Amanda Shaffern is an actor, singer, and teacher currently based in Philadelphia.  Her passion is human storytelling; to tell fun and engaging stories through the stage and television. On stage, Amanda has performed under the guidance of Dann Dunn, Bob Kelly, and Eric Jaffe (to name a few!), and has performed with stars such as David Canary and Austin Pendleton. Film wise, Amanda has appeared in the pilot of USA Networks' Political Animals alongside Sigourney Weaver. Her favorite credits include Woman 1 in Putting It Together, Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q, and Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown. Amanda has taught voice and acting to numerous students through an after-school program at the Multi-culutural Academy Charter school located in North Philadelphia. Other teaching credits include leading the drama program at Camp Pennbrook, a wellness camp for girls, where Amanda led dramatic workshops to help increase self esteem in young girls through theater exercises. She is also one of the creators of the Addiction Narrative Anthology Project, a project that focuses around verbatim theater and the topic of addiction, recovery, and healing. 

Amanda Shaffern was born in Kingston, PA. Alongside with her parents Marilyn and Joe, she grew up with two older brothers, Justin and Brandin, and cat, Cuddles. With two older brothers, she learned at an early age to be tough and competitive. Growing up, Amanda played soccer, softball, competitive swimming, tennis, and volleyball. At the age of 11, Amanda participated in her first show, Alice in Wonderland, and caught the theater bug. From that moment, she has never stopped doing shows. She has training in both musical theater voice and opera. 

Amanda considers herself a "Citizen Artist", where she collaborates with communities to create art, in order to give art back to the community. In all projects, she leads with a values of ambition, equality, and respect. 

In her spare time, Amanda loves to hike, swim, drink Prosecco, do photography, and to hang with her kittens, Kenzington Marie and Alleghany. She loves to have fun and go on adventures! Her second passion in life is traveling. 


"I go home to work, and I go to work to play. That is what makes theater special, and I love my job"- Amanda, The Temple News