What is the National Thespian Society?
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students. The mission of ITS is to honor student achievement in theatre arts. High school inductees are known as Thespians. ITS is a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). EdTA is a national nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 student and professional members. EdTA’s mission is shaping lives through theatre education by: honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
Who are Thespians?
Thespian troupes include students in grades 9-12. There are troupes in more than 4,000 high schools and middle schools. High school students can earn membership in EdTA’s student honorary, the International Thespian Society, the only international honor society for high school and middle school theatre arts students. Since 1929, EdTA has inducted more than 2 million Thespians into ITS. That number continues to grow, with more than 36,000 students from around the country being inducted each year. The mission of ITS is to honor student excellence in the theater arts; its motto is, "Act well thy part; there all the honor lies."
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Induction/Ceremony
A student is invited to be inducted after they have completed 10 points (100 hours of theater work). All Thespians are theatre arts honor students, and induction as a Thespian is the first of many honors that troupes may bestow on a student. However, ITS recognizes three achievement ranks beyond induction. Below are brief descriptions of Thespian honor ranks and the point totals associated with each. For outstanding contributions to the ideals of the Society and meritorious work in the field of theatre.
1. Honor Thespian. 60 total points (600 hours) earned.
2. National Honor Thespian. 120 total points (1,200 hours) earned.
3. International Honor Thespian. 180 or more total points (1,800 hours) earned.
Cleveland High School Troupe 505
Cleveland High School chartered its first Thespian Troupe in 1969 under the leadership of Patrica Meagher. The charter was lost and was reinstated in 1999 under the direction of Patty Puckett. The Thespian Troupe is currently under the direction of Don Markham. Cleveland High Thespians meet before school or during activity times if needed.. Other students interested in theater are allowed to attend meetings but not formally a Thespian until inducted. Inductions are generally held twice a year, December and May. Induction dues are collected before induction.
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students. The mission of ITS is to honor student achievement in theatre arts. High school inductees are known as Thespians. ITS is a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). EdTA is a national nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 student and professional members. EdTA’s mission is shaping lives through theatre education by: honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
Who are Thespians?
Thespian troupes include students in grades 9-12. There are troupes in more than 4,000 high schools and middle schools. High school students can earn membership in EdTA’s student honorary, the International Thespian Society, the only international honor society for high school and middle school theatre arts students. Since 1929, EdTA has inducted more than 2 million Thespians into ITS. That number continues to grow, with more than 36,000 students from around the country being inducted each year. The mission of ITS is to honor student excellence in the theater arts; its motto is, "Act well thy part; there all the honor lies."
.
Induction/Ceremony
A student is invited to be inducted after they have completed 10 points (100 hours of theater work). All Thespians are theatre arts honor students, and induction as a Thespian is the first of many honors that troupes may bestow on a student. However, ITS recognizes three achievement ranks beyond induction. Below are brief descriptions of Thespian honor ranks and the point totals associated with each. For outstanding contributions to the ideals of the Society and meritorious work in the field of theatre.
1. Honor Thespian. 60 total points (600 hours) earned.
2. National Honor Thespian. 120 total points (1,200 hours) earned.
3. International Honor Thespian. 180 or more total points (1,800 hours) earned.
Cleveland High School Troupe 505
Cleveland High School chartered its first Thespian Troupe in 1969 under the leadership of Patrica Meagher. The charter was lost and was reinstated in 1999 under the direction of Patty Puckett. The Thespian Troupe is currently under the direction of Don Markham. Cleveland High Thespians meet before school or during activity times if needed.. Other students interested in theater are allowed to attend meetings but not formally a Thespian until inducted. Inductions are generally held twice a year, December and May. Induction dues are collected before induction.
Thespian Conference (THESCON)
The Tennessee Thespians Conference (THESCON) is an amazing opportunity for both performance and technical theatre students to explore and learn from industry professionals through workshops, showcase their talents in individual events (IE’s), audition for colleges and scholarships, and view other high school companies’ main stage productions. Students involved in theater are encouraged to attend. Several members of our Thespian Troupe are asked to be involved in the State One-Act. Rehearsal for this One-act occur after school in the month of December/January. The fees for this conference cover attendance fees, hotels, and transportation and total $125 for each student. This conference includes schools from Tennessee with hundreds of participants, several colleges, conservatories, universities, and many workshops available over two days.
The Tennessee Thespians Conference (THESCON) is an amazing opportunity for both performance and technical theatre students to explore and learn from industry professionals through workshops, showcase their talents in individual events (IE’s), audition for colleges and scholarships, and view other high school companies’ main stage productions. Students involved in theater are encouraged to attend. Several members of our Thespian Troupe are asked to be involved in the State One-Act. Rehearsal for this One-act occur after school in the month of December/January. The fees for this conference cover attendance fees, hotels, and transportation and total $125 for each student. This conference includes schools from Tennessee with hundreds of participants, several colleges, conservatories, universities, and many workshops available over two days.
Cleveland High School Original Thespian Charter