I'm going to use this space for my "official bio," just in case you're interested in me. ;-)
Actress/Singer Erika Amato is probably best known for her work with the alternative band Velvet Chain, (who have garnered a cult following through their appearances on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show and soundtrack album), but she has been singing jazz standards and torch songs since she was - well, since she was far too young to really understand what they meant.
After being hounded by friends and family for years to produce a CD of this sort of material, she is very happy to be able to say she finally has come out with one: Come Rain Or Come Shine.
In addition to her work as a vocalist, Erika is also an accomplished actress, working mainly on the theatrical stage in various venues across southern CA.
In 2007 alone, she provided the voice for the Bad Fairy/Clinic Director - and played the Royal Servant/Night Terror Patient - in the World Premiere Musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Center Theatre Group - Ovation Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical), played Bo Peep in the in-house Disney workshop of their new Toy Story musical, strutted around as Rosa in the brand-new musical The Thief, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, played Myrtle/Roxy in the staged reading of yet another new musical,I Come For Love, presented at the Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks, shot an indie short called "Le Bureau Du Petit Mort" (a bit naughty, that title), and played Betty Haynes in Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Welk Resort Theatre in San Diego. She also has been enjoying singing at 88's Cabaret in West Hollywood on the third Monday of every month - including performing in the wonderful Stephen Schwartz tribute/concert, Changed For Good.
Some of Erika's past credits include: Sunset Boulevard at the Hollywood Bowl (starring Betty Buckley and Len Cariou), Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Candlelight Pavilion - Inland Theatre League Nomination), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (Welk Resort Theatre), the Snow Queen in the first workshop of the original musical, The Snow Queen (music by Alan Menken), 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).
Her 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 (out on DVD and available on Netflix) and Smack, starring and supporting roles in tons of indie short films, and as a singing voice in the Disney feature film, Enchanted, starring Susan Sarandon, Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Idina Menzel.
COME SEE ERIKA IN HER NY THEATRICAL DEBUT AS "HESIONE" IN TRIUMPH OF LOVE! www.apacny.org
Music:
This is a bit self-serving, but one of my favorite bands is honestly my own band, Velvet Chain. Also Radiohead, The Police, U2, the Beatles, Duran Duran, Fiona Apple, David Bowie, Eurythmics, New Order, The Cure, Beck, Portishead, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Cole Porter, Gershwin, Duke Ellington
Movies:
My favorite movie of all time is BLADE RUNNER. Genius.
TV:
Lost, ANTM, Antiques Roadshow, Star Trek, Star Trek: TNG, Project Runway, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, The Simpsons
Books:
I'm currently reading "Dark Victory" - a Bette Davis bio. Just before that, I read "Middlesex," which was hugely entertaining.
Heroes/Idols:
Ella Fitzgerald is my hero, as far as vocalists go. And Bono's pretty freakin' inspiring. Also Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, etc.
