Open Forum

I have a student who is a sophomore. She took acting her freshman year. She has been in our shows as a freshman and earned parts, though no leads or named roles, and was inducted to ITS her freshman year. Due to many reasons that are too dramatic to go into here, her mother has helped her to decide she that is it best that she not audition here at our high school. She got a small chorus role in a children's theatre nearby. Mom has painstakingly keep every hour of rehearsal and performances recorded for the purpose of getting Thespian points. This young woman has not been in theatre this year at all here, though she is taking another semester Acting class next semester with me.

My question is, how do you handle outside theatre experience for thespian points? We have always had students involved with the theatre program here consistently, then when they had outside involvement, we would aware thespian points based on our usual point system. Since this is a  high school troupe based organization, do you require that the student maintain an active membership with your troupe to award thespian points for outside theatre involvement? One of my mentors does not award as many points for outside theatre involvement.  The only thing different about this particular show as far as rehearsal hours and performance time commitment is the number of performances they had. It was substantially more than a high school show (30), but the show was also only an hour long, I believe. 

I would love any additional feed back you have about how to handle this situation. Thank you!

I have a student who is a sophomore. She took acting her freshman year. She has been in our shows as a freshman and earned parts, though no leads or named roles, and was inducted to ITS her freshman year. Due to many reasons that are too dramatic to go into here, her mother has helped her to decide she that is it best that she not audition here at our high school. She got a small chorus role in a children's theatre nearby. Mom has painstakingly keep every hour of rehearsal and performances recorded for the purpose of getting Thespian points. This young woman has not been in theatre this year at all here, though she is taking another semester Acting class next semester with me.

My question is, how do you handle outside theatre experience for thespian points? We have always had students involved with the theatre program here consistently, then when they had outside involvement, we would aware thespian points based on our usual point system. Since this is a  high school troupe based organization, do you require that the student maintain an active membership with your troupe to award thespian points for outside theatre involvement? One of my mentors does not award as many points for outside theatre involvement.  The only thing different about this particular show as far as rehearsal hours and performance time commitment is the number of performances they had. It was substantially more than a high school show (30), but the show was also only an hour long, I believe. 

I would love any additional feed back you have about how to handle this situation. Thank you!

I have a student who is a sophomore. She took acting her freshman year. She has been in our shows as a freshman and earned parts, though no leads or named roles, and was inducted to ITS her freshman year. Due to many reasons that are too dramatic to go into here, her mother has helped her to decide she that is it best that she not audition here at our high school. She got a small chorus role in a children's theatre nearby. Mom has painstakingly keep every hour of rehearsal and performances recorded for the purpose of getting Thespian points. This young woman has not been in theatre this year at all here, though she is taking another semester Acting class next semester with me.

My question is, how do you handle outside theatre experience for thespian points? We have always had students involved with the theatre program here consistently, then when they had outside involvement, we would aware thespian points based on our usual point system. Since this is a  high school troupe based organization, do you require that the student maintain an active membership with your troupe to award thespian points for outside theatre involvement? One of my mentors does not award as many points for outside theatre involvement.  The only thing different about this particular show as far as rehearsal hours and performance time commitment is the number of performances they had. It was substantially more than a high school show (30), but the show was also only an hour long, I believe. 

I would love any additional feed back you have about how to handle this situation. Thank you!

Hi Cathy,

I don't give points outside of our school program unless it is over the summer and then only up to 1-5 points, depending on the role.  In my thinking, ITS is a high school organization so I strive to keep it that way.  It makes things very easy to understand and keep track.  I like to see fully what my students are doing to earn their points as their Director.  I consider out of school work to be enrichment, and while encouraged, is not the same as service to the school program.

If a student is involved in outside theater during the school year, I don't give points. I require them to be in our productions while they are going on.  If we were between shows and there was no overlap, I would consider it.  I do give a few points if they attend an outside performance or as part of a field trip.

I had an issue a few years ago where a young lady wanted to do every type of theater except our school and it had a lot to do with the parent.  The parent wanted to be the backstage leader, but would not adhere to our policy, so I couldn't use her.  So, they did community theater and wanted points.  I had to tell them no as there was no intention of being involved with our cast and crew at any time.

I have also given points for a young actor who wrote a one act and the local theater produced it.  This is something not offered at this time in our schedule, so it seemed valid for her to go outside.  She was also acting in our show at the same time.  I would consider any other such situations.

ITS is part of earning a Letter as well, so it has to be school focused for us.

Hope this is helpful to you as you move forward with this sticky question.  I look forward to reading other responses!

Hi Cathy,

I don't give points outside of our school program unless it is over the summer and then only up to 1-5 points, depending on the role.  In my thinking, ITS is a high school organization so I strive to keep it that way.  It makes things very easy to understand and keep track.  I like to see fully what my students are doing to earn their points as their Director.  I consider out of school work to be enrichment, and while encouraged, is not the same as service to the school program.

If a student is involved in outside theater during the school year, I don't give points. I require them to be in our productions while they are going on.  If we were between shows and there was no overlap, I would consider it.  I do give a few points if they attend an outside performance or as part of a field trip.

I had an issue a few years ago where a young lady wanted to do every type of theater except our school and it had a lot to do with the parent.  The parent wanted to be the backstage leader, but would not adhere to our policy, so I couldn't use her.  So, they did community theater and wanted points.  I had to tell them no as there was no intention of being involved with our cast and crew at any time.

I have also given points for a young actor who wrote a one act and the local theater produced it.  This is something not offered at this time in our schedule, so it seemed valid for her to go outside.  She was also acting in our show at the same time.  I would consider any other such situations.

ITS is part of earning a Letter as well, so it has to be school focused for us.

Hope this is helpful to you as you move forward with this sticky question.  I look forward to reading other responses!

 The rules for our thespian troupe allow students to accumulate points outside of school during their time spent in high school (no points for outside work completed in middle school). However, they only get half the points that would earn from a school related activity.  For example, if a student played a lead in a community production s/he would only earn 4  points vs the 8 s/he would earn for a lead in a school production. I count summer work as well for half credit. I like the idea that the student must bring in a program to verify their work.

Hi Cathy,

I don't give points outside of our school program unless it is over the summer and then only up to 1-5 points, depending on the role.  In my thinking, ITS is a high school organization so I strive to keep it that way.  It makes things very easy to understand and keep track.  I like to see fully what my students are doing to earn their points as their Director.  I consider out of school work to be enrichment, and while encouraged, is not the same as service to the school program.

If a student is involved in outside theater during the school year, I don't give points. I require them to be in our productions while they are going on.  If we were between shows and there was no overlap, I would consider it.  I do give a few points if they attend an outside performance or as part of a field trip.

I had an issue a few years ago where a young lady wanted to do every type of theater except our school and it had a lot to do with the parent.  The parent wanted to be the backstage leader, but would not adhere to our policy, so I couldn't use her.  So, they did community theater and wanted points.  I had to tell them no as there was no intention of being involved with our cast and crew at any time.

I have also given points for a young actor who wrote a one act and the local theater produced it.  This is something not offered at this time in our schedule, so it seemed valid for her to go outside.  She was also acting in our show at the same time.  I would consider any other such situations.

ITS is part of earning a Letter as well, so it has to be school focused for us.

Hope this is helpful to you as you move forward with this sticky question.  I look forward to reading other responses!

Our department produces 6-10 productions per year, but I still have students who perform/work as technicians in outside shows (usually in the summer when we aren't running a show). 

Years ago we solved this Thespian point issue by writing in our constitution that Thespian points may be awarded for one outside production per calendar year. The director, or the student, keeps track of their hours and I request a program or, if their willing, a short paragraph from the director commenting on the student's contribution, work ethic, attitude, etc. 

This has worked for our troupe for many years.