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Curious - how would a high school troupe director (me) go about establishing a junior troupe for the two middle schools in my unified school district that don't have theatre programs but students can participate in musicals run by an outside organization?

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Kaila Schwartz
Theatre Arts, Director
Milpitas High School
CA
------------------------------

Hi Kaila,

There is no difference any longer between a Thespian troupe set up at a middle school and a Thespian troupe set up at a high school. From the Troupe Handbook, Section 2.5:


So, you may induct students who participate in your program into your Thespian troupe. It would be your decision as troupe director to allow those students to accrue Thespian points for work they do outside your program. It is recommended that 3 of the 5 required points come from work done in support of the troupe into which the student is being inducted. From the handbook, section 5.1:


Or - you could assist someone from the middle schools in setting up a Thespian troupe, but that requires someone willing to manage it and be responsible for the financial obligations associated with Troupe membership.

I hope that helps!
Matt

------------------------------
Matt Curtis
Content & Marketing Director
Educational Theatre Association
OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-25-2022 17:17
From: Kaila Schwartz
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Curious - how would a high school troupe director (me) go about establishing a junior troupe for the two middle schools in my unified school district that don't have theatre programs but students can participate in musicals run by an outside organization?

------------------------------
Kaila Schwartz
Theatre Arts, Director
Milpitas High School
CA
------------------------------

Hello!

I am a middle school teacher with a Jr. Thespian Troupe. There is no Troupe at the high school. Does this mean I can include students who have gone on to high school in my troupe, and they would still be able to participate in Thespian activities, including scholarship opportunities?

------------------------------
Katie Newbanks
Drama Teacher
Bernardo Heights Middle School
CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2022 09:29
From: Matt Curtis
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Hi Kaila,

There is no difference any longer between a Thespian troupe set up at a middle school and a Thespian troupe set up at a high school. From the Troupe Handbook, Section 2.5:

As of May 2021, a school/organization has one Thespian troupe that may contain Thespians (students in grades 9-12), Junior Thespians (students in grades 6-8), or both Thespians and Junior Thespians. This allows high school troupes to induct students from grades 6-8 who participate in their programs into the same troupe if the feeder middle school does not have a Thespian troupe or the school is designed as a K-12 or 6-12 structure. Similarly, middle schools may induct 9-12 grade students into their Thespian troupe if the high school does not have a Thespian troupe for them to join upon entering 9th grade. This policy is intended to strengthen the 6-12 pipeline for theatre programs. Please note that Junior Thespian membership in a troupe does not guarantee subsequent Thespian membership in that same troupe.

So, you may induct students who participate in your program into your Thespian troupe. It would be your decision as troupe director to allow those students to accrue Thespian points for work they do outside your program. It is recommended that 3 of the 5 required points come from work done in support of the troupe into which the student is being inducted. From the handbook, section 5.1:

To become a Junior Thespian, a student must earn 5 points (the equivalent of 50 hours of excellent work). 3 of those points should be acquired at the school where they are to be inducted.

Or - you could assist someone from the middle schools in setting up a Thespian troupe, but that requires someone willing to manage it and be responsible for the financial obligations associated with Troupe membership.

I hope that helps!
Matt

------------------------------
Matt Curtis
Content & Marketing Director
Educational Theatre Association
OH

Original Message:
Sent: 08-25-2022 17:17
From: Kaila Schwartz
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Curious - how would a high school troupe director (me) go about establishing a junior troupe for the two middle schools in my unified school district that don't have theatre programs but students can participate in musicals run by an outside organization?

------------------------------
Kaila Schwartz
Theatre Arts, Director
Milpitas High School
CA
------------------------------

Yes, that is exactly why it is structured that way. They would still need to accrue 10 points for their theatre work in high school, separately from their work with you in middle school, which would have gone toward their Junior Thespian status.

------------------------------
Matt Curtis
Content & Marketing Director
Educational Theatre Association
OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-27-2022 10:17
From: Katie Newbanks
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Hello!

I am a middle school teacher with a Jr. Thespian Troupe. There is no Troupe at the high school. Does this mean I can include students who have gone on to high school in my troupe, and they would still be able to participate in Thespian activities, including scholarship opportunities?

------------------------------
Katie Newbanks
Drama Teacher
Bernardo Heights Middle School
CA

Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2022 09:29
From: Matt Curtis
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Hi Kaila,

There is no difference any longer between a Thespian troupe set up at a middle school and a Thespian troupe set up at a high school. From the Troupe Handbook, Section 2.5:

As of May 2021, a school/organization has one Thespian troupe that may contain Thespians (students in grades 9-12), Junior Thespians (students in grades 6-8), or both Thespians and Junior Thespians. This allows high school troupes to induct students from grades 6-8 who participate in their programs into the same troupe if the feeder middle school does not have a Thespian troupe or the school is designed as a K-12 or 6-12 structure. Similarly, middle schools may induct 9-12 grade students into their Thespian troupe if the high school does not have a Thespian troupe for them to join upon entering 9th grade. This policy is intended to strengthen the 6-12 pipeline for theatre programs. Please note that Junior Thespian membership in a troupe does not guarantee subsequent Thespian membership in that same troupe.

So, you may induct students who participate in your program into your Thespian troupe. It would be your decision as troupe director to allow those students to accrue Thespian points for work they do outside your program. It is recommended that 3 of the 5 required points come from work done in support of the troupe into which the student is being inducted. From the handbook, section 5.1:

To become a Junior Thespian, a student must earn 5 points (the equivalent of 50 hours of excellent work). 3 of those points should be acquired at the school where they are to be inducted.

Or - you could assist someone from the middle schools in setting up a Thespian troupe, but that requires someone willing to manage it and be responsible for the financial obligations associated with Troupe membership.

I hope that helps!
Matt

------------------------------
Matt Curtis
Content & Marketing Director
Educational Theatre Association
OH

Original Message:
Sent: 08-25-2022 17:17
From: Kaila Schwartz
Subject: Junior Thespian Troupe

Curious - how would a high school troupe director (me) go about establishing a junior troupe for the two middle schools in my unified school district that don't have theatre programs but students can participate in musicals run by an outside organization?

------------------------------
Kaila Schwartz
Theatre Arts, Director
Milpitas High School
CA
------------------------------