| Erika Amato | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 7, 1969 Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress/Singer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
Erika Amato (born December 7, 1969) is an American singer and actress, and a founding member of the band Velvet Chain.
Amato was born in the town of Plainfield, New Jersey and grew up in the town of Summit. She started playing and performing music at the age of three. She attended Kent Place School and then went to Vassar College to earn her undergraduate degree (BA) - receiving both general honors and honors in Drama. While at Vassar, she performed in both the Music Department's elite a cappella group, the Madrigals, as well as the student-run co-ed a cappella group, Matthew's Minstrels.
After graduation, Amato moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and quickly landed a guest-starring appearance on the popular show, Quantum Leap, garnering her the coveted SAG card. In the mid-1990s, she met Jeff Stacy, and together the two founded Velvet Chain, an indie band with a large cult following most famous for their appearances on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the subsequent soundtrack album on TVT Records. The band has also self-released several albums through their own label, Freak Productions, and continue to write and record material.[1]
Amato continues to pursue an acting career and has relocated to New York City, where she recently made her Off-Broadway debut in the new musical, Signs Of Life.[2] She has appeared in many plays and films over the years, starring in the indie film A Couple of Days and Nights and in productions of the musicals Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Center Theatre Group - Ovation Award Nomination for Best Featured Actress In A Musical),[3] Paint Your Wagon (Geffen Playhouse), 42nd Street (Welk Resort Theatre) and Anything Goes (Candlelight Pavilion).
She also does voice-over work, providing vocals for demos, TV shows, and films - most recently for the PBS animated series, Danger Rangers and the Disney feature film, Enchanted.[4]
Amato appeared on Win Ben Stein's Money and won.[5]