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The Official High School Thespian Point System The International Thespian Society is the onlyorganization to honor secondary school studentsfor outstanding work in theatre. The resolutionwith which the Society approaches this role isevident in its focus on the students; theirachievements, involvement, and access toquality theatre arts instruction are basic concernsof ITS.

Thespian membership is granted for theperformance of meritorious work in theatre artswhich meets the Societys general guidelines.Specifically, students become members byearning points for their work. Any student whohas participated in at least two productions for atotal of one hundred hours of work is eligible forThespian Society membership.

Troupe directors should notify their theatrearts students, production participants, or dramaclub members that records of their activities willbe maintained and that Thespian membershipmay be conferred when qualifications have beenmet. The troupe secretary or clerk is ordinarilyresponsible for maintaining these records, whichshould be available for students review. Youcan download point record sheets in the memberservices section of EdTAs website.

A Thespian moving to another affiliatedschool is entitled to transfer his or her

membership by having the new troupe directorverify the membership with the ITS home office.A new membership card and certificate may besecured by submitting the replacementcredentials form, which is available from theEdTA website.

The points listed on the next page are themaximum that usually may be earned for aspecific assignment. Troupe directors mayaward two additional points for any task performed with exceptional merit, and shoulduse their discretion in awarding pointsfromzero to the maximumaccording to the qualityof effort and work accomplished.

The following are general guidelines on theawarding of points:

One point represents approximately ten hours of excellent work. Troupe directors should use thisformula in awarding points for items notspecifically listed in the point system.

To attain Thespian membership, a student mustearn ten points, five of which must be acquiredat the school where he or she is to be inducted.

Thespian membership will be awarded on ademocratic basis to all students who qualifyaccording to the requirements of the pointsystem. No student will be elected into theSociety. No student will be deniedmembership if he or she has accumulated therequired ten points and has fulfilled allmembership requirements.

A student must participate in at least two full-length productions, or one full-length and twoone-acts, or four one-acts. Participationshould be in at least two of the listedcategories, for example, acting andproduction.

Students may earn up to five points towardmembership through participation at themiddle school level (through an ITS JuniorThespian troupe), in community, childrens orprofessional theatre, or in other activities inthe performing arts. They may earn additionalpoints after induction at the troupe directorsdiscretion and upon proof of participation.

When students qualify for membership, theyshould be notified that they may join theInternational Thespian Society. Membershipnotification cards are available from the homeoffice (see the member services page of theEdTA website for complimentary troupesupplies). Students should be informed of thecost of the membership fee and date/site of the induction ceremony. No hazing of studentcandidates is permitted. Inductionceremonies, ranging from the very informal toformal styles, are described in the troupedirector handbook available on the website.

After Thespians have attained membership,further recognition for their outstanding work intheatre arts may be indicated by awarding stars

for each additional ten pointsor one hundredhoursearned (to a maximum of four stars).Students may wear stars on Thespian jewelry toindicate their rating in the troupe. Star ratingsshould be designated on the studentsmembership certificate under Thespian StarsEarned. Gold stars suitable for this purposemay be purchased from EdTAs online store atwww.edta.org or through the home office.

8/6/2019 Thespian Point System

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One FullItem Act Length

Acting Ma jor role 4 8Mino r role 3 5Walk-on 1 2Ch orus 1 3Danc er 1 3

Und erstud y 1 2

Production Stag e ma na ge r 4 8Stag e c rew 2 4Lighting tec hnician 3 6Lighting c rew 2 3Set d esigne r 4 5Set c onstruction c rew 3 5Co stum er 3 6Co stume c rew 2 5Prop erties ma na g er 3 5Prop erties c rew 2 3Sound tec hnic ian 3 5Soun d c rew 2 3Video ed itor 1.5 2Vide o c rew 1.5 3Makeup ma nag er 3 5Rehe a rsa l p romp ter 2 4Pia nist 3 6Music ians 2 3

Business Business ma na ger 4 6Busine ss c rew 2 4Public ity ma nag er 3 5Pub lic ity c rew 2 3

Ticket ma na g er 2 4Ticket c rew 1 3House ma nag er 2 4House c rew 1 2Ushe rs 1 2Prog ram s 1 3Prog ra m c rew 1 2

Directing Direc tor 4 8Assista nt d irec to r 3 6Voc a l direc tor 3 6Vide o produc er/

d irec tor 3 4Assista nt vo c al d irec tor 2 5Orchestra or

ba nd direc tor 3 6Assista nt o rche stra

or ba nd direc tor 2 5Choreog rap her 4 7Assista nt

cho reog rap her 3 5

One FullItem Act Length

Writing Original p lay(prod uced ) 5 8

Orig. rad io sc ript(prod uced ) 4 6

Orig. TV sc rip t (p rod .) 4 6

Orig. p lay(unproduc ed ) 1 2

Orig. rad io sc ript(unproduc ed ) 0.5 1.5

Orig . TV scrip t(unp rod .) 0.5 1.5

Miscellaneous Oral interpreta tion 2Duet ac ting sc ene s 2Participa tion in thea tre

festival or contest 3Attending a

pe rformanc e o r festival 1Assem b ly p rog ra m 1

Officers President 6Vic e presid ent 4Sec reta ry 5Trea surer 4Clerk 4Website develop/

maintenance 4Other 2

Award Tota l Points Honor One sta r 20Thespians Two sta rs 30

Thre e sta rs 40Four sta rs 50Hono r Ba r 60

The Official High School Thespian Point System is apublication of the International Thespian Society. ITS is adivision of the Educational Theatre Association. For moreinformation about EdTA and ITS programs for studentsand teachers, contact us at:

EdTA/ITS2343 Auburn Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45219-2815Voice: (513) 421-3900Fax: (513) 421-7055

Website: www.edta.org