Dillon has been directing plays for as long as she can remember. As a kid, she recruited her siblings to act in living room productions. Growing up in Ojai, California, a community of artists, Dillon found a wealth of mentors to support her performing arts passion. In addition to styles and methods, her early teachers instilled in her a work ethic that continues to serve her today.  

Out of high school, Dillon began building her directorial tool kit. She first moved to Los Angeles where she joined a professional performing arts group called the Young Americans. With YA’s, she trained as a professional musical theater performer. Next, Dillon was accepted to the University of California, Santa Barbara where she received her bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts. She traveled abroad after graduating to start a theatre program for a prep-school in Nottinghamshire, UK. With this accomplishment, she moved back home to design a multipurpose theater center and performing arts program for the renowned Ojai Valley School. Dillon’s work at both institutions increased enrollment and helped rejuvenate the schools’ summer programs.  

After years of working with children and families, Dillon became increasingly moved by the therapeutic power of performing arts. With mental-health in mind, Dillon moved to Boston where she earned a master’s degree in Social Work form Wheelock College. During this time, she directed for the award-winning Watertown Children’s Theater and interned at an organization called, Playmakers. At Playmakers, a Life is Good-sponsored nonprofit, she trained caregivers to help children with trauma. In Boston and California, she also worked as a therapist for middle and high school-aged students.

When Dillon got back into theater full-time, she found her clinical education allowed her to create a uniquely transformative environment for performers.  Dillon has lived in Boulder with her two boys since 2012. Locally, she worked as a director for The Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids and The Actors Academy for the Performing Arts before starting the Spark.  Dillon sees The Spark as both the culmination and beginning of her life’s work—an ethical performing arts space where invigorating and wonderful things happen.  

Mary Beth Ward comes to The Spark community with 20 years experience in professional theater management and program development. In pursuit of the arts, education and a desire to inspire others to explore perspectives is at the fore front for this artist. Their work in youth development programs creates the most satisfying parts of their resume: Production Manager at GC Dance in San Diego; Program Manager at Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids in Boulder/Denver; Production Stage Manager at TADA! Youth Theatre in NYC; Theater Arts Program Director at Camp Cedarbrook and Arts Program Consultant for the Association of Cedarbrook Camps. It is with enthusiasm to continue sharing a passion for the arts that Mary Beth joins The Spark team.

Nikki Weber has always been drawn to the performing arts. With a love for the unique experience of both performing onstage and working behind the scenes in a variety of roles, she found that no matter what life path one pursues, a foundation in performing arts absolutely comes in handy. After collaborating with talented professionals focused on a thorough, healthy approach to youth performance in her younger years, Nikki was inspired. She went on to graduate with a double major in Theater and Business Administration with a specialization in Vocal Performance at Eckerd College with the goal of working on the education and management side of theater. 

Nikki produced and directed a play for V-Day, a global movement committed to fighting domestic violence, the proceeds of which were donated to victims of abuse. She spent a semester studying drama in London, England and after graduating went on to perform locally in Florida -- most notably at Saint Petersburg City Theatre and the Saint Petersburg Shakespeare Festival. Recent credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), and Kimberly Akimbo (Debra). She has also been lucky to be featured onstage at The Spark in productions such as Fame and Songs for a New World. 

Since joining the Spark community in 2019, Nikki has stage managed multiple productions in addition to teaching classes. She also works one-on-one with students, primarily in audition prep work and character study. She loves helping young actors develop their talent, film a self-tape like the pros, and dive into creating unique characters through physicality and vocal work. Nikki is beyond excited for the opportunity to continue her work with such passionate and innovative artists and students!

Carl Carlito J. Windom is a SAG-AFTRA triple threat performer from Georgia by way of New York City. He has earned credits in television, film, dance/choreography, acting, music/singing, production and modeling. As a performer Carlito has appeared in “The Trust” in theaters/Netflix with Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage and actor Elijah Wood, Superbowl 53 Halftime show with Maroon 5/Big Boi/Travis Scott, Soul Train Awards, ViceTV, SpikeTV's Caraoke Showdown, multiple episodes of TVOne’s Fatal Attraction & ATL Homicide, Japan's World Star Collaboration with Naomi Watanabe & RuPaul’s Drag’s Race contestant Shangela as Beyonce, the AmazonPrime Horror film Heidi, and Coming 2 America 2, Fox’s Labor of Love and Amazon Prime’s Searching for Life were he stars as the lead character “Sean McCoy”. He’s performed for over 25+ plays/musicals including Evil Dead the Musical on the Las Vegas Strip, Motown & More & the Michael Jackson Residency Tour for Seattle, Washington. He’s worked with notable choreographers including Fatima Robinson (Michael Jackson/ Backstreet Boys/Aaliyah/Coming2America), Frank Gatson Jr.(Beyonce/Jlo), Sean Bankhead (Fifth Harmony/Cardi B), Shiva T. (Bollywood-India) & more. He has taught over 5 competition teams in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Denver, New Orleans and Los Angeles.  He’s won choreography awards & placements with some of these teams including placing Platinum, “Best Entertaining All Around”, Placing Top 10 for cheer (Locke High-Los Angeles), 1st Runner Up in Poms Dance (East High-Denver) 1st in Hip Hop & 1st in Jazz (Pointe Studios Las Vegas). He believes "Art creates a constant platform of growth at every stage of life.

Molly Spain is an actor/director/musician/artist currently based out of Colorado. She is thrilled to be back in her hometown and at The Spark after having lived and worked in both New York and London. Her biggest passion is storytelling, with a focus on safe and playful exploration. She has performed globally, including a Jewish Immigrant in Ragtime, Tiblyn in Firebringer, and Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins. Outside of performing, she is also a musician, creating music under the project ‘Molly in the Stairwell’. Molly is also the founder and Artistic Director of Little Foxes Theatre Company, a company dedicated to bringing the history and the future of theatre together in harmony. She is over the moon to share her passion for the industry and inspire the next generation of artists to explore and expand their craft!

Benjamin Is always ecstatic to be joining the Spark Family!  He is a colorado native, recent graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BA in Theater and a Minor in Speech Communications.  Benjamin is a lifelong teacher and learner and is always seeking ways to better himself and everyone around him.  He believes that the collective impact of our interaction and learning can, does, and will shape, change, and influence the world as we see it.  He is currently in his final semester of his Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Pedagogy from the University of Idaho.  Some credits include, Odyssey, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Little Shop of Horrors, Company, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, 25th Annual Putnman County Spelling Bee, and so much more!  He teaches everything from stage craft to acting as well as private coaching and teaching.  There is not an aspect of theater arts that Benjamin has not had his hand in, and has loved every moment of his theatrical live.

Sara began her music career by attempting to sing along with the radio in the bathtub at the age of two. Born into a family of non-musicians, she is grateful to have had her musical talents discovered at a young age by her church choir director, Darlene Bergman, who encouraged her parents to put her in piano lessons and to sing as much as possible. Her parents, despite not being musicians themselves, have supported her every step of the way in her musical journey in the form of attending every orchestra concert, musical, and festival that was part of her busy life growing up. Sara studied Vocal Music Education at Iowa State University, and enjoyed playing violin in the orchestra throughout her studies in addition to her operatic and musical roles. Her recent credits include Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute and Lucy in Sweeney Todd with Breckenridge Backstage Theatre. She is over the moon to have found her dream job in music directing and teaching at The Spark.

Sydney, first being raised in Boulder Colorado, grew up loving everything about musical theatre and started her training in dance, acting and singing when she was 4 years old. Throughout her time in Boulder, Sydney trained extensively in dance and movement arts, participating in The Shift Dance Collective, Imagination Circus Arts and Perry Mansfield's Professional Program. After leaving Colorado she moved to California and was casted as a dancer/performer at Disneyland resorts, during this time Sydney also won 3rd place for her choreography in the San Diego National Fringe festival at 17 years old. She then relocated to Chicago to study Dance and Musical theatre at Columbia College Chicago. Since school Sydney as been a Choreographer, dance teacher and Director in studios all over the San Diego area. Most recently being the Artist Director and choreographer of GC Dance Company's Ballet of The Beauty and the Beast. Sydney teaches, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Modern, contemporary, Hip Hop, and Dance Improvisation. she is a firm believer in the power of the arts and all it can teach you, her top teaching priority is to create a safe, encouraging space for all dancers to go on their own dance exploration. Sydney in the past 5 years has found a true love for choreography, she has choreographed many performed pieces, including even full length shows, but she is particularly excited about Matilda. It's one of her favorite shows and when she hears the music she can't help but groove, for this show she envisions strong jazz funk and hip hop influenced movement with of course, childlike innocence. She encourages everyone to listen to the music and let the beat inspire rhythmic grounded movement.