Amanda grew up in Chicago IL and started acting professionally as a child. She studied ballet, tap and character at Jerry Barrington School of Dance starting at age two. Amanda's mother Nancy began teaching Amanda piano at age four which she continued to study until age 12. Amanda then began private voice lessons at the prestigious Merit School of Music where she also sang in the honors choir and studied clarinet.
Amanda was frequently seen and heard around town performing on such stages as the Lyric Opera, Chicago Theater, Navy Pier and Wisdom Bridge as well as singing on the radio program "Let's Read!" and starring in the TV show "The Magic Door"--all before becoming a teenager!
Amanda attended Regina Dominican High School, an all girls Catholic school, where she was an avid participant of the performing arts. There Amanda starred in plays and musicals, sang in the choir, danced in orchesis, played clarinet in orchestra and even directed other students in plays. Amanda also competed in Forensics and was an active member of Youth Ministry Council and the Environmental Club. Amanda was a member of many honor societies including, Tri-M Music Honor Society,The International Thespian Society and received the Drama Medal for Excellence for her graduating class.
Amanda then went on to study acting at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theater. Fellow classmates include Matthew Crowle of Broadway's Spamalot, Courtney Reed of Broadway’s Aladdin, In the Heights and Parvesh Cheena of TV’s Outsourced.
After starring in Chicago theaters in roles such as “Cinderella” (Cinderella) and “Dorothy” (Wizard of Oz), Amanda moved to New York to continue her love of acting. While in New York, Amanda got to fulfill her childhood dream of working with legendary composer Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, etc) on his new musical Time Steps. Amanda then had the privilege of performing Off-Broadway portraying Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate under the direction/choreography of Tony Award winner Tony Spinosa. Other New York credits include Ray Noir: Beach Detective (Samantha Ray) and Titanic (Kate McGowan).
After appearing in many regional theater shows Amanda realized she missed her family too much and was happy to return to her hometown of Chicago where she has continued to perform on stage and screen. Amanda currently lives in Chicago with her husband Peter. She a proud aunt to Annabelle Mary (age 8) and godmother to Hannah Mary (age 10). Amanda has an older sister (Chiara), a brother in law (Dan) and a younger brother (Christopher) who tours nation wide in the male a capella group, Straight, No Chaser.
Amanda's family is no stranger to the stage and has been a huge influence on her career. Growing up, Amanda watched her parents (Nancy and Graziano Marcheschi) perform regularly throughout the country. Nancy and Graz appeared in front of thousands performing their unique brand of religious theater using Gospel dramatizations and proclamations, liturgical dancing, storytelling and original plays. Their company, The Anawim Players is nationally known and recognized as a leader in scriptural drama. They were responsible for creating a major performance-prayer event presented in Phoenix, AZ during the 1987 pastoral visit of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Amanda's mom and dad continue to teach and perform and are a constant support to her and her career.
Amanda's extended family are also life long artists, musicians, dancers, singers and actors. Family gatherings often involve waiting your turn for the "spotlight on stage". Amanda's maternal grandparents (Ray and Elizabeth Seitz) formed a touring group called The Original Starlites performing songs and dances of the 1930's-1960's. Amanda began performing regularly with them around age 7 and hasn't stopped since! Amanda's paternal grandfather (Raffello Marcheschi) was an accomplished trumpet player and leader of the San Genaro band in his home town in Italy. As you can see, it was in Amanda's genes to be a performer and her love for music, dance and drama was encouraged and honed since birth! She is very grateful and feels extremely blessed to have such a wonderful and supportive family. Even those members of her family who are not so "artsy" have always supported her and been there to cheer her on!
Amanda was frequently seen and heard around town performing on such stages as the Lyric Opera, Chicago Theater, Navy Pier and Wisdom Bridge as well as singing on the radio program "Let's Read!" and starring in the TV show "The Magic Door"--all before becoming a teenager!
Amanda attended Regina Dominican High School, an all girls Catholic school, where she was an avid participant of the performing arts. There Amanda starred in plays and musicals, sang in the choir, danced in orchesis, played clarinet in orchestra and even directed other students in plays. Amanda also competed in Forensics and was an active member of Youth Ministry Council and the Environmental Club. Amanda was a member of many honor societies including, Tri-M Music Honor Society,The International Thespian Society and received the Drama Medal for Excellence for her graduating class.
Amanda then went on to study acting at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theater. Fellow classmates include Matthew Crowle of Broadway's Spamalot, Courtney Reed of Broadway’s Aladdin, In the Heights and Parvesh Cheena of TV’s Outsourced.
After starring in Chicago theaters in roles such as “Cinderella” (Cinderella) and “Dorothy” (Wizard of Oz), Amanda moved to New York to continue her love of acting. While in New York, Amanda got to fulfill her childhood dream of working with legendary composer Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, etc) on his new musical Time Steps. Amanda then had the privilege of performing Off-Broadway portraying Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate under the direction/choreography of Tony Award winner Tony Spinosa. Other New York credits include Ray Noir: Beach Detective (Samantha Ray) and Titanic (Kate McGowan).
After appearing in many regional theater shows Amanda realized she missed her family too much and was happy to return to her hometown of Chicago where she has continued to perform on stage and screen. Amanda currently lives in Chicago with her husband Peter. She a proud aunt to Annabelle Mary (age 8) and godmother to Hannah Mary (age 10). Amanda has an older sister (Chiara), a brother in law (Dan) and a younger brother (Christopher) who tours nation wide in the male a capella group, Straight, No Chaser.
Amanda's family is no stranger to the stage and has been a huge influence on her career. Growing up, Amanda watched her parents (Nancy and Graziano Marcheschi) perform regularly throughout the country. Nancy and Graz appeared in front of thousands performing their unique brand of religious theater using Gospel dramatizations and proclamations, liturgical dancing, storytelling and original plays. Their company, The Anawim Players is nationally known and recognized as a leader in scriptural drama. They were responsible for creating a major performance-prayer event presented in Phoenix, AZ during the 1987 pastoral visit of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Amanda's mom and dad continue to teach and perform and are a constant support to her and her career.
Amanda's extended family are also life long artists, musicians, dancers, singers and actors. Family gatherings often involve waiting your turn for the "spotlight on stage". Amanda's maternal grandparents (Ray and Elizabeth Seitz) formed a touring group called The Original Starlites performing songs and dances of the 1930's-1960's. Amanda began performing regularly with them around age 7 and hasn't stopped since! Amanda's paternal grandfather (Raffello Marcheschi) was an accomplished trumpet player and leader of the San Genaro band in his home town in Italy. As you can see, it was in Amanda's genes to be a performer and her love for music, dance and drama was encouraged and honed since birth! She is very grateful and feels extremely blessed to have such a wonderful and supportive family. Even those members of her family who are not so "artsy" have always supported her and been there to cheer her on!
