How EdTA created dynamic student experiences to drive lifelong engagement.
Student Impact
As an educator association, EdTA’s impact ultimately rests with the tens of thousands of students participating in the theatre programs led by our 739 professional members and 4,843 International Thespian Society (ITS) troupe directors.
ITS is the theatre honor society for middle and high school students. Its legacy and reach is vast: The society has inducted more than 2.5 million Thespians since 1929. In 2023, more than 54,000 students earned induction — an increase of 37 percent from 2022 and a return to pre-pandemic participation levels.
Dramatics.org is the official student website of ITS, helping Thespians embrace their passion, hone their craft, and enjoy all things theatre. In 2023, 228,517 users visited the site.
EdTA events at the state and national level provide a path for further learning and achievement. Our chapters produced 48 student events in 2023, with total attendance growing to 44,000. At those events, chapters awarded 205 scholarships worth $200,600. At their International Thespian Excellence Awards (Thespys for short) qualifying rounds, 8,080 students earned the opportunity to advance to the International Thespian Festival (ITF) by scoring a superior.
The Thespys represent the highest achievement in high school theatre. A total of 2,021 qualifying students participated in the final round of adjudication at ITF, resulting in 653 superior scores and 148 students receiving Thespy Awards for achieving the highest scores in their categories. They were celebrated in a showcase the final night of ITF.
The Thespys are one of the signature programs at ITF – helping to make ITF the culminating event that defines the Thespian experience. Student attendees consistently describe their ITF experience as life-changing.
In 2023, 3,398 students and teachers came to Indiana University in Bloomington to enjoy seven main stage shows, 21 one-acts nominated by EdTA chapters, and 289 educational workshops on every aspect of theatre. “ITF was one of the most inspiring and enlightening opportunities I have ever been a part of,” said one student attendee. “I don’t know of anything else that would give me as much knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional connections as this event. Most of all, it was one of the most fun weeks of my life!”.
As another attendee put it: “There is no program, training, or experience that comes close to how far-reaching and impactful ITF is for all attendees — students and adults — and no greater honor for theatre students than to learn, perform, and be adjudicated at an international event of this magnitude.”
DEIA Progress
- Finding Voice, a collection of monologues written by Black artists for Black students and commissioned by EdTA in 2022, was published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide in 2023. This expands the repertoire of material Black students can use for the Thespy Awards.
- To support EdTA’s goal of centering Black stories and artists, ITF featured a main stage production of The Color Purple on Juneteenth. Broadway performer Ashley De La Rosa emceed the opening ceremony, which included a Juneteenth celebration.
- In all, ITF featured 36.5% presenters of color.
- Starting in 2023, ITF attendees had to acknowledge EdTA’s anti-racism commitment when registering for the event. Additionally, all adult facilitators had to commit to an inclusion pledge outlining specific practices that foster a welcoming, safe environment for participants of all races, gender identities, and abilities.
2023 Impact
Event Attendees
Thespian Inductions
Junior Thespian Inductions
Thespy Awards Qualifiers
