Membership FAQ

Students qualify by earning points for their work in the theatre arts. ITS provides a point system guide for reference. The points listed are the suggested maximum for excellent work. These points should be earned in a minimum of two productions and in two different production areas (e.g., acting and stage management).

Thespians (grades 9 through 12) – One Thespian point represents ten hours of excellent work. To be eligible for Thespian induction, a student must obtain a minimum of ten points, the equivalent of one hundred hours.

Junior Thespians (grades 6 through 8) – One Junior Thespian point represents five hours of excellent work. To be eligible for Junior Thespian induction, a student must obtain a minimum of ten points, the equivalent of fifty hours.

All Thespians and Junior Thespians receive:

• A personalized membership card and certificate
• A bumper sticker that reads: Proud parent of a theatre arts honor student
• Eligibility to:
  • participate in the Thespys^® at the chapter events and the International Thespian Festival (per chapter policy)
  • receive ITS graduation and honor items (per troupe policy)

All Thespians also receive:

• A Thespian induction pin
• Login access to their own member dashboard page and a variety of online benefits
• Access to our online magazine, Dramatics.org, full of content curated especially for Thespians
• Member-only pricing on Thespian apparel, theatre books, and resources at the online EdTA Store
• Student member access to the online Theatre Education Community
• Eligibility to:
  • apply for scholarships and grants
  • run for office as a State Thespian Officer (STO) (per chapter policy)
  • run for office as an International Thespian Officer (ITO)
  • submit their original compositions to the Thespy Playwriting program

All Junior Thespians also receive:

• A Junior Thespian induction pin
• Ability to begin their high school careers with half of the Thespian points required for high school induction

Troupe directors may submit new inductions at any time during the school year.

No. Payment of the one-time induction fee entitles the student to a lifetime membership, the active benefits of which last through high school or middle school graduation. Troupes may assess additional participation fees at their discretion.

The ITS point systems are meant to be used as guides. Different programs have different needs, and each director may need to tailor the qualifications to fit a school’s unique program and environment. If a troupe is using anything other than what is published by EdTA, these changes should be documented in the troupe’s constitution and made available to students and administrators. Other induction requirements that may not be altered are listed in the EdTA membership policy.

No. Once students’ paid inductions have been processed by EdTA, they are Thespians or Junior Thespians for life. However, each troupe may have its own requirements for being a member in good standing of their local troupe. These should be defined in the troupe’s constitution. If a director determines that a student is not eligible to participate in troupe activities, they may prohibit that student from participating (ideally the sanction is within the guidelines of the troupe’s constitution). Resolution of any dispute over a student’s ability to participate in a troupe activity rests with the school’s administration.

No. If the school that the student attends has an active ITS troupe, they may only be a member of that troupe. Students may participate in and earn points for work done with other ITS troupes and in other theatrical activities, if the troupe constitution and bylaws permit. If the school does not have an active troupe, students may be eligible for induction into an active troupe at another school. Full troupe affiliation guidelines are available in the troupe handbook.

Troupes are expected to accept transferring student members with credit for a minimum of ten points. If a student member transfers to a school that has an active ITS troupe, the director of the new school must submit a student membership transfer form to EdTA. Transferring members are not submitted along with new inductees, and they do not pay any additional membership fees. Transferring members may be required to fulfill certain additional expectations to receive local troupe benefits at their new school. The troupe director may order new ITS credentials for the transferring member. Student members transferring to schools without active troupes remain members of their original troupes. That troupe’s director and constitution determine if the student will continue to receive local benefits. Members transferring to unaffiliated schools are encouraged to pursue chartering a troupe at their new school, after which they would transfer to that newly formed troupe.

Whether or not points beyond the ten needed for induction will be recognized at the new troupe is determined by the new troupe director and that troupe’s constitution. Similarly, all, some, or none of the points of students who haven’t been inducted may be accepted by the new troupe, depending on the troupe’s constitution and bylaws.

No. Junior Thespians moving to high schools must be inducted into the high school troupe. They begin their high school careers with at least half of the points needed for high school induction, usually five out of ten. When they become eligible for induction, they are submitted along with all other Thespian inductees.

Some state chapters require proof of induction to participate in auditions and other activities at their conferences. Some member schools extend special deals and privileges (discounted tickets, free preview performances, etc.) to cardholding ITS members as part of a good neighbor policy. Some local theatres and businesses may extend similar deals to cardholders based on previously arranged agreements. Troupe directors should make themselves aware of any such opportunities and inform their students. Troupes are encouraged to gather with others in their area to explore opportunities and arrange deals.

ITS offers a wide variety of items for recognizing member achievement. Induction and scholar pins, graduation honor cords and tassels, medallions, and other honor items may only be purchased by troupe directors and may only be presented to officially inducted students. Some items are specific to Thespians and others to Junior Thespians. ITS trophies and plaques may be presented to student members and non-members (parent volunteers, for example) at the troupe director’s discretion. Troupe directors should work closely with their school administrations to determine which items are appropriate. All items are ordered through the online EdTA Store.

While ITS does not have a minimum GPA requirement for induction, officially inducted Thespians and Junior Thespians who demonstrate high academic success in addition to their achievements in theatre arts may earn the distinction of scholar. The scholar distinction always follows the student’s ITS rank to create his or her full designation: Junior Thespian Scholar, Thespian Scholar, 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 awards over and above the ten points required for induction (60, 120, and 180). Thespian points are awarded based on the quality and quantity of each student’s work in theatre arts. Scholar distinction is granted to a Thespian or Junior Thespian 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.