​HOW DOES IT WORK?

ITS is an honor society. Junior Thespian troupes include students in grades 6-8. The ITS group at each middle school is known as a Jr. Thespian troupe and is led by a Troupe Director. Students receive points when they achieve excellence in their theatre program.

​TEACHER Benefits

-Professional development
-Membership to Educational Theatre Association (EdTA)
-High-quality training and networking opportunities

​STUDENT Benefits

TRAINING from professionals and state theatre educators
COLLABORATION with Thespians from other schools
RECOGNITION of skills based on national standards

How to get everyone else on board...

Do you need to persuade your school board, principal, administration, or parents about the importance of ITS? Do you want to start a Jr. Thespian troupe, but do not know how to get everyone on board?

Well, fortunately, EdTA provides videos, slideshows, and documents for helping you implement a Junior Thespian troupe in your school.
​"I first started looking into chartering a Junior Thespian troupe because I wanted to find an easy way to expand my school's drama club beyond 'musical season.'  It was incredibly easy to figure out which of my students were eligible, and I especially appreciated how little paperwork was involved.  I also love that there is a ton of flexibility as to how active and involved you want your troupe to be, once it is chartered.  The kids love the official certificates and membership cards, and our annual induction ceremony has become a wonderful tradition that allows us to recognize our students for their dedication to the arts."
~H. Van, Troupe 89419
"I was looking to offer my students a theatrical experience outside of school, so we attended the 2017 NJ Jr. Thespians Festival and I’m so glad we did!  It was clear to me that attending the festival was not enough and that my students and I needed full access to all this honor society offered. What better way to recognize their hard work, encourage them to continue to participate in the theatre program at our school, and present opportunities for connecting with like-minded students from across the state? And with so few honor societies available to middle school students, I think it’s great that ITS offers junior leadership opportunities at the troupe and state level. Starting the troupe was easy. I reviewed the point system and after applying it to my students, I had a list of qualifying candidates. I am happy to say that we are now officially Troupe 88360 with an induction planned for Spring 2018. Thanks NJ Jr. Thespians!"
-L. Torrente, Troupe 88360