Frequently Asked Questions

The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the student honorary division of EdTA recognizing excellence in middle and high school theatre. Membership into ITS is earned by participating in an affiliated school’s theatre program and accumulating points towards membership.

Professional members are theatre educators, teaching artists, administrators, and other individuals who have an interest in keeping theatre a part of the educational curriculum.

Troupe directors of ITS affiliated schools are full professional members of EdTA as long as they remain in that position and the troupe’s membership remains active. 

Affiliate professional members contribute to the success of ITS member schools. They are local troupe co-directors, assistant directors, faculty, administrators, advisers, active troupe alumni, and volunteer adults.

Pre-professional members are university, college, or conservatory students who plan to make theatre arts a part of their professional lives. Many pre-professional members are theatre education majors.

Emeritus members are theatre educators who have retired from teaching full-time and have an interest in remaining a part of their professional association.

ITS troupes enjoy a number of benefits and opportunities, including the ability to induct exceptional students into their theatre arts honor society, full professional membership for the troupe director, and scholarship and grant opportunities for student members.

Each troupe must submit its annual troupe renewal dues by October 15 of each school year to remain active. If a troupe has not paid its dues by October 15, the troupe’s membership will become inactive and benefits will be suspended. In addition, troupes must maintain a minimum of 6 active student members.

The troupe membership term is from August 1 through the following July 31. Troupes chartered or reinstated August 1 through June 30 become active through the end of the current school year (July 31). Fees are not prorated for partial years.

No. A troupe director may be any adult appointed by the school’s administration. It could be another teacher, a parent, or an alumnus.

Each troupe develops its own constitution (a template is available for download). This document outlines rules for membership, activities, and governing policies for the troupe.

Student members of ITS receive the highest recognition due those who have demonstrated commitment and excellence in their school’s theatre program—induction into the world’s largest theatre honor society. They receive membership cards and certificates as well as other benefits unique to their member class. Thespian benefits are listed in the Thespian Troupe Handbook. Junior Thespian benefits are listed in the Junior Thespian Troupe Handbook.

Induction materials for high school Thespian and Junior Thespian troupes may be submitted at any time during the school year. Troupe directors may induct by logging in to their troupe homepages.

The ITS Official Point System is a guide. Each troupe director may adopt changes to the point system to fit the school’s unique program. Changes must be documented in the troupe’s constitution and made available to students and administrators. Other induction requirements that may not be altered can be found in the EdTA membership policy and the Thespian and Junior Thespian troupe handbooks. 

No. If a student's school has an active ITS troupe, he or she may only be a member of that troupe. Students may participate in and earn points for work done with other Thespian groups and in other theatrical activities if the troupe constitution and bylaws permit. If a student's school does not have an active troupe, he or she may be eligible for induction into an active troupe at another school. If the student's school activates a troupe while he or she is an active member of another troupe, that student must be transferred to the troupe at the student's school.

The new troupe director and that troupe’s constitution determine whether or not points beyond the 10 needed for induction will be recognized at the new troupe. Similarly, all, some, or none of the points of students who haven’t been inducted (Thespian apprentices) may be accepted by the new troupe.

Thespian credentials are documents used to verify Thespian membership. There are two types:

Membership certificates. Troupe directors are sent one blank membership certificate for each new inductee. Certificates are personalized at the troupe level.

Membership cards. Membership cards are personalized by the home office and serve as verification that students have been inducted into the International Thespian Society. They are mailed to the troupe director for distribution.

All Thespians receive a one-year, nine-issue subscription that is renewable thereafter at our lowest rate. Thespians inducted between August through March can expect to receive their first issue within 4 to 6 weeks, and those inducted between April through July will receive their first issue the following September.

Although ITS does not have a minimum GPA requirement for induction, officially inducted Thespians and Junior Thespians who also demonstrate high academic success may earn the distinction of scholar. The scholar distinction always follows the student’s ITS rank to create his or her full designation, for example: Junior Thespian Scholar, Thespian Scholar, National Honor Thespian Scholar, Junior Thespian President's List Scholar, National Honor thespian Vice President's List Scholar, etc.

High school students earn Thespian honor ranks for reaching Thespian point award benchmarks over and above the ten points required for induction (60, 120, and 180). Scholar distinction is granted Thespians and Junior Thespians for academic achievement  in overall coursework. Thespian honor ranks are only available to high school Thespians. Junior Thespians use a system of star ratings instead of honor ranks to record ongoing point achievements.

By joining EdTA, you become a member of the largest professional organization for the field of theatre education. You become part of a network devoted to developing the strongest and most educated professionals and advancing the importance of theatre's role in the educational curriculum. Membership in EdTA provides the professional development and advocacy resources to aid you in your efforts.

What are the benefits of an EDTA professional membership?

• A one-year subscription to Teaching Theatre, our quarterly journal for theatre educators (a $34 value)
• A one-year subscription to Dramatics magazine (nine issues, a $27 value)
• Special member rates for purchasing theatre and classroom resources sold through EdTA
• Special member rates for EdTA educational programs and events
• Access to networking opportunities, including our online member directory
• Advocacy support and representation at the national, chapter, and local levels
• The ability to nominate and be considered for EdTA awards and grants
• The ability to nominate, vote, and run for office in EdTA

By joining EdTA, you receive the same core benefits as an official ITS troupe director. You join the troupe director as part of a network devoted to developing the strongest and most educated professionals and advancing the importance of theatre’s role in the educational curriculum. Membership in EdTA provides the professional development and advocacy resources to aid you in your efforts.

What are the benefits of an EdTA affiliate professional membership?

• Special member dues of $50 ($25 off the standard professional dues of $75)
• A one-year subscription to Teaching Theatre, our quarterly journal for theatre educators (a $34 value)
• A one-year subscription to Dramatics magazine (nine issues, a $27 value)
• Special member rates for purchasing theatre and classroom resources sold through EdTA
• Special member rates for EdTA educational programs and events
• Access to networking opportunities, including our online member directory
• Advocacy support and representation at the national, chapter, and local levels
• The ability to nominate and be considered for EdTA awards and grants
• The ability to nominate, vote, and run for office in EdTA

Any adult affiliated with an ITS member school can join by filling out a downloadable application or by contacting the home office. The official troupe director should sign the form, and you pay the $50 annual membership fee.  The active membership term is one year based on the start date.

By joining EdTA, you become a member of the largest professional organization for the field of theatre education. You become a part of network devoted to developing the strongest and most educated professionals and advancing the importance of theatre’s role in the educational curriculum. Membership in EdTA membership provides the professional development and advocacy resources to aid you in your future in the field and help prepare you to take up that mission as well.

EdTA emeritus members are theatre educators who have retired from teaching full-time, have an interest in remaining a part of their professional association, and are interested in keeping theatre a part of the educational curriculum by sharing their considerable knowledge and expertise with fellow EdTA members.