NEWS

Current/Upcoming Performances and News Erika is thrilled to announce her Midwestern theatrical debut! She'll be playing "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 runs August 21 - October 19, 2008. Please visit www.firesidetheatre.com for more info or to purchase tickets. *** Erika is making her NY theatrical debut in the musical, Triumph Of Love, at the Astoria Performing Arts Center. Erika will be playing the "stern philosopher" Hesione from April 25th through May 11th, 2008. Please visit www.apacny.org for more details or to purchase tickets. *** Erika's 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. *** Erika was nominated for the prestigious 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) *** Erika recently completed 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 holiday film favorite - from Nov 8th through Dec 30th, 2007. Please visit www.welktheatre.com for more info. *** When she is in LA, Erika continues to perform at 88's Cabaret, produced by Ryan Black and held the 3rd Monday of every month at the restaurant/club, Eleven, in West Hollywood. 88's recently 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. The event was a huge success, and included many stars of both stage and screen. Please visit www.myspace.com/eightyeightscabaret for more info. *** Although her little solo was cut (*sigh*), Erika is thrilled to have provided one of the singing voices in the Disney hit 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.

Recent News...

 

DISNEY PRINCESS FANTASY FAIRE
For the past 2 years, Erika has 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 is slated for an open-ended run.

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 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 recently completed shooting 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, 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
Last holiday season (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, 2006Temecula Film Festival Site

You can view the trailer here: Days TrailerMore info available at http://www.acoupleofdaysandnights.com

Past news...

Erika Amato signs with Pinnacle Commercial Talent
In November, 2005, Erika secured commercial representation from Pinnacle Commercial Talent, a very well-respected LA-based agency.

"A Couple Of  Days And Nights" chosen an Official Selection of the Hollywood Film Festival
October 4, 2005, Los Angeles - The highly-anticipated world premiere screening of the romantic drama A Couple Of Days And Nights took place during this year's Hollywood Film Festival. The newest independent feature film from up-and-coming filmmaker Vaughn Verdi (Smack), A Couple Of Days And Nights screened on October 22 at 4:00pm at the Arclight Cinemas, located at 6360 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Erika had the pleasure of walking the red carpet at the Hollywood Awards Gala with co-star David Lago (Emmy-award winner, The Young And The Restless). Click here for photos of the event.
http://www.acoupleofdaysandnights.com

42nd Street (Welk Resort Theatre)
June 9th through August 28th, 2005 - Erika received rave reviews for her portrayal of stage diva Dorothy Brock in the classic backstage musical, 42nd Street, at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. CA. This multi-Tony Award winning show is filled with show-stopping tap numbers and famous jazz-era songs such as: "We’re In The Money,”“Lullaby of Broadway,” “42nd Street,” “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me," "About A Quarter To Nine,” and “Shuffle Off To Buffalo.”

Paint Your Wagon (Geffen Playhouse)
November 23rd through January 9th, 2004 - Erika had the pleasure of playing the roles of Cherry Jourdel and Sarah Woodling in the world-premiere revival of Lerner & Loewe's Paint Your Wagon at the prestigious Geffen Playhouse in West LA. This rousing musical about the California Gold Rush was directed by the Geffen's own producing director, Gil Cates, with a new book by award-winning playwright, David Rambo. The extremely talented cast included Tom Wilson (Back to the Future), Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue), Alex Mendoza (Port Charles), and many other well-established actors from the worlds of theater, television, and film.

"Sunday in the Park with George" nominated for Ovation Award
The musical stage play, Sunday in the Park with George, which co-starred Erika Amato, was nominated for the prestigious Ovation Award for Best Musical, Smaller Theatre, 2003.
http://www.theatrela.org/ovation_awards.html

Erika Joins West Coast Ensemble
In early 2003, Erika joined the West Coast Ensemble theater company in Los Angeles, and was promptly cast in their production of the the Pulitzer Prize-winning Stephen Sondheim work, "Sunday in the Park with George." The production ran from March through June, and has been nominated for a prestigious Ovation Award (for Best Musical - Smaller Theatre). For more info on West Coast Ensemble, please see: www.wcensemble.org

Erika Amato Nominated For O.C. Weekly Theater Award
Erika has been nominated for Best Performance in a Musical for her role in Nine. She is nominated alongside Misty Cotton for Laguna Playhouse's Spitfire Grill, Frederica Von Stade for Opera Pacific's Dead Man Walking, and Frank Tryon for The King at the Maverick. This category blends both men and women.

These annual theater awards are organized by Orange County Weekly magazine.
Click Here for article on these awards
Click Here to see the Program for the event

Orange County Register names its Best Performances of 2002
Erika was named one of the Best Performances of 2002 by the Orange County Register for her role as "Luisa" in Nine. Her production of The Sound of Music was also named one of the Top Ten Best Productions, due in part to its "first-rate Maria."
Click Here for article