Hailed as “powerful” and “transformational” on stage, Rachel Carreras is an emerging force in the Chicago theatre scene. With the strength and maturity to perform a passionate Aldonza (Man of la Mancha) and the sensitivity to deliver a stirring Wendla (Spring Awakening) in the same season, Rachel has proven her dynamic abilities across a spectrum of roles and genres. Having toured the world with various choral groups before studying opera in Vienna, her passion for voice has been at the crossroads of choral and solo repertoire for almost 20 years. Additionally, Rachel has achieved notoriety in musical theatre, jazz, and pop music styles with recent residencies in Michigan and Illinois theatre companies as well as special performances and cabarets around the Chicagoland area. Equally comfortable in the recording studio, Rachel regularly records with award-winning Broadway composers who have described her as "an extremely versatile vocal powerhouse....[who] brings an infectious positivity to her work that makes collaborating with her a delight." Directors have noted Rachel’s unparalleled preparedness and commitment to the process, which has made her a sought-after performer, clinician, and collaborator.
Rachel is currently making her debut with Kokandy in the Chicago premiere of Amélie as Amandine/Philomene. Prior to this, Rachel was most recently seen as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (HPP). Other recent credits include Ms. Navarro in Brighter Futures (Paramount), Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde (BrightSide), Bird Woman/Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins and Marie in Cinderella (Metropolis PAC), Angela in Honky Tonk Angels (LTOTS), and The Witch in Into the Woods (Summer Lyric), and Agnes in I Do! I Do! (Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre). Rachel holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University and is a proud alum of Neuqua Valley High School. She is a Naperville native and cantors at Ss Peter & Paul and St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Naperville, IL. Rachel is thrilled to continue her choral journey professionally in withonevoice. Feel free to connect and learn more at www.rachelcarreras.com