An interview with Amanda on Broadway.com from October 25, 2011 entitled, “Wicked Tour Star Amanda Jane Cooper on Early Glinda Prep and Popped Halloween Dreams”

Excerpt:
Q: Have you ever dressed up as a Broadway character? If so, which one?
A: I have not dressed up as a Broadway character but I think I was prepping to play Glinda back when I was 6 years old (pictured above). Crown: check. Wand: check. Pink dress: check. Sensible sneakers: check!

Interview with Amanda on the “It’s the Soup” website. 

Excerpt:
Q: Were there any acting experiences that steered your acting ambitions?
A: All of my experiences accumulated into a realization that I have a knack for this. It’s absolutely what I was put on this earth to do. You know what’s funny? My freshman year in high school I was cast as a dancer in our Oklahoma! spring musical. That’s the first theater experience that I ever had where I looked around and said, ‘This is an awesome way to work.’ I didn’t even have any lines.

From Atlanta Theatre Fans website on October 18, 2011.  

Excerpt:

“The Tony® and Grammy®-Award-Winning musical, Wicked, which played from September 14 to October 9 at the Fox Theatre shattered a box office record during its Atlanta engagement. For the week ending October 9, the musical grossed $2,438,947 over eight performances, making it the highest-grossing week for a touring Broadway show in North American history. 

The previous North American record, also held by Wicked, was an eight-show gross of $2,400,489 during the week ending July 11, 2010 at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Mo.”

Interview with Amanda in The Peoria Journal Star, on October 9, 2011 entitled, “Wicked Takes Look at Makeup of Both Witches.”

Excerpt:
Born in Valley Forge, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia, Cooper said she grew up attending a public school system with a strong arts program. It made all the difference in her life.

“I used to be a really shy kid and hide behind my mother’s legs, and not talk to anyone,” Cooper said. “In the fifth grade it all changed. I was cast as ‘Steamboat Sal, a talented and lovely gal’ in this musical called ‘Steamboatin’ ’ and something about that experience just changed me as a person. I was able to fully grow into myself and start becoming the person I am today, which was such a blessing.”

She attended Carnegie-Mellon, where she graduated in 2010. During her time there, she met Stephen Schwartz, the composer of “Wicked.” An alum of the school, he returns occasionally to offer workshops for students. Cooper’s performance of “Popular” from “Wicked”  caught his attention.

After graduation she worked off-Broadway, auditioning for “Wicked” six times during the course of seven months. She finally ended up in front of the entire creative team — including Joe Mantello, and Schwartz. She got the role.