TATE ACADEMY
THEATRE AT THE ELLEN
MARY JO LUDIN
ARTISTIC/EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Mary Jo earned her BA in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton. Upon graduation, she joined the Walt Disney Company as a performer and worked throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition to her work on stage, she was also involved behind-the-scenes doing production work and auditioning talent for Disney. Mary Jo is a founding member of the
award-winning Friends and Artists Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles. She has directed multiple productions at The Ellen Theatre including Fiddler on the Roof, White Christmas, Oliver!, Annie,
A Christmas Carol, and The Sound of Music, and loves sharing her passion for theatre.
EMMA RATHE
ACTING
Emma holds an MFA in Acting from the prestigious New School in New York City, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Missouri State University. She has performed in numerous productions in both New York and Chicago, while also writing and directing her one-woman cabaret shows. This past summer Emma served as the acting coach for The Ellen Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof, and she will continue to lend her expertise in future productions. Emma loves teaching and collaborating with fellow actors and artists, and she looks forward to working with the students of TATE Academy.
annabella joyVOCAL COACH
Annabella earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from the renowned Boston Conservatory. Her professional work includes performances at American Repertory Theater in Boston, and multiple musicals at Theatre By the Sea in Rhode Island. She is also a founding member of Nervous Theatre, creating and performing works throughout Bozeman and across the country. Annabella studied classical piano, voice, and ballet from the age of three, and enjoys sharing her passion for the arts with the community.
MALIA LUDIN
DANCE & MOVEMENT
Malia is a professional dancer and choreographer. At 17, she moved to New York City to study at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, and received additional training with the Bolshoi Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance. After spending several years dancing professionally in Chicago, Malia is currently spending time in her hometown and sharing her passion for theatre and dance with the community. She has served as choreographer for many productions at The Ellen Theatre including Damn Yankees, A Christmas Carol, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Connor berkompas - guest faculty
ACTING & DIRECTING
Connor graduated from The Boston Conservatory's BFA program with a concentration in Directing and Classical Acting. As an actor, he has worked with numerous companies including Opera North, New Repertory Theatre, Musical Theatre West, and the recent Montana TheatreWorks production of Damn Yankees, starring as Joe Hardy. Connor currently works as a freelance director and teaching artist, and is a founding member of Nervous Theatre.
Mark kuntz - guest faculty
ACTING & DIRECTING
Mark is a professional actor, director, and filmmaker with many years of experience. He is a veteran of eighteen tours with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks & Schools, including ten tours as a company manager. In addition, Mark has performed with Montana Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theater, Seattle Repertory Theater, The Ellen Theatre, and Bozeman Actor's Theatre. He directed TATE's recent productions of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Hamlet, and Much Ado About Nothing.