"I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something, than
educate people and hope they were entertained." WALT DISNEY
FANTINE in Les Miserables
While she had always created, directed and performed in home-made shows for her family, Mandy Marie's first real performance was as a featured soloist in her school production of 'Promise U' at Calvary Road Christian School in 2000. A year later, she joined a local singing and dancing group in Stafford, Virginia (Sound Celebration), and remained with them for three seasons as a soloist for all three productions she took part in. ("One" Broadway Season Showcase; "Downtown Holiday Hullaballo" Christmas Season Showcase; "Hero" American 9/11 Tribute Season Showcase.)
After making the life-changing move from Virginia to Florida, she took a break from the public arts, returning to amusing herself with home-made 'productions' until joining up with Orlando Youth Theatre in September of 2006, for their production of the new 'Disney's High School Musical' in it's Central Florida premiere. She took on three ensemble roles in this production, playing one of Taylor's brainiacs in various scenes, a rebellious student in the "Status Quo" number, and the Science Decathalon Moderator in the "Bop To The Top" number.
She later attempted a new sort of project: directing and performing in a Les Miserables Fan Recording online as Eponine Thenardier, and was cast in yet another of these popular fan projects as the Cosette understudy. While neither project got off the ground, they were fantastic experience in directing and audio mixing, and would lend a hand in designing and perfecting future projects.
In 2007, she snagged the job of her dreams: a coveted entertainment position at Walt Disney World. She now performs in the Magic Kingdom and at the Grand Floridian hotel, and can be seen in the 'Celebrate A Dream Come True' parade on Main Street USA. She aspires to one day climb the entertainment ladder and perform in the 'Beauty and the Beast' show at Hollywood Studios, but is content where she is now and will wait it out until that day comes!
In May of 2008, she portrayed the role of Fantine in her favorite musical, 'Les Miserables', performed at Orlando Youth Theatre. She has not taken part in any shows since, but is focusing more on her vocal training, learning from the wonderful Eric Arceneaux online, and studying the techniques of musical masters Lea Salonga, Susan Egan, Kristin Chenoweth and Jodi Benson. Her range has expanded drastically since beginning her lessons (she is a mezzo-soprano, though her soprano itself is strengthening vastly), and she is eager to get back into performing!
After making the life-changing move from Virginia to Florida, she took a break from the public arts, returning to amusing herself with home-made 'productions' until joining up with Orlando Youth Theatre in September of 2006, for their production of the new 'Disney's High School Musical' in it's Central Florida premiere. She took on three ensemble roles in this production, playing one of Taylor's brainiacs in various scenes, a rebellious student in the "Status Quo" number, and the Science Decathalon Moderator in the "Bop To The Top" number.
She later attempted a new sort of project: directing and performing in a Les Miserables Fan Recording online as Eponine Thenardier, and was cast in yet another of these popular fan projects as the Cosette understudy. While neither project got off the ground, they were fantastic experience in directing and audio mixing, and would lend a hand in designing and perfecting future projects.
In 2007, she snagged the job of her dreams: a coveted entertainment position at Walt Disney World. She now performs in the Magic Kingdom and at the Grand Floridian hotel, and can be seen in the 'Celebrate A Dream Come True' parade on Main Street USA. She aspires to one day climb the entertainment ladder and perform in the 'Beauty and the Beast' show at Hollywood Studios, but is content where she is now and will wait it out until that day comes!
In May of 2008, she portrayed the role of Fantine in her favorite musical, 'Les Miserables', performed at Orlando Youth Theatre. She has not taken part in any shows since, but is focusing more on her vocal training, learning from the wonderful Eric Arceneaux online, and studying the techniques of musical masters Lea Salonga, Susan Egan, Kristin Chenoweth and Jodi Benson. Her range has expanded drastically since beginning her lessons (she is a mezzo-soprano, though her soprano itself is strengthening vastly), and she is eager to get back into performing!
"Wow, your voice reminds me of Kendra Kassebaum!"
-- wicked101elphie, YouTube
"I almost never comment, but I have to say you are fantastic.
You could go straight to a production of Wicked in my opinion."
-- ieatslowly, YouTube
-- wicked101elphie, YouTube
"I almost never comment, but I have to say you are fantastic.
You could go straight to a production of Wicked in my opinion."
-- ieatslowly, YouTube
