Biography
Amy Hamel, a Florida native, has spent her life in the arts with 35 years of performance experience and almost as many years teaching experience. She trained as a classical ballerina with Ballet Florida, performed with several South Florida regional theatres like Jan McArt’s Royal Palm Dinner Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre (now Palm Beach Dramaworks) and Jupiter Dinner Theatre (now The Maltz) all while studying for her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Upon graduation she went on to tour with the IV National Tour of Cats, first as a swing covering six different roles, then as “Demeter” and dance captain, which also provided her membership into the Actor’s Equity Association. She then had the honor of receiving four separate contracts with the Broadway company of Cats until the show’s historic closing, September 10, 2000, where she played the role of “Tantomile.” Amy later performed in many regional theatres as an actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer in NY, NJ, FL, and NC, and as lead singer and dance captain for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
After spending 15 years in New York City, Amy moved on to NC where she graduated with her M.F.A. in acting from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She proceeded to become an adjunct professor there, and performed in several plays with professional regional theatre, Triad Stage. Her favorite credits there include “Macon Hill” in Abundance (where she even got to perform for and work with the playwright Beth Henley), and “Chip” in the off-Broadway play Vrooommm, again getting to work directly with the playwright Janet Allard.
With God as her Agent the whole way, life brought her back to Florida in 2016, where she has served as an adjunct instructor in both the dance and theatre departments at Palm Beach Atlantic University and as choreographer and/or assistant director for theatre Department. Amy has also served as a teaching artist with the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, for both the DeGeorge Academy as their beginning theatre instructor and Disney Musicals in Schools programs.
During the summer breaks Amy enjoys working with Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival in any artistic capacity possible. This past year, her Agent has arranged to add the title of director to her credits as she directed Here We Come A-Caroling by the Windmill Theater Company, The Last Supper at Royal Poinciana Chapel, and, most recently, Grease! School Version at the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, one of the only professional theatres in the panhandle of Florida. Amy is honored to be joining Palm Beach Atlantic University full time as Visiting Lecturer of Theatre.
Degrees
MFA in Drama: Acting, University of North Carolina at Greensboro | BA in Theatre Arts, Palm Beach Atlantic University