Broadway Singer & Actress
Amanda grew up just outside Philadelphia in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She holds a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she landed her first film roles in Smart People opposite Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church, and in Homecoming with Mischa Barton.
After graduating, she made her New York theatre debut in BUNKED! A NEW MUSICAL at the Lucille Lortel Theatre followed by LETTER FROM ALGERIA at Abingdon Theatre Company. Amanda then starred as Glinda in WICKED (National Tour) in 2011, floating by bubble across the country and even performing for First Lady Michelle Obama during the show's 10-week run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
She then moved to Los Angeles where she landed guest star and recurring roles on Glee, Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Jessie (Disney), The Michaels (Hallmark), Masters of Sex (Showtime), Selfie (ABC) and Hello Ladies (HBO). Films include Cavemen, Sutures, Days Like This & more.
Regionally she has starred as Kim MacAfee in Sacramento Music Circus' BYE BYE BIRDIE, Geraldine Barclay in WHAT THE BUTLER SAW at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Jenny in LINTHEAD at The Santa Monica Playhouse and Clotho in a workshop of Adam Gwon's STRING at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in CT. She's also written original songs for, produced and starred in two one-woman cabarets at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Angeles.
For 16 months from December, 2015 to March, 2017, Amanda reprised her role as Glinda in the National Tour of WICKED, visiting over 20 cities for 500 performances for over a million people! Her interpretation of the role garnered praise from critics around the country. DC Theatre Scene’s Steven McKnight wrote: “She has an enchanting stage presence and her comedic skills keep the audience in the palm of her hand. Cooper provokes laughs with every little facial expression, malapropism, squeal, and bouncing movement. And her sweet and pure soprano voice is a joy to hear.”
On July 31st, 2017 she made her Broadway debut starring as Glinda in WICKED. Almost a year and half later, starring as the show's 15th Anniversary Glinda, she opened NBC's A Very Wicked Halloween with "One Short Day" and closed the special with "For Good" alongside Kristin Chenoweth. Taking her final bow at the Gershwin on December 9th, 2018 exactly three years after making her re-debut on tour, she is now one of WICKED's longest running Glinda's. Amanda is grateful to her team at BRS/Gage & Mike Gillespie, Stephen Schwartz, Craig Burns, Joan Lader, her family and God.