2022-2023 First Job in the Arts Mentorship Bios

In alphabetical order

Ozzy Coyer - Ozzy Coyer is a senior at Hopkins High School, where they have performed in and worked on numerous shows from junior high on, including Willy Wonka Jr, Shrek Jr, Noises Off, and Little Women. They love the whole process of putting on a show, and the collaborative spirit of the experience. Ozzy plans to continue pursuing theater in college, studying both acting and directing. They are very excited to dig deeper into the process of directing through their First Job in the Arts mentorship.

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Seth Donaldson - Seth Donaldson is an avid member of his St. Anthony theater community, having performed in many shows for both St. Anthony Community Theater and St. Anthony High School over the past few years. Having been a performer for nearly all of this time, he is excited to delve into the world of directing and learn more about this side of the artform. He hopes to take those skills into a career in filmmaking, which he plans to pursue in college. Also a musician, he has studied the piano and guitar for many years. Seth would like to thank his parents for supporting and encouraging him in all his endeavors.

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Athan Fischer - Athan Fischer is a senior at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in the musical theatre track. He has been performing since he was nine years old and has appeared in more than thirty productions, including: musical theatre, theatre, and dance. Athan has a long history with Stages Theatre Company, having performed in fourteen productions including The Little Mermaid Jr. and Tuck Everlasting. He is honored to have been selected to participate in First Job in the Arts, where he looks forward to gaining insight into the world of theatre education. Athan hopes to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre and aspires to work in theatre education. He would like to thank all the amazing people at Stages Theatre Company who have ignited his passion for theatre and given him so much support and encouragement over the years.

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Jordan Kueng - A senior at FAIR School for Arts, Jordan Kueng has been immersed in theater since his freshman year. He has been involved in numerous shows there and at Stages, including roles in Tuck Everlasting, and Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. With a focus on directing in First Job for the Arts, they are excited to explore another side of theater through the mind of an expert. They hope to take this knowledge into a career in theater. He would like to give a special thanks to André Samples for telling him it’s never too late, and a special thanks to Talia Kaufman for showing him different pathways and encouraging him to try everything.

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Shannon Merritt - Shannon Merritt is a senior at FAIR High School for Arts in Minneapolis. She has recently moved to the Twin Cities area and is excited to explore the local theatre scene! She has been involved in theatre for years, doing everything from acting to playwriting to set building and more. For her mentorship, she will be concentrating on design, which is also what she plans to pursue as a career after high school.

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Raine - Raine is a 16 year old multimedia artist who enjoys performing and visual arts. Xey enjoy singing, painting, and designing fashion and costumes. Xey are a vocal and instrumental major at The Performing Institute of Minnesota or PiM. He is currently working on costumes for PiM’s Musical Review, Dance Concert, and their fall play Proof. Xey are excited to work with Stages and to make new friends doing it!

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Elaine Sandvik - A junior at Spring Lake Park, Ellie Sandvik hasn’t missed the opportunity to work on a single show at her school since 6th grade. In that time she has performed on stage as well as worked behind the scenes in design and stage management. It is in the field of costuming, however, where she’s found her passion. She plans to go to college for costume design, and then do that work professionally. She’d like to thank her grandfather for introducing her to Broadway and sparking her love of performing arts. She’d like to thank her parents and extended family for encouraging her when she expressed interest in the arts. Finally, she’d like to thank the friends and mentors who have taught her what makes theatre so unique and exciting, no matter how many shows she’s done.

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Demetrius Wine-garden - A prolific artist, Demetrius Winegarden is heading into their senior year at St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts and as they prepare for a career in theater and video games. They have performed in numerous shows for SPCPA, Stages Theatre Company, Concordia University, Rosetown Playhouse, Stage Door Productions, and Youth Theatre Initiative. Demetrius also plays a number of instruments, and enjoys writing music. They love the community and nurturing environment for growth that theater provides. They want to give special thanks to all their friends and family who have been so supportive of their artistic endeavors throughout their life.

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Abbi Wood - Abbi Wood attends PiM Arts High School, where she will be a senior starting in the fall of 2022. Abbi first started theatre when she was 9 years old in 2015, acting in a production of Hansel and Gretel. From then on, Abbi has been involved in theatre, both onstage and off, at places like Eden Prairie Players, PiM Arts High School, Emerging Professionals Ensemble, and here at Stages Theatre Company! Abbi’s first technical production role was for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 2021, where she was the stage manager. For that same role, she won an Outstanding In Technical Leadership Award from Spotlight Education of Minnesota and got to help in making the Spotlight Showcase 2022 come to life. She is also a member of the International Thespian Society. Abbi would like to give a huge shout-out to her Mom and Dad for always supporting her theatre endeavors, even though they know hardly anything about the theatre world.

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