Amanda Atlas

New Zealand dramatic soprano Amanda Atlas began her international career in 1999, spending ten years singing leading roles for various opera companies and orchestras in the US and Europe.

Role highlights include Verdi’s Amelia, Alice Ford and Desdemona, Puccini’s Tosca, Suor Angelica, Musetta, Mimi and Madama Butterfly; Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine; Mascagni’s Suzel (L’amico Fritz), Weill’s Rose (Street Scene); and Offenbach’s Giulietta (Hoffmann).

Now based in New Zealand and Australia, recent engagements include Countess Malcolm (A Little Night Music), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) with Wellington Opera, Elle in Poulenc’s The Human Voice for NZ Opera, Magda Sorel (The Consul) in New York, Gerhilde and Sieglinde (cover) (Die Walkure) with the NZSO, Leonora (Il Trovatore) for Melbourne’s CitiOpera, Witch/Mother (Hansel and Gretel), the Mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’.  2016 saw her make her Opera Australia debut singing Siegrune in their Ring Cycle.

Acclaimed for her ability to crossover into music theatre repertoire, Amanda performed Clara in Sondheim’s ‘Passion’ in its first Off-Broadway performances in New York, and many performances of Sondheim and Rodgers and Hammerstein roles around the USA.

Sophie Harris

Sophie completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts with a specialisation in Musical Theatre from NASDA in 2022. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and found her appreciation for singing in the duration of her study.

From age 13, her love of theatre was fed by her Cashmere High School drama teacher, Shaun Edwards-Brown and after she started dancing with The Entertainment Company from age 16.

Sophie is excited to be playing Sophie Sheridan in the upcoming Showbiz Christchurch season of Mamma Mia!

Her show credits include; Lauren in ‘Kinky Boots’ (Showbiz 2024), Sophie Understudy in ‘Mamma Mia’ (IMT 2024), Montrer Cabaret (The Entertainment Co. 2024), Bombalurina in ‘Cats’ (JK Performing Arts 2024), Ensemble in ‘That Bloody Woman’ (Showbiz 2023), Sandy in ‘Grease’ (NASDA 2022), Linda in ‘The Wedding Singer’ (NASDA 2021), Ensemble in ‘We Will Rock You’ (Showbiz 2019), Ensemble in ‘Wicked’ (2018).

Her film credits include Becky in ‘Dark City: The Cleaner’ (2023), Eve in ‘Though I Walk’ (2021).

Sarah Kelly

Not just a musical theatre performer, Sarah has performed over the last two decades as a corporate entertainer, is a co-director and performer in the popular glamour trio The Starlets, a founder and performer in the energetic 90’s Girl Power Show NZ and electrifying Totally 80’s Show.

Sarah has appeared in recent Showbiz Christchurch productions of Kinky Boots; That Bloody Woman; Mamma Mia and Avenue Q and is in the upcoming Mamma Mia – this time starring as the lead role Donna Sheridan.

Sarah’s Court Theatre credits include Steel Magnolias, The Producers, Netballers, South Pacific, My Fair Lady; multiple children’s shows, and performing in Scared Scripless as a Court Jester.

At the Fortune Theatre she starred in Love Off The Shelf, and A Slice Of Saturday Night.

Prior, in her hometown of Timaru, Sarah was involved in over 20 shows, onstage as well as Director, Choreographer, Musical Director, and has carried on her offstage passions in multiple musicals as a valued member of the company’s costume, wig & hair teams, supporting the thriving theatre community in any way she can.

Chuana McKenzie

Chuana is thrilled to be sharing the stage today with such fabulously talented women!

She trained under Naomi Eyres (Estill), Kristin Keam, Elizabeth Emeleus, and Ravil Atlas, and studied at Andrew Hallsworth’s full time musical theatre course at Patrick Studios, Australia in 2014.

Highlights of this included performing in a cabaret show, several showcases, excerpts from  Mame (Mame), Gypsy (Rose), and performing as Frau Bergmann in Spring Awakening.

In New Zealand, she performed with NCMS in Aida (2016), Blood Brothers (2012) and Jesus Christ Superstar (2011),with Showbiz Christchurch in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (2019), and with Riccarton Players in Godspell (2022).

She is now juggling work, teaching singing and acting, privately and at Greenstone Academy, whilst spending time with her family who inspire her to be the best version of herself.

Divas

Vagina Monologues

by Eve Ensler

Simply Sondheim

Yule Never Walk Alone!