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What is EdTA?. Educational Theatre Association. What is EdTA ? Agenda. Mission Fun Facts History Programs International Thespian Society Festival Publications Teacher Events Role of State Chapters Future Priorities. Fun Facts. Founded in 1929
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What is EdTA? Educational Theatre Association
What is EdTA? Agenda • Mission • Fun Facts • History • Programs • International Thespian Society • Festival • Publications • Teacher Events • Role of State Chapters • Future Priorities
Fun Facts • Founded in 1929 • More than 2 million students have earned induction into the Thespian Society • Famous alumni: Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus • Current Membership • 84,000 students • 4,700 teachers • Approx 20% of US high schools have a Thespian troupe • Home office in Cincinnati has staff of 28 people • Operating Budget • $4.2 million on a national level • In addition to approx $4 million combined budgets of state chapters
Thespian Celebrities • Tom Hanks • Madonna • Julia Louis-Dreyfus • Mare Winningham • Val Kilmer • John Goodman • Tommy Tune • Dick & Jerry Van Dyke • Paula Prentiss
History • 1929 - Dr. Earl Blank suggested to Dr. Paul Opp the idea of a society for the improvement of dramatics in secondary school • First meeting at the Rosana Tea Room in Fairmont, WV • Decided the society’s colors were blue and gold • Motto was “Act well your part; there all the honor lies” • Membership fee set at $1.50 per student and $5.00 to charter a troupe • 1935 - moved the HQ to Cincinnati, chosen because there were many printers and a central location for mailings across the US • 1941 - the First National High School Drama Conference (now known as the Thespian Festival) was held at Indiana University • 1989 - the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) was created to house the Thespian Society as well as address the professional needs of the theatre educator • 1998 - Moved to the Graveson House at 2343 Auburn Ave
EdTA’s Programs International Thespian Society Student Festivals College Scholarships EdTA Publications Dramatics Teaching Theatre Professional Development Advocacy
International Thespian Society • An honor society recognizing excellent work in theatre by middle and high school students • Students earn points toward induction by participating in productions, technical work, community service, etc. • Provides structure that helps the theatre educator build an effective drama program
Annual Thespian Festival • Weeklong celebration of theatre held in Lincoln, NE in June • Showcase for 40 outstanding student productions • 125 workshop sessions • 400+ students audition for college theatre programs • Tech Challenge - competition of technical theatre • Thespian Playworks - student writing program • Awards and scholarships • Over 2,700 attendees
Publications & Online Resources • Dramatics magazine • 9 issues per year for students and teachers • Gives readers tools to make them better theatre artists; make informed decisions about theatre careers; and become knowledgeable, appreciative audience members • Average monthly circulation of 38,800 • Teaching Theatre magazine • 4 issues per year for educators • Helps curricular theatre educators do their jobs in the classroom and on the stage • Average circulation of 4,700 • Schooltheatre.org • Ready-to-use resources for teachers • Video library • Online store for books and Thespian spirit items • 100,000+ unique visitors
Teacher Events • EdTA Annual Conference • Professional Development • Keynote speeches • Workshops • Panel discussions • Continuing education credits • Networking • Leadership Summit • State Chapter Directors share best practices
Organizational Structure Board of Directors (national) Home office 29 full time staff Volunteer Members (84,000 active students/4,700 teachers & teaching artists)
Role of State Chapters • Each State Chapter is incorporated as an affiliate of EdTA, led by a State Director with its own volunteer board • State Chapters produce local theatre festivals and competitions, enabling EdTA to broaden from reaching 2,700 attendees at the national festival to 38,000 combined at all the state festivals • State Directors advocate at the state level for theatre education standards and program support • Several territories outside of US have Thespian troupes
Future Priorities • Advocacy • Our vision is that every student has access to theatre in the school curriculum • Lead in research to demonstrate value of theatre education in building life skills • Growth • Broaden our reach to increase diversity, overall membership, and involvement • Technology • Keep up with students and teachers in today’s times