Jennifer Wintzer

Director

Jennifer is the Artistic Director of Theatre at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) where she oversees COCApresents and the COCA Pre-Professional Division training program for emerging theatre artists. Jennifer joined COCA’s team from Shakespeare Festival St. Louis where she served as Director of Education/Associate Artistic Director. Under Jennifer’s leadership, the Festival was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Missouri Arts Council, and FOCUS St. Louis, as well as St. Louis Theatre Circle nominations and awards, including best new play and scenic design. In 2018, as lead producer for the launch of the Festival’s new works series, her producing work received four St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards with the regional premiere of Into the Breeches! by George Brant, including Best Production. Before relocating to St. Louis, Jennifer worked with Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theatre, and MCC Theater. Jennifer is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Arts and Cultural Strategy. She earned an M.F.A. from the Academy for Classical Acting at Shakespeare Theatre Company and George Washington University, and a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. She is a recipient of the Actor’s Fund Scholarship for the Marymount Manhattan College Arts Ed Program. She is a proud member of AEA, a RAC CAT Fellow, and serves as adjunct faculty in the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.

Christopher Page-Sanders

Choreographer

Originally from St. Louis, Christopher is the Founding Co-Artistic Director of NU-World Contemporary Danse Theatre. As a performer, he has danced extensively with national dance companies such as the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Hannah Kahn Dance Company, and Owen/Cox Dance Group, to name a few. As a director and choreographer, Christopher has worked with theatre companies such as The Aurora Fox Arts Center, COCA, Fly North Theatricals, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (Imaginary Theatre Company), Town Hall Arts Center, Vintage Theatre Productions, as well as teaching and choreographing for Chapman University, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Davis Contemporary Dance Company, Deeply Rooted ECS, Denver School of the Arts, Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center, and Park Hill Dance Academy. He is the recipient of The Leni Wylliams Award from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and a two-time True West Award winner for his work on Amplify (Arvada Center) and The Scottsboro Boys (Vintage Theatre Productions). He is also a 2020 Colorado Henry Award winner for his choreography in The Scottsboro Boys (Vintage Theatre Productions). “On the shoulders of my ancestors and mentors, I Dance!”

Colin Healy

Music Director

Colin is a dog-owner based in the city of St. Louis who is also a composer, music director, and the artistic director of Fly North Theatricals. Starting at age 15, as a touring singer/songwriter with South Florida-based rock band The Republik, Colin’s work as a recording artist spans five full-length studio albums—three as a performer (Last Chance Planet, 2006; The Unexpected Answer, 2010; We Are The Wild Things, 2012), and two as a producer (The Gringo: Original St. Louis Cast Album, 2017; Seeing Other People: A New Musical Concept, 2021). 2012’s We Are The Wild Things, was recorded at Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne, Crybaby: The Musical) and James Iha’s (Smashing Pumpkins) legendary Stratosphere Studios in New York and was produced by Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls). Healy’s body of studio work has been recognized by Billboard and College Music Journal and has received radio play nationwide. His work as a composer includes Forgottonia, The Gringo, Madam, and Big Machine, which had its world premiere at COCA in the 2022 COCAwrites Festival. Notables: The Gringo headlined the 2018 St. Louis Fringe Festival and became the best-selling show in festival history; the 2021 concept album Seeing Other People was produced in collaboration with Saint Louis University where Healy served as the Artist-In-Residence.

Riley Carter Adams

Matilda

Riley is a rising seventh grader and is extremely excited to join the cast of Matilda The Musical! She is a member of COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Theatre Artist Program, Ballet Eclectica, and COCAdance. She had the honor of portraying the role of Belinda in The Rep’s A Christmas Carol while in the theatre program. Riley is a member of The Muny Kids Touring Troupe and has performed in the youth chorus since 2019. Muny credits include Camelot, Kinky Boots, Cinderella and the upcoming The Color Purple. Huge thanks to all the COCA directors, cast, and crew for this unforgettable experience. IG: @its_miss_riley

Devynn Yakel

Matilda Understudy

Performing on July 23 at 3:00PM

Devynn, a 10-year-old sixth grader, is excited for the opportunity to perform two roles in Matilda The Musical. She has been a member of COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Theatre Artist Program in the Junior Division, as well as STAGES Triple Threats, performing most recently as Bird Woman in Mary Poppins. Some of her other previous credits include Anita (101 Dalmatians, DaySpring), Spoiled Child/Schoolboy (A Christmas Carol, The Rep), Amanda Thripp (Matilda, LifeLight), Chief Ancestor (Moana, DaySpring) and Marta (Sound of Music, STAGES). She has performed in The Nutcracker with Saint Louis Ballet and attended Destination Broadway with Tiffany Haas. Devynn thanks her family and friends for their love and support, and Ms. Jenny and the entire cast and crew of Matilda The Musical for an amazing production.