Miss Hall’s joins International Thespian Society

The MHS Thespian Troupe traveled on Saturday to the Regional International Thespian Festival — also known as “ThesFest” — at Acton Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts. The day included workshops, master classes, one-act performances, and ways for students to support and celebrate fellow thespians from throughout the state.

If you’ve ever seen an MHS Theater Ensemble performance, it’s super-clear how hard the students work to produce these amazing events twice each year.

The students begin with little more than a script and an idea, and emerge a couple of months — and hours and hours of work — later as full-blown productions. As students they participate in every role, building elaborate sets, pulling together period wardrobes, acting, as well as managing technical aspects of the show, including lighting, sound, Box Office and lobby design.

MHS Director of Theater and Dance, Jen Jordan wanted to find a way to honor Ensemble members for all of their hard work. Now she has found just the vehicle — Thespian Troupe #8890.

Thespian Troupes are part of the International Thespian Society (ITS), founded in 1929 as an honorary organization for high school and middle school theater students. It is a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), of which Ms. Jordan is a member.

Troupe membership is open to all students in the Theater Ensemble who participate full-time in two or more productions. Benefits include participation in state and national workshops and events, a national conference, and ThesFest: the annual Regional International Thespian Festival. ITS also offers guidance and advice on performance and technical skills, including audition critiques; a subscription to Dramatics magazine; leadership opportunities at the state and national levels; and potential college scholarships. Troupe membership enhances college and employment applications.

“I was looking for a way to celebrate and honor students who have been in the Ensemble year after year,” explains Ms. Jordan, who serves as the Troupe’s Advisor. “They work so hard, put in so many hours, and are so passionate about theater. Forming a Troupe would be a great way to recognize them and offer other opportunities to connect and share experiences with like-minded theater students beyond the MHS community.”

For the past two years, Ms. Jordan has brought a group of Ensemble students to ThesFest, in Acton, Massachusetts. This regional event includes a one-act play competition, workshops, auditions, an after dinner dance party, and plenty of time to connect with theater students from other schools. In the future, MHS hopes to bring a student led production to the festival!

“We had a great time, and the workshops were awesome,” Ms. Jordan adds. “There is great energy there, and it’s nice that our students can interact with passionate theater students from all over New England.”