Martin Egna, director

The camaraderie and shared purpose that develops when working with others in rehearsal leads to an extraordinary sense of being part of something special—something that could not exist without dedicated work and an audience. No matter how many shows I have been involved with on stage or behind stage, no matter how many years go by, it still is a thrill. It’s amazing to see students work hard together on a common goal and get a taste of the excitement and power of moving an audience.

If your children successfully audition and choose to be a part of this show on stage, they will struggle with little successes and failures along the way. They will be frustrated and delighted and challenged and (gently) pushed to exceed their own expectations. When we come together to bring a show to life, we will create a bit of magic that can only happen in the theater—a collective spark of creativity bursting to life on stage right before our eyes. Your children will take our breath away and perhaps bring a tear to your eye.

Likewise, students on tech crew will face challenges, will have to think on their feet, and will gain confidence. Something always goes wrong in a live performance. The tech crew has to save the show with attentiveness, ingenuity, problem solving, and stealth. It's an amazing evolution to see a middle school student grow from a timid and reticent child to a confident teenager with leadership and teamwork skills.

I have been involved with theater on stage and back stage for more than fifty years in nineteen amateur and three professional theater companies producing more than sixty musical and straight shows. I sang and danced in more than 300 shows and concerts as a member of a college show choir and in school and church choirs, cabarets and coffee houses, rock bands and solo gigs. I had a few stints as an actor, singer, and dancer in professional and student film projects and a professional television production.

More recently, I directed four Bates Middle School productions--Hairspray JR, Singin’ in the Rain JR., Bates Cabaret, and Spamalot young@part edition. And I directed the 2015-16 Davidsonville Elementary School production of Seussical JR. I also began serving on the board of directors of Children's Theatre of Annapolis in 2022 and work on CTA production and tech crews.

At Penn State University, I studied theater, writing, and anthropology in addition to acting and vocal study through the years. I draw inspiration and perseverance from experiences not directly related to theater as well. Prior to college, I served six years in the US Navy in the nuclear submarine service and following college I graduated from Duquesne Law School in Pittsburgh.

I have worked with children in science camps and musical theater camps in Annapolis and also worked as a teacher assistant during the six years of cooperative preschools our children attended. And I worked with learning disabled high school students as a job coach while attending college.

I am an Anne Arundel County Public School parent with one child attending Annapolis High School in the Apex Arts magnet program and my eldest, a recent Apex Arts graduate, attending college. My wife, Margee, and I moved to Maryland from Chicago in summer 2001. Though, I am originally from a small coastal town near New York City. In addition to a life-long love of theater, I enjoy cooking, kayaking, and taking care of my family.

I am very excited to continue my work in the theater at Bates Middle School and in our professional performance space at Studio 39. It is a privilege to work among the talented, tireless, and dedicated teachers and staff here. I look forward to meeting new students and seeing returning students as we gear up for our marathon to the stage. 

Thank you for considering sharing your talents with us.

Jenn Politte, choreographer

I fell in love with the theater, especially dance, when my parents took me to see CATS  at age 12.  I knew right away that performing was what I wanted to do.

I took dance classes as often as I could throughout high school and entered college as a dance major ultimately graduating with a degree in Dance Performance from Towson (State) University.

I would spend my summers dancing in New York, Pittsburgh and the White Mountains of New Hampshire learning from as many artists as I could.  I have been lucky enough to perform with several modern and jazz dance companies throughout the Baltimore/Washington area and have been in productions staged at the Lyric Opera House and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.

​The thing that has always struck me about working in the theater is the camaraderie that develops when a group of artists work together to bring a performance to life. There is just nothing else like it. 

My hope with this year's production is that we can create a bit of that same theater magic for the students of Bates MS.

​Additionally, I am an AACPS parent who's children have participated in the Apex Arts program at both Bates Middle School and currently at Broadneck High School.

I look forward to meeting and working with the talented students at Bates Middle School in this year’s show.

Megan Rupp, vocal director

Bates faculty member Megan Rupp joined our creative team in January 2024 to assist us in our continued work on The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. ​

Melissa Peregrina, technical director

Bates faculty member Melissa Peregrina returns to our production team as technical director. Ms. Peregrina will train and manage our lead techs and crew. She will also identify and teach several lead techs to act as our stage manager and assistant stage managers.

​Ms. Peregrina has a BA in technical theater and has experience in stage managing, set design, and lighting among other areas. She teaches Spanish and Tech Ed at Bates. ​

(on leave)

Tim Kurtzberg, music director

Tim Kurtzberg returns to Bates Drama Club as music director. Mr. Kurtzberg is the vocal music teacher for Bates Middle School, serving both the Apex Arts magnet students as well as the general student population. He also teaches 8th grade guitar. Mr. Kurtzberg's performance career began in New York, where he performed in theatrical shows and musicals, concerts and music and acting gigs beginning in high school. He has been performing, writing original music, singing, and playing guitar since the age of 14. With a double major in Music Industry and Mass Communication (Production) and a double minor in Audio Arts and Music Performance (Vocal), he has a vast musical and technological knowledge. In addition, Mr. Kurtzberg has a Master’s Degree in Music Education, is on his 9th year of teaching public school, and also teaches private music lessons.​