Plan ahead for induction ceremonies! Note that EdTA is no longer able to provide RUSH delivery service beginning April 1. Please allow at least two weeks to receive your induction and troupe activation materials. Thank you for understanding.
Awarding Thespian Points
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the honor society for theatre students. Membership is granted for meritorious work in theatre arts. Thespian induction eligibility requirements and procedures are detailed in the Thespian Troupe Handbook.
It is important that each troupe establishes guidelines for logging the quality and quantity of student work. Quality may include the caliber of the work and the educational value of the experience. Guidelines should be recorded in the troupe’s constitution. Troupe directors must notify students of all induction requirements and provide access to their point records. Only the troupe director may officially award points, but a troupe secretary or clerk is often responsible for maintaining point records.
Induction Point Record Sheets
For your convenience, EdTA has created a sample Induction Point Record sheet that outlines some suggested point values for common theatre work done onstage, backstage, and in the classroom. Feel free to use the suggested point values or adapt them to your troupe’s specific needs.
Remember:
- You can consider verified hours achieved in projects outside your school, though we recommend half of a student’s induction points be earned at school.
- You can count points from school activities that occurred before your troupe was officially chartered.
- Students can track their own points, and experienced students can mentor younger ones regarding point collection.
- Half of all points earned as a Junior Thespian can transfer to high school.
- Consult this page and the Thespian Troupe Handbook for more detailed information.
Guidelines & Point Recommendations
- The minimum eligibility requirement for Thespian induction is one hundred hours of quality work in theatre arts and related disciplines.
- One Thespian point represents approximately ten hours of quality work. Use this formula to award points for duties that aren’t listed. Performing arts schools and others with mandatory participation may choose to change that to twenty hours or more to avoid point inflation and maintain the honorary nature of induction in that setting.
- Inductees must earn ten points, five of which should be for work done at the school where they will be inducted.
- Thespians moving to other affiliated schools are entitled to transfer their memberships. Transferring Thespians bring a minimum of ten points with them to the new school. See the Thespian Troupe Handbook for details.
- Induction points should be earned in at least two of the listed categories, for example, acting and production.
- Inducted Junior Thespians automatically begin their high school careers with half of the points needed for high school Thespian induction, normally five of the ten induction points required. If fewer than five (5) points were earned, those points can be transferrable towards Thespian induction.
- Students may earn up to five points toward induction through participation in middle school, community, children’s, or professional theatre; or in other performing arts activities. Once inducted, students may continue to earn points for theatre participation outside of school.
- Thespian membership will be made available on an equitable basis to all students who qualify. No student will be elected into the Society; and peers may not have a role in awarding points or deciding induction eligibility.
- The minimum eligibility requirement for Junior Thespian induction is fifty (50) hours of quality work in theatre arts and related disciplines.
- One Junior Thespian point represents approximately ten hours of quality work. Use this formula to award points for duties that aren’t listed.
- Inductees must earn five (5) points, three (3) of which should be for work done at the school where they will be inducted.
- Junior Thespians moving to other affiliated middle or junior high schools are entitled to transfer their memberships. Transferring Junior Thespians bring a minimum of five (5) Junior Thespian points with them to the new school. See the Thespian Troupe Handbook for details.
- Induction points should be earned in at least two of the listed categories, for example, acting and production.
- Inducted Junior Thespians automatically begin their high school careers with half of the points needed for high school Thespian induction (normally five of the ten induction points required). See the Thespian Troupe Handbook for details.
- Students may earn up to two (2) points toward induction through participation at any school; in community, children’s, or professional theatre; or in other activities in the performing arts. Once inducted, students may continue to earn points for theatre participation outside of school.
- Junior Thespian membership will be made available on an equitable basis to all students who qualify. No student will be elected into the Society; and peers may not have a role in awarding points or deciding induction eligibility.
Recommended Thespian Point Awards
Below are a handful of recommended point values for theatre work. Numbers indicate the recommended maximum point awards for the duties listed. Troupe directors should use their discretion in awarding points — from zero to the maximum — according to the caliber of effort and work.
- Take a theatre class either online or in person= 10 hours of documented classroom work
- Participate in a virtual or in-person workshop= 10 hours of documented classroom work
- Attend a theatre festival, like the International Thespian Festivalper day attended
- Watch a performance and create a short written or video review; share with troupe/class/club= 2-4 reviews
- Participate in a theatre competitionper day attended
- Complete Click to Teach lessons in EdTA’s online Learning Center= 1 completed plan
- Enter a playwriting contest= One-act play – Full-length play
- Participate in virtual or in-person field trips organized by the teacher= 10 hours of participation
- Attend virtual or in-person theatre club meetings= 10 meeting
- Create and deliver a presentation on Thespian history= 10 hours of prep and presentation
- Participate in theatre or other community outreach as a troupe member= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Perform at a community venue (indoor or outdoor), such as an elementary school, playground, public library, or park= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Participate in a clothing, food, or other charity drive= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Perform a reading of a public-domain book for a child care center, elementary school or nursing home= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Raise $500 for a Thespian Relief Grant to fund troupe dues and induction fees for a troupe in need= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Create face masks for your fellow Thespians, teachers, or essential workers= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Create a presentation or letter, and attend and advocate for theatre education at a school board meeting= 10 hours of advocacy work
- Participate in TIOS activities to promote theatre education in the school and community= 10 hours of advocacy work
- Prepare for and participate in a virtual meeting with a local, state, or federal elected official= 10 hours of advocacy work
- Serve as a troupe officerPresident, Secretary or others
- Serve as a Student/Provincial Thespian Officer for your chapter
- Organize or participate in troupe fundraising= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Mentor a newer Thespian about attending chapter festivals or the International Thespian Festival= 10 hours of mentoring
- Record a tutorial on a tech theatre skill= 10 hours of volunteer work
- Write, perform, and record an original song/monologue
- Perform in a hybrid “open mic” event with your troupe
- Stage manage a hybrid “open mic” event with your troupe
- Fulfill a lead acting role in a virtual or in-person performance= One-act or Full-length
- Fulfill a supporting acting role in a virtual or in-person performance= One-act or Full-length
- Fulfill a principal production role (costume, set, lighting design, stage manager) in a virtual or in-person performance= One-act or Full-length
- Develop a hypothetical design plot (light, costume, set) for a specific show. Create drawings to show your teacher OR create and photograph designs using household items.per design
- Participate in tech crew (non-principal role) for a school performance or assembly, etc.= 10 hours of work
Recognizing Thespian Achievement after Induction
Thespian Honor Rank Summary
Troupe directors can recognize exceptional Thespians after induction by awarding Thespian stars and honor ranks. Junior Thespians can be awarded stars.
See detailed information in the Thespian Troupe Handbook.
