The List of Students who are ELIGIBLE for ITS induction are posted on the BULLETIN BOARD outside the PERFORMING ARTS OFFICE:
Students who wish to be inducted should download this form or type out the following information:
Name: Home address: Email (or Parent email): Graduation year:
AND a check for $28 payable to GHSTA with "ITS Induction Fee" in the memo line
THIS IS DUE to Ms. Mulqueen-Teasdale no later than FRIDAY, MAY 13th.
We will not be able to accommodate late form fees.
FAQ:
What is the International Thespian Society? The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the Educational Theatre Association’s student honorary organization. ITS recognizes the achievements of high school and middle school theatre 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.
How does ITS work?
Having a Thespian troupe at your school raises the profile and stature of your theatre program, making both your school and community aware of the activities and success of your students. A school has a Thespian troupe that is led by a troupe director—usually the school’s theatre teacher. Students earn an invitation to be inducted into the Thespian Society.
Who are Thespians?
A few of our Thespian alumni are famous names from the entertainment industry, including Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, James Marsters, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Stephen Schwartz. But most alumni are in just about any industry you can imagine and excel using skills they learned as Thespians.
Why is an International Thespian Society troupe such an important tool for maximizing the effectiveness of Guilford’s theatre program?
ITS celebrates the work of all theatre student artists and technicians. This includes students who perform as well as students who prefer technical or staff positions. Educational theatre programs often highlight the performance aspect of production, but ITS has always celebrated the achievements of all members of a production as integral to the success of any endeavor. ITS values a well-rounded theatre education as well, so we recommend that all students be required to earn points over the course of more than one production and in more than one discipline. In fact most inductees earn points in several fields, i. e. performance, set construction, publicity, and make-up.
Are there student leadership opportunities? A troupe most often provides the student leadership component for its school’s theatre department. Student members are elected to offices within the troupe according to the guidelines set forth in a troupe constitution. Typical offices are president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and clerk. These positions provide elected officers with the chance to demonstrate additional responsibility and practice leadership skills in a small and cohesive group. Additional student leadership opportunities at the chapter and even international levels allow dedicated ITS officers to reach beyond the scope of their own troupe’s program and interact with students from across the world. Of course, student leadership is a valuable addition to any resume, as well.
How are ITS members recognized? Awards for outstanding schools, volunteers, teachers, and administrators provide additional opportunities for troupes to spotlight their accomplishments and further raise the profile of their theatre arts programs.
Do we get graduation swag? ITS graduating seniors wear blue and gold graduation honor cords, and receive certificates of achievement based on their participation.