A strikingly beautiful actress-singer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has consistently given fine performances despite the sometimes subpar material in which she was cast. The fifth of six daughters, she was born and raised in Illinois and originally harbored a desire for a career as an opera singer. While studying voice in college, Mastrantonio spent her summers singing country & western music at Nashville's Opryland. Dropping out of school, she found work in local stage productions in Chicago and continued to audition for more prominent roles. At one such try-out (for the lead in "Evita"), the
Sang and danced at Opryland theme park in Nashville, Tennessee during summer breaks in college (dates approximate)
1979
Professional musical debut in Chicago-area production of "Camelot"
Auditioned for the role of Eva Peron in "Evita"; not hired but casting director chose her to understudy the role of Maria in Broadway revival of "West Side Story"
