to rave reviews from
April 25th through May 11th, 2008. (For info on the theatre, please visit www.apacny.org).
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Erika's most recent independent feature film, A
Couple of Days and Nights, by Los Angeles-based
writer/director Vaughn Verdi, is now available on Netflix! Erika plays one of the four leads - a wannabe rock diva named Jula.
The film has been screened at several festivals around the country and has been released on DVD nationwide. You can order the DVD on amazon.com by clicking here.
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Erika was nominated for the prestigious 2007 L.A. Ovation Award in the category of Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in Sleeping Beauty Wakes at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The production was nominated for 10 awards, total.
The categories in which SBW was nominated were:
World Premiere Musical WINNER
Musical Large Theatre
Direction of a Musical (Jeff Calhoun)
Musical Direction (Brendan Millburn) WINNER
Lighting Design Large Theatre (Michael Gilliam)
Sound Design Large Theatre (Eric Snodgrass)
Lead Actress in a Musical (Valerie Vigoda)
Lead Actress in a Musical (Alexandria Wailes)
Supporting Actor in a Musical (Kevin Earley)
Supporting Actress in a Musical (Erika Amato)
Congratulations to everyone in the SBW family!
(For a full list of nominees and winners, go here:
http://www.theatrela.org/ovationaward.asp)
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Past News...
ENCHANTED
Although her little solo was cut (*sigh*), Erika
is thrilled to have provided one of the singing voices in the hit Disney movie, Enchanted,
starring Susan Sarandon, Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey.
The film was directed by Kevin Lima and features music
and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.
WHITE CHRISTMAS
Erika enjoyed a highly successful run of Irving Berlin's White Christmas,
at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido, CA. Erika played Betty Haynes - the Rosemary Clooney role in the film - from Nov 8th through Dec 30th, 2007.
Please visit www.welktheatre.com for more info.
CHANGED FOR GOOD
A TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
88's Cabaret (with whom Erika has performed since its inception) produced Changed For Good -
a wonderful concert/tribute to the work of composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, of which Erika was proud to be a part, singing "Trun Back O Man" from Godspell, and vamping for the great man himself.
The event was a huge success, featuring stars of both stage and screen, including Deborah Gibson, Bruce Vilanch, Jai Rodriguez, William Katt, Megan Hilty, Eden Espinosa, and others.
Please visit www.myspace.com/eightyeightscabaret for more info.
DISNEY PRINCESS FANTASY FAIRE
For 2 years (2006 - 2008), Erika thoroughly enjoyed playing
"Lady Lillian" in the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire at the Disneyland Resort, teaching all the little
ones how to be proper lords and ladies along with her gallant knight, "Sir Elias." The show opened at the Fantasyland Theater on Oct 6th, 2006 and Erika
performed in the show until her move to NY in the summer of 2008.
THE THIEF
The Thief, a world-premiere musical based on the
award-winning Russian film of the same name, was presented in workshop form from July 12 - 15, 2007 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Erika played Rosa, the doctor's wife, who - quite frankly - was a bit of a tart.
The piece was directed by James Mellon and musically directed by Joseph Church, and will likely be given a full production sometime in '08.
LE BUREAU DU PETIT MORT
Erika shot a new short film called
Le Bureau Du Petit Mort, playing the female lead, Chloe. (And yes, as those of you who speak French can tell,
the piece is a little bit racy.) The film was written and directed by Damon Runninghorse-Buckley and is being submitted to Sundance as well as numerous foreign film festivals.
TOY STORY
In June 2007, Erika had a blast playing Bo Peep in the workshop of the new musical stage production of Toy Story
for Walt Disney Entertainment. The piece - which featues wonderful new songs by Brendan Millburn and Valerie Vigoda of GrooveLily/Sleeping Beauty Wakes fame - was directed by Stefan Novinski
and musically directed by David O.
SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES
Erika
was thrilled to be a part of the new Deaf West/Center
Theatre Group production, Sleeping
Beauty Wakes, directed by Broadway director/choreographer
Jeff Calhoun (Brooklyn, Big River, Grease). Erika
provided the voices of the Clinic Director/Bad Fairy
(also performed by ASL actress, Deanne Bray) in addition to performing the roles of the Night Terror Patient/Royal Servant.
Featuring the indie pop/rock
sensation GrooveLily on stage with both deaf and hearing
actors, Sleeping Beauty Wakes is a fun and free adaptation
of the Grimm’s fairy tale. After her 100-year
snooze, Beauty awakes in a new time and place where
everything is strange -- the palace is gone, all the
princes have given up, and now she has insomnia! Or
is she still asleep and dreaming?As they did with Big River,
Deaf West Theater delightfully twists another classic
into a unique musical where spoken English and American
Sign Language are interwoven with music, dance and
song to create an exceptional theatrical event.
A
co-production of Center Theatre Group and Deaf West
Theatre Company.
The show received glowing reviews (read excerpts
here) and ran
March 31st through May 20th, 2007
INLAND THEATRE LEAGUE NOMINATION
Erika
was nominated for an Inland
Theatre League Award for her performance as Reno
Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Candlelight
Pavilion in Claremont, CA. The awards ceremony were held on April 11th, 2007 at the Landis Performing Arts
Center in Riverside, CA.
DEFINITELY
DICKENS HOLIDAY CAROLERS
In 2006, Erika was pleased to return as a full-time
alto for her 5th year with the well-known a cappella caroling
group, Definitely
Dickens.
ANYTHING
GOES
Erika
completed an extremely successful run of the rollicking Cole
Porter musical, Anything Goes!
at the Candlelight
Pavilion in Claremont, CA, playing the "world's most
sensuous semonizer, her high-stepping holiness, Reno Sweeney!"
Featuring the classic gems, "You're The Top," "Friendship,"
"DeLovely," "I Get A Kick Out Of You,"
"Let's Misbehave," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow,"
and the title tune, the show was directed and musical directed
by Douglas Austin and choreographed
by John Vaughan.
The show ran Sept 29th through Nov. 12th, 2006
SUNSET
BOULEVARD
Erika was thrilled to be part
of the ensemble in the all-star staged reading of
Sunset Boulevard at the Hollywood
Bowl on August 6th, 2006, directed by Peter
Hunt.
The legendary cast included Betty Buckley,
Len Cariou, Douglas
Sills,
James Cromwell, and Charles
Durning, among others.
The Billy Wilder film noir classic,
in an adaptation by David Rambo,
was performed complete with Franz Waxman's
Academy Award winning score. Maestro John
Mauceri conducted the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
ENCHANTED
Erika had the great good fortune
to record vocals for the new Disney feature,
Enchanted, slated for
a Fall, 2007 release. The film stars Susan
Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey,
Amy Adams, and Idina
Menzel, and features songs by Alan
Menken and Stephen Schwartz.
SNOW
WHITE - AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL
Erika
came back to the Fantasyland Theater at Disneyland, Anaheim,
CA to play both the Evil Queen and
the Hag in the big-budget spectacularSnow
White -An Enchanting Musical.
(Erika also played these roles from May
2004 through Sept 2005.)
The show re-opened June 9th and ran through Sept. 4th, 2006
SISTER
ACT: THE MUSICAL
Erika
had the pleasure of being a part of the first workshop of
the new Alan Menken - penned
musical adaptation of Sister Act.
The workshop was presented at the Pasadena Playhouse on April
27th and 28th, 2006.
MISSION:
ROMANCE
Spring,
2006: Erika had a blast playing her first uniformed
role -
Paramedic #2 - in the dramatic
short, Mission: Romance.
The film was directed by Frank Turrisi,
and produced by Nineball/Devcar Productions.
Check back for info on future festival screenings.
THE
SNOW QUEEN
Jan, 2006: Erika was thrilled
to be cast as the Snow Queen in the first workshop of the
new Disney musical, The Snow Queen.
The workshop boasted an incredible production team, including
Alan Menken (music), Glen
Slater (lyrics), John Weidman
(book), Amon Miyamoto (director),
Michael Kosarin (Musical Director),
and Brent-Alan Huffman (Asst.
MD).
A
COUPLE OF DAYS AND NIGHTS
This independent feature film - directed
by Vaughn Verdi and starring David Lago
(The
Young and the Restless), Shonda
Farr (Buffy
the Vampire Slayer), Allison
Munn (What
I Like About You), Joseph
Peracchio (Smack),
and Erika Amato (Smack) -
was a Finalist at the Hollywood
Film Festival, where it had its
world-premiere screening on October 22, 2005,
and is now coming out on DVD (available nationwide) this October, 2007.
The
film also screened at the
Temecula Valley International Film Festival on
Sept. 14, & Sept, 16, 2006 Temecula
Film Festival Site
You can view the trailer here:
Days
TrailerMore
info available at http://www.acoupleofdaysandnights.com
