Harrison grew up in Bangor and attended Menai High School[10] in Sydney's Sutherland Shire. Harrison attended short courses at The Actors Centre and started the Musical Theatre BA at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 1997, but left after only six weeks to take the role of Betty Schaefer in the Original Australian Production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard.[11]
In 1993 Harrison graduated from the Talent Development Project[12] – a program aimed at identifying and supporting students with talent and an interest in a career as an entertainer.[13]
In 2005 Harrison appeared in Leader of the Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Musical playing Ellie Greenwich, an inspirational songwriter of the 1960s. Her performance was nominated for both Helpmann and Green Room Awards.
Taking over the role from Sophie Katinis, Harrison played Ellen in Miss Saigon[16] for the Brisbane and Sydney seasons in 2007. This production featured David Harris as Chris and Laurie Cadevida as Kim.
In 2008, Harrison originated the role of Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked which opened in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre. Harrison took a leave of absence from the show in November 2009 citing health and family reasons, with the intention of returning in 2010,[17] however by February the leave would be permanent.[18] For playing the role, Harrison was nominated for Green Room, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.
Harrison stepped in to sing the role of Anita in The Production Company's 2015 West Side Story, when actor Deone Zanotto suddenly came down with laryngitis. Anita's spoken dialogue was provided by assistant director Natalie Gilhome, while Zanotto continued to provide the physical performance.[23]
Harrison performed her own cabaret "The Story Goes On" at Statement Lounge Bar, in Sydney from 13 July 2006 to 15 July 2006 describing the show as
"... a little tongue-in-cheek, piss-take of my life," Harrison says. "When I was looking at my life trying to make something for this show I [realised] I've done some really cool things, but in essence I'm still a really big dag."[14]
With Wicked castmate Lucy Durack, she sang the Australian national anthem Advance Australia Fair at the opening of the AFL Grand Final.[36] Harrison performed the song "One Short Day" with fellow Wicked cast members at the 2008 Melbourne Myer Windows display to kick off the Christmas Parade. On 24 December, Harrison and Durack sang at Vision Australia's Annual Carols by Candlelight Concert at the Sydney Meyer Music Bowl.
On 20 January 2009, Harrison performed at Carnegie Hall as part of Australia Week in "Australia Plays Broadway", where she sang "The Wizard and I" from Wicked, "Arthur's Theme" from The Boy From Oz and "I Still Call Australia Home" alongside Olivia Newton-John, Simon Burke and David Campbell.[37]
For the 2010 Rob Guest Endowment Concert, held on 4 October Harrison sang The Story Goes On.[38]
On 13 February 2011 at the Seymour Centre in Sydney[40] and then on 28 August at the National Theatre in Melbourne, Harrison performed for Hats Off! an annual fundraising concert presented by Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (OSCEFA),[41] then in its 12th year. Harrison also performed at the 2012 concert in Sydney on 13 February.[42][43]Hats Off raises money to support Australians living with HIV.
Martin Crewes performed with Harrison at QPAC Spirit of Christmas on 9–10 December 2011.[44]
Harrison performed as a guest at We Will Rock You castmate Michael Falzon's cabaret "Michael Falzon—Plugged In!"[45] in October 2012
Amanda Harrison – Up Close and Reasonably Personal debuted in The Basement, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, on 20 July 2013 for The Arts Centre Gold Coast and Matt Ward Entertainment.[46] This was followed by a performance at Slide in Sydney on 3 October[47][48] and 17 January 2014, again in Queensland, at The Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane.[49] It will also make up part of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival in June 2014.[3] Up Close and Reasonably Personal was written by James Millar in collaboration with Harrison and includes songs from a variety of genres.[50]
In 2000, Harrison performed in Cardiff, Wales as a finalist at the inaugural Voice of Musical Theatre for BBC Radio 2. She was subsequently featured in the BBC documentary about the competition Broadway Babies, which aired throughout the UK and Australia.[56]
Highlights of her year in London's WWRY included performing at Party in the Park at Hyde Park, and again at Buckingham Palace with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor for the Jubilee Celebration, 'Party at the Palace'.
Amanda's TV appearances in the UK include Parkinson, Children in Need and guest roles in Oscar Charlie, Grange Hill and Casualty, all for the BBC.
On 27 September 2008, Harrison performed the Australian National Anthem with Wicked co-star Lucy Durack at the 2008 AFL Grand Final.
^ abKristy Symonds (8 December 2013). "He Will Rock You". The Sunday Times. p. 97.
^ abJustin Bianchini (21 November 2013). "Concert will rock resort". Joondalup Weekender. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
^Lisa Hollinshead (16 December 2013). "Carols in the Domain". Sydney Social. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
