Thespian Troupe Membership

**As an International Thespian Society troupe director, your connection to the Educational Theatre Association is more than a membership ― it’s a yearlong investment in you and in your students.**

Thespian Troupe Membership includes:

Lifetime membership in ITS for every student you induct
Access to Thespian programs, events, scholarships, and resources like Dramatics.org
Participation in the Thespy® Awards, the highest level of achievement in school theatre
Ability to induct Junior Thespians and Thespians into the same troupe
Professional membership in the Educational Theatre Association for you, providing classroom-ready resources, professional learning, advocacy, and more

Student Recognition

The recognition students gain through induction in ITS signals to colleges and employers their leadership, service, and extracurricular achievements. It gives theatre students the same validation common for sports or academic success. And it’s a valuable asset when recruiting new students to your theatre program ― giving them a distinction to strive for.

Event Access

Thespian festivals provide students and teachers with unparalled learning, recognition, and engagement ― at both the chapter and international levels. Regional and national events offer Thespians a chance to compete for thousands of scholarship dollars, earn commendation through the International Thespian Excellence Awards (Thespys), and audition for hundreds of college theatre programs.

Professional Development

Your troupe renewal comes with our Mentor Match program and full access to Theatre Educator Pro, EdTA’s online learning portal. Whether you’re new to the field or an expert theatre educator, the tools in Theatre Educator Pro help you navigate today’s challenges. They include 30+ interactive Click to Teach lessons, 300+ ready-to-use lesson plans, and tools to incorporate social emotional learning into your curriculum.

Community Support

As a member of EdTA and ITS, you gain access to the most engaged network of theatre educators anywhere, eager to share ideas, collaborate on problem-solving, and offer expertise. Whether through the online forum — 14,000 subscribers strong — or member-exclusives such as your online chapter community, you’ve always got a lifeline at hand.

Thespian Troupe Member Testimonials

I inherited an ignored, unsupported, dwindling [theatre] program. One of the first things I did was implement a Thespian troupe. The theatre faithfuls finally felt recognized, and the kids going above and beyond had a structured voice in the program for the first time. They went from the forgotten red-headed stepchildren of our school to a powerhouse that couldn’t be underplayed or ignored. … From a purely monetary standpoint, “game changer” doesn’t even begin to cut it. 

— Victoria Kesling Councill, director, Troupe 7644, New Kent High School, Virginia

The great part about having a Thespian troupe at your school is ... they get that recognition both at school and the city, around the area, just like the National Honor Society, of having a nationally recognized organization say that they're doing excellent and quality work. They also have networking opportunities with other students. ... Plus, the scholarship money that they're available to audition for, the colleges and universities that are open to them. So many, many student benefits.

— Bob Henrichs, director, Troupe 6547, Lincoln Southwest High School, Nebraska

See more about the value of an International Thespian Society troupe membership...

Has your program been challenged by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? We're here to help.

Unsure how to qualify inductions for new Thespians? Explore recommendations that give you the flexibility you need to grow your troupe.
Worried about falling below the minimum threshold for active Thespians? You have a full year from the time of charter to meet the six-student minimum. Note that you can now induct Junior Thespians and Thespians into the same troupe!
Struggling to get funds approved in time to pay your troupe dues? Check out resources to help you sustain your program.

Questions? Contact us at 513-421-3900, ext. 1 or members@schooltheatre.org.