Staff

Jessica Sawyer
Owner/Director

Jessica Sawyer holds a BA in Theatre Performance and a BA in Education from Stockton University as well as an MA in Arts Administration from Rowan University. She has over twenty years of experience as an actress, director, producer and teaching artist. She is a New Jersey Certified Teacher of Theatre and taught high school Drama for 8 years before leaving the classroom to launch Drama Kids of Medford, Voorhees & Williamstown.

Jared Sawyer
Business Manager

Jared is happy to be joining the Drama Kids team as “the numbers guy.” While he’s not a performer, he is an avid patron of the arts and a proud dad to 2 Drama Kids. Jared holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Stockton University and is a NJ Certified Teacher of Mathematics.

Lea Matarazzo 
Assistant Director

Lea Matarazzo is a recent graduate of Stockton University where she earned a BA in Theatre Literature as well as Education. She is currently in the process of completing her student teaching to earn her teaching certificate in both English and Theatre. Lea accredits so much of her learning and personal growth to theatre. Being that she found her own voice through theatre, she is very passionate about giving her students a chance to find their own voice and shine through the theatre. She is thrilled to have the chance to share her experience and knowledge with beautiful young minds!

Tyler Dorton-Beck
Drama Teacher

Tyler Dorton-Beck is joining the team with experience in almost every aspect of theatre. From acting, to directing, to building the sets, Tyler has worked to be well rounded when it comes to the theatre. He is a recent Stockton University graduate with a Liberal Arts degree in Social Sciences. He has been active in stage performance for years in high school, college, and community theatres around New Jersey. Tyler is ready to introduce a new wave of Drama Kids to the wonderful world of theatre that he loves so dearly.

Christian Jimenez
Drama Teacher/Take 2 Musical Director

Christian Jimenez is a Stockton University graduate who majored in Theatre Performance. He currently works in education, providing educational access to children with intellectual disabilities. As an artist, he has acted, directed and designed! Theatre in all forms is a passion for Christian and he believes the medium can be a tool to forge connections between people without having to be preachy. It’s free, explorative and allows one to find themselves in finding the art.

Ginnie Lynn Calabrese 
Drama Teacher

Ginnie has a background in Early Childhood Education and worked as a Pre- Kindergaten teacher until the birth of her daughter. She began singing and acting at a young age and loves the confidence that theatre brings. In the past 10 years she has served as director and choreographer for many children’s programs. She is excited to join the Drama Kids team!

Yolina Owens
Drama Teacher

Yolina Owens holds a M.S. in Communications and M.Ed in Elementary Education, Certified to teach grades K-6. She is a Montessori Primary Age Graduate Teacher. She graduated from the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts as a Vocal Performance Major, in her birthplace of Hartford, Connecticut. She currently teaches elementary education. Yolina lives in Williamstown, NJ with her husband of 12 years, her 10 year old daughter and their cat Roger. Ms. Yolina fell in love with the performing arts when her grandmother took her to her first Broadway play at the age of 4, to see The WIZ. She finds joy working with children and inspiring them to express themselves through art, movement and song. She feels that Drama Kids is the perfect place to share her musical arts experience and to ignite the spark of wonder and magic that the world needs today.

Sara Viniar
Drama Teacher

Sara Viniar is an Actor, Teaching Artist, Stage Manager, and Theatre Administrator in the Greater Philadelphia area. Sara received her BA in Theatre Arts from Arcadia University. Sara’s favorite job is teaching theatre classes to children of all ages, and she has taught with companies like the Walnut Street Theatre, Theatre Horizon, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Cherry Hill Performing Arts Center, Haddonfield Plays and Players, and more. Sara also continues to perform on stage at many area theatres. She is excited to join the Drama Kids team and bring her passion for theatre to many children!

Brittany Eorio
Drama Teacher

Brittany Eorio is a teaching artist, house manager and Super Mom! Brittany received her AA from Cecil College in Theatre. She participated in a teaching artist program and interned for the Delaware Theatre Co. There, she assisted the Totally Awesome Players, a program for adults with developmental disabilities, as well as Stage 2, a teens theatre camp, and front of house! After relocating, Brittany received her BA in Theatre Performance from Stockton University in 2017. She got married, had two beautiful kids, and is now back and excited to enjoy teaching
theatre again with Drama Kids!

Aimee Ferenz
Musical Director

Aimee Ferenz is an elementary music teacher at South Harrison Elementary School and a drama teacher with Mainstage Center of the Arts. Aimee has music directed at a series of different theater companies including the Off
Broad Street Players (James and the Giant Peach Jr, Frozen Jr, 9 to 5) the Landis Theater (American Idiot, Heathers the Musical) and at Summer Stage at Mainstage this past summer (Freaky Friday, Moana Jr.). Aimee also loves to perform both musical theater and operatic works throughout New Jersey and could most recently be seen playing characters named Heather in both American Idiot and Heathers the Musical. She is so incredibly excited to be teaching with Drama Kids International and cannot wait to work with these sensational performers!

Bianca Pantilione
Drama Teacher

Bianca holds a BA in Theatre and Film and a BA in English from St Joseph’s University. She has been in acting programs since she was 8 years old, acting throughout high school and college. She also attended the Michael Howard Conservatory (2012) in NYC. Bianca believes drama allows children to express themselves with confidence while being creative and having fun. She can’t wait to share her passion for the arts as a teacher with Drama Kids this year!