Loading Events

Jul 22 — Jul 24

Matilda The Musical

COCA Summer Musical

Matilda Wormwood, a young girl with extraordinary powers, uses her love of reading and storytelling as an escape from her life with her neglectful and abusive parents. Matilda is sent off to school where she struggles under the reign of the school’s cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who punishes children for not abiding by her strict rules. Matilda befriends her kind teacher, Miss Honey, who realizes Matilda’s talents and encourages her to embrace her uniqueness. Matilda learns how to stand up to the adults in her life and discovers her own remarkable powers.

View Digital Program

A limited number of tickets remain for this weekend’s performances of Matilda The Musical.

FRI, JUL 22 | 7:00PM
SAT, JUL 23 | 3:00PM*
SAT, JUL 23 | 7:00PM**
SUN, JUL 24 | 1:00PM
SUN, JUL 24 | 5:00PM

*The role of Matilda will be performed by understudy Devynn Yakel.

**Audio Description provided by MindsEye Radio & ASL Interpretation provided by Deaf Inc.

2.5 hour run time with intermission

Recommended for Ages 6+

Matilda The Musical Content Transparency

COCA Health & Safety Procedures

Masks must be worn at all times inside the COCA building, except when eating or drinking in designated areas. Audiences will not need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend the performances. Click here for a full list of COCA’s current protocols and what patrons should expect.

Matilda The Musical

Jul 22 — Jul 24

Matilda The Musical

COCA Summer Musical

July 22, 2022 July 24, 2022

6880 Washington Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63130
+ Google Map
314.725.6555
View Venue Website
$15 – $25

Key Creative Leaders

Jennifer Wintzer Headshot

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

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

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.

Also Highlighting

Riley Carter Adams Headshot

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

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.

Matilda The Musical Cast

Matilda The Musical Cast

Matilda, Child Ensemble  Riley Adams

Costume & Electrics Apprentice  Naomi Bentley

Lighting Apprentice  Raina Bentley

Sergei, Ensemble, Big Kids  Matt Billings

Trunchbull  Will Bonfiglio

Child Ensemble, Alice Understudy  Alex Eller

Teen Ensemble  Quentin Farquharson

Teen Ensemble  Dizzy Funke

Hortensia, Child Ensemble  Danity Gates

Apprentice, Adult Ensemble, Big Kids  Marie Garlich

Apprentice, Adult Ensemble, Big Kids, Miss Honey Understudy  Jailyn Genyse

Mrs. Phelps, Ensemble  Margery Handy

The Acrobat, Ensemble, Big Kids, Mrs. Wormwood Understudy  Rebecca Hartman

Tommy, Child Ensemble  Paul Horn

Teen Ensemble  Kennedy Jenkins

Michael, Teen Ensemble  Elisha Johnson

Child Ensemble  Zoe Klevorn

Miss Honey  Alicia Like

Producing Apprentice  Abi Loiterstein

Child Ensemble  Louis Mallon

Amanda, Child Ensemble  Brynn Meyer

Child Ensemble  Vincent Meyer

Apprentice, Adult Ensemble, Big Kids  Lucy Myerscough

Props & Scenic Apprentice  Julia Nelson

Nigel, Child Ensemble  Rian Page

Mr. Wormwood  Dustin Petrillo

Eric, Child Ensemble  Jarod Rhodes

The Escapologist, Ensemble, Big Kids  Michael Tran

Doctor, Rudolpho, Ensemble, Big Kids  Cameron Tyler

Mrs. Wormwood  Tyler White

Production Assistant  Laila Williams

Costume Apprentice  Lena Williams

Lavender, Swing Matilda, Child Ensemble  Norah Wolters

Bruce, Child Ensemble  Isaac Wilson

Alice, Child Ensemble, Matilda Understudy  Devynn Yakel

Chocolate Cake Recipe

Cake Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 cups warm water (or brewed coffee)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

7 cups powdered sugar

about 1/4 cup milk, as needed

Cake Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly butter three 9-inch cake rounds. Dust with flour or cocoa powder and tap out the excess. Alternatively, you can lightly grease the pans and line with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a stand mixer using a low speed until combined.
  3. Add eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil, and vanilla. Beat on a low speed until smooth. This should take just a couple of minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so that everything gets mixed in.
  4. Divide batter evenly amongst the three prepared pans, about 3 cups of batter per pan. Tap the cake pans gently on the counter to allow any bubbles to rise to the top and escape.
  5. Bake for 30–35 minutes in a 350 degree oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes and then remove the cakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Frost with your favorite frosting and enjoy!

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat together butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add in cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined, about 30 seconds.
  3. Beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Add milk as necessary to make a spreadable consistency. The frosting should be very thick and will thicken even more once refrigerated.
  4. Use frosting to frost and assemble cake, or transfer to a piping bag for decorating. Once frosted, this cake should be refrigerated, but can remain at room temperature for up to 4 hours.
EOY-Appeal_928x736

Uplifting the Arts in Our Community

Help COCA continue to provide meaningful arts experiences that foster creativity and confidence for our students.