International Thespian Society 2000-19

To celebrate 90 years of the International Thespian Society (and this magazine, originally called The High School Thespian), we at Dramatics offer this five-part series tracking highlights of our institutional memory, two decades at a time. Follow and add to the ongoing celebration at #ITS90th and #ThespianForever.

THE FACT THAT hysteria surrounding a computer-based non-disaster underscored the dawn of the 21st century (search “Y2K” for details) seems appropriate. The first two decades of the new millennium heralded the rapid proliferation of social media, smartphones, and “fake news,” changing the way we respond to our world — including its very real disasters, from 9/11 and a global financial crisis to natural catastrophes — and fueling grassroots movements such as Occupy Wall Street, Me Too, and March for Our Lives.

During this time, the International Thespian Society continued to grow, celebrating its 75th birthday in 2004, opening the 2005 International Thespian Festival with the first national company production in more than 20 years (Ragtime: School Edition), and inducting the 2 millionth Thespian, Raymond “R.J.” Harding of Troupe 7321 (Ola High School, McDonough, Georgia) in 2009. The present decade also brought a change in EdTA’s leadership (to current Executive Director Julie Cohen Theobald in 2011) and another move for EdTA headquarters (to Cincinnati’s Norwood neighborhood last year).

In between, the organization saw the rise of the Next Generation Works program, as Thespian Musicalworks, Thespian Filmworks, and Thespian Criticworks joined the original Thespian Playworks program; an increase in both EdTA teacher services and theatre education advocacy efforts; and the launch of the Educational Theatre Foundation, EdTA’s fundraising arm, in 2017. Finally, in 2019, we found our online home, Dramatics.org, letting us share more Thespian stories, plus photo galleries, videos, polls, quizzes, and more.

2009: Raymond “R.J.” Harding is the 2 millionth inducted Thespian. — **2009**: Raymond “R.J.” Harding is the 2 millionth inducted Thespian.

2011: Julie Cohen Theobald becomes executive director of EdTA. — **2011**: Julie Cohen Theobald becomes executive director of EdTA. Photo by Don Corathers.

2012: EdTA and Utah State University release study of eductional theatre in the U.S. — **2012**: EdTA and Utah State University release study of eductional theatre in the U.S.

2013: Thespian Musicalworks premieres at ITF with Love at First Site. Photo by Susan Doremus. — **2013**: Thespian Musicalworks premieres at ITF with *Love at First Site*. Photo by Susan Doremus.

Photo from James N. Gamble Montessori High School — **2015**: EdTA launches JumpStart Theatre. Photo from the 2017 James N. Gamble Montessori production of *Annie Jr.* by Susan Doremus.

2017: dTA establishes the Educational Theatre Foundation. — **2017**: EdTA establishes the Educational Theatre Foundation. Photo by Harper Lee.

2018: Thespian Criticworks and Thespian Filmworks launch at ITF. — **2018**: Thespian Criticworks and Thespian Filmworks launch at ITF.

The world and ITS have both changed tremendously since 1929, but through all nine decades, at least one thing has remained steady: the power of theatre education to build confidence, creativity, and compassion for better communities.

Thank you for being part of our 90-year tradition. Share your personal Thespian journey with us.

This story appeared in the December 2019 print version of Dramatics. Learn about the print magazine and other Thespian benefits on the International Thespian Society website.