Thespians are students of theater who have distinguished themselves based on hard work and devotion and are

thus granted acceptance into the International Thespian Society. The International Thespian Society began as an idea in Fairmont, West Virginia when three educators got together and started drafting the plans for a group honoring superb theater work of students. It began simply as a group with a formal constitution and induction ceremony than eligible students could join. From the very beginning it was meant to uphold the ideals of non secret, non social, ideals that still remain present in current troupe constitutions today. The first school to be granted a charter from ITS, Thespian Troupe 1, is Natrona County High School, in Wyoming. Since then, chapters have opened across the country, spread to Canada, and are now found world wide. Membership is granted to any student who meets the requirements as described in their Troupes constitution, however, it is not simply handed out. Students who receive this prestigious title have earned it. Very few succumb to laziness and are thrown out of the society, but it has happened. Thespians come from all sorts of backgrounds, including varying race, ethnicity, and social class. Age is also not limited, middle school and high school thespians are inducted each year. Admittance is also often offered to adults who show the same devotion to the theater arts that children do. Demographical data shows a higher concentration of thespian troupes in high schools in and around cities, especially those like New York who have a strong theater presence in them. This does make sense, as children growing up in these areas would likely have been exposed to much more professional theater, more professionals would be willing to extend their help to a high school, and overall appreciation for the arts would be higher in the community. However, schools with a modest theater community also get a very admirable audience pool. Thespian troupes generally perform their productions during either the fall or the spring. Summer shows are a rarity, as school is not in session. At one point each year, troupes meet at huge conventions held statewide, and also nationwide. These conferences, which can take place at any time through the academic year but are usually remain the same week for their respective troupe pool. For instance, the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference always takes place on the first weekend after Thanksgiving. Symbolism comes to play a lot in the theater. Beyond the drama masks representing comedy and tragedy, there are elements in a performance that Thespian know mean more that just what they are. Symbolism is a very big part of plays and musicals. For example, a rose most obviously symbolizes love. There are also technical theater symbols, such as SFX in a script to indicate Sound Effects, and notes take that indicate where the scene should take place. The finger over the lips international symbol for be quiet is also often found in a theater setting, often being produced by a flustered stage manager.

Thespians also have their own stage language, unique to the point that it can get very confusing for an outsider visiting a rehearsal. For instance, when discussing where to place a set piece, thespians might play around with terms like Downstage right. In theater, stage right means the right of the stage relevant from the performers point of view, and stage left means that respective left. Whereas, audience right and audience left would mean these directions in the perspective of the audience looking at the stage. Should the scenery be placed on stage right, the audience would see it as audience left. Also, up stage means farther away from the audience, towards the back wall of the stage, where down stage means closer. So, downstage right would mean close to the audience on their left. There is additional thespian terminology. For instance, the lighting crew may constantly yell to the actors to stay in the light. This is important because, while most of the stage is lit up, certain spots are hit directly, and this is where the performers need to stand. Otherwise, their facial expressions are masked at best or they are completely in the shadows at worst. Likewise, the director may hall out in a makeup check that a performer looks washed out under the light. This means that they do not have enough makeup on and their faces look dull and pale. Thespians get used to this terminology very quickly during a run through, especially during the week before the show. Tech week, as is it rightfully called due to the tech rehearsals that take place during it, is often called hell week by the thespians who have experienced it instantly. When the show ends, the process of set striking begins. This theater term means taking down the set. The language may seem difficult to an outside party, but thespians know it by heart. Act well your part, there all the honor lies is the motto of the International Thespian Society. It sums up the values and beliefs of the group quite simply. Thespians value their end result, opening night, very dearly. They work endlessly to make every aspect of the performance outstanding. So, they believe that every thespian, at the very least, should be dedicated enough to take the show seriously, and attend every rehearsal. Thespians value time, since every night of rehearsal is a blessing, because once the rehearsal period starts, time seems to fast forward right until the final dress rehearsal. Thespians believe that arts matter. They cherish performance as a way of self-expression, and a way to influence a group of people to share in an experience that will move them. Thus, they are always campaigning to get people to come and see their shows when opening night approaches. They dont want to just sell tickets, they want to sell a night that the audience will never forget. Thespians have a lot of respect for their fellow thespians, and want to see their work appreciated. So, after thespians graduate, they often come back to support the efforts of the new generation. Members, try as they might, can never seem to get away from the Thespian Society once they enter. Like it or not, it becomes a part of them that they cannot simply erase after high school.

Mores, the social institutions that are taken very seriously in a group, of the Thespian Society are very basic. Since the group was founded to celebrate hard work, it is important to always be hard at work. When a thespian is slacking, other thespians have to work all the more hard to carry the extra weight. The group will only accomplish their goal of an excellent performance if all aspects of that performance work together flawlessly. So, should a thespian disrespect the oath they took at inductions, they are not met is a lot of respect from the other thespians of the troupe. The thespian society is not jail, while it may seem like it sometimes during hell week to newcomers. Members are encouraged and expected to attend every rehearsal, participate in every fundraiser, and offer their time whenever they can. But thespians are not only thespians, many are athletes, musicians, scholars, and devoted family members. Being a part of numerous organizations is praised, because it opens up the membership pool by convinces people with varying interests to give theater a try. Missing an event is not advocated, and is frowned upon, but fellow thespians are unlikely to resent a member for life if they miss one event, as long as it is not opening night. When the clich theater kid is pictured, the group dressed in all black looking sitting alone in a cafeteria is a bit exaggerated. Thespians, if nothing else, are individuals. Their style is often unique and intricate, and they like it that way. However, it is not uncommon to see a thespian wearing a show shirt from a performance they have seen, heard of, or been in. The only thespians wearing black are the techies, and they are proud of it. Technical Theater equipment is also advancing. However, the average school lacks the funding to continually update their equipment. So, most thespians troupes work with semi new technology, although ancient lighting software is still worked with. Regardless, thespians find a way to make it do what they need it to for their show. The tool list for a show is pretty lengthy. Disregarding all the construction tools used by the set crew, thespians are still left with head sets, head mics, band aids to attack the head mics with, speakers, props, makeup, spike tape, extra batteries, water bottles (to keep the voices crisp), and a fully stocked first aid kit. Less obvious items are also essentials, like safety pins, hair elastics, and flashlights. It is also common to see techies have paint easily accessible during a show in case a set piece gets banged up during a scene change and needs to get touched up in a hurry. Thespians do have some subconscious habits that they probably dont recognize as strange or annoying to the outside world. For instance, many thespians have lines to their favorite shows memorized. As a result, when a group of them are together, they can often burst into song or quoting a play, which can get very aggravating to witness after a while. But to the thespians, its all fun and games.

Some thespians, mainly the performers, find that when working on developing a character, they start acting like that character in day to day moments. Since they spend some many hours diving into the psyche of another and attempting to become a new person conceivably, it is not surprising that some of this character slips out from time to time. Being a society with a lot of ideals and members, rituals are important in the Thespians Society. Most groups have a pre-show ritual that they perform with the entire cast and crew prior to each performance. The induction ceremony for new members takes place every May. There is an informal ceremony of sorts in the morning of afternoon, followed by a formal ceremony where candles are lit, names are read, moment are remember, and work is cherished surrounded by friends and family. It is not uncommon for thespian alumni to attend this ceremony; in fact they are encouraged to come. At this ceremony, members recite the pledge: I promise to uphold the aims and ideals of the International Thespian Society. I am a student of theater and excellence is my ideal. I promise to perform my part as well as I can ;To accept praise and criticism with grace ;To cooperate with my fellow Thespians And work for the good of the troupe; And to share my love of theater The pledge is a declaration of loyalty to the organization. Inductees are officially considered thespians when they have finished saying it, and are expected to uphold its principles throughout their career. Annually, there are several events that thespians actively take part in. The most obvious is the annual state conference. However, each year, thespians also put on at least on show, and put on numerous fundraisers. Transcending the school year, whether it be a troupe event or not, when thespians go to see a performance, which happens quite often, they respect the people on stage and give them the respect there deserve following the curtain call. Being well versed in the complexities of putting on a show, they should always have a compliment ready for when they see a cast member in the lobby afterwards. Perhaps the most interesting part of thespian culture is the superstitions they hold as truth. Famously, saying good luck is the worst thing to say to a thespian concerning an upcoming performance. It is better taste to say something negative to them like break a leg, as negatives are meant to actually bring good luck. Many theater dwellers believe in ghosts. There are countless stories to be told of things hat happen when a techie is alone in the light booth or when a performer stays late to run through their blocking. Which is why theaters always have a light on stage. Some say the light prevents the ghosts from coming, while

others have a different theory. The believe the light is left on for the ghosts as a courtesy so that the ghosts can perform too. It is common in thespian societies to blame mishaps on the ghost of Thespus, the first actor. November 23, the day legend says he uttered his first line, is said to be the day he haunts auditoriums the most. Whistling in the theater is also very bad, although this has an origin. Before technology advanced so that people on opposite sides of the stage could communicate, they did so through whistling. So, if someone other then the stage hand whistled, the other stage hand would assume it was time to pull a rope or move a set, and it resulted in catastrophes to the play, severe injuries, and even death. While whistling is no longer used as a way to communicate on stage, it is still bad luck to do. Shakespeares Macbeth is also believed to be cursed. For this reason, thespians refuse to say its name, instead referring to it as The Scottish Play Oddly enough, some thespians swear that sleeping with their scripts under their pillows helps them memorize lines. It is also considered bad luck to use real money or real jewelry as a prop, to use a real bible on stage, and, most strangely, to use peacock feathers in any way. For some reason, several accounts testify that when performances involve the feather of peacock, whether it be a costume piece or a decoration or anything, always coincides with the collapse of the set. Thinking structural functionalistly, there are several aspects of the Thespian Society that keep it running smoothly. One is having a common goal: a great opening night with a large audience. People involved in the performance may butt heads, but in the end, all will sacrifice their quarrels for the good of the performance. Also, thespian troupes do not advocate keeping secrets or any doing that is not made public knowledge to all members of the troupe. This ensures that nothing gets passed the group and keeps everyone honest. In all, the International Thespian Society does a lot for society. It molds students into individuals with confidence, pride, and humility. It shows them what can be done with hard work. It also teaches good public speaking skills, which are extremely valuable throughout life. Most of all, ITS provides the world with entertainment. In todays world, there are times when people need to be entertained to escape, to be humbled, and to remember times when things were either better or worse off. Theater can provide inspiration and hope to an audience that is willing to let the experience take hold of them. Unfortunately, there is some amount of conflict throughout the group. When two thespians are auditioning for the same part, they may feel resentful of the other if they are overlooked for the talent of the other thespian. While mature thespians should respect the directors decision, they may still hold feelings privately. Also,

tension gets very high during tech week, when techies battle for stage time to set lights and sets while actors demand time to go over their scenes again. These conflicts are usually resolved, and if not, are forgotten (at least temporarily) when the curtain opens for an audience. Outside of ITS, thespians meet opposite from groups that do not appreciate the arts like they do. Traditionally, there have always been group like this who are likely envious of the talent thespians posses, or else to proud of their own talent to open their minds to something new. Within the school community, it is often that sports are deemed more important. To some extent, troupes are in competition with other groups at convention to show off how excellent their work has been, but all thespians understand the limits of this competition. As individuals, thespians are proud to see themselves as a thespian. They remember the work they were able to do, whether it be on stage or behind. They are proud to have been part of a group of many that worked together to do something amazing. They view themselves as talented actors and crew members who, unlike a lot of high school kids, were a part of something bigger then one person. Thespians consider themselves part of the group for life, and they return to thespian event to offer support, since it is their only way to remain an active part of the groups life, and since it helps other thespians to emerge and recognize the same honor that they had. There is an expression that says all the worlds a stage. Thespians take this statement both literally and figuratively. They often go on to work in theater careers for the rest of their life, seeing the stage as the only place where they are meant to be. They also realize that the skills they learned as a thespian come to play no matter where life takes them, and are constantly surprised by what the Thespian Society has enabled them to do.