Get Involved
Teachers and Educators
Ohio Thespians supports teachers by providing a suite of professional resources. As a troupe director, teachers enjoy professional development opportunities, membership in a passionate community of creative peers from around the state, the chance to earn national recognition for you and your students, as well as coverage under the EdTA insurance policy.
fAQ
Search for Answers
PRESENT WORKSHOPS AT 2023 STATE CONFERENCE
All theatre professionals, educators, troupe directors, theatre booster organizations, and others associated with theatre arts are welcome to submit workshop proposals. Proposals from current student Thespians will not be accepted unless supervised, endorsed, and submitted by the troupe director or the student is a current or previous STO/ITO.
Please fill out this form entirely if you would like to be considered as a guest artist for our conference. The workshops will all be presented in person and virtually. The conference dates are April 14 & 15, 2023 at Riverside High School.
Any workshop presenter or accompanist, assistant coming with the presenter must complete this BACKGROUND CHECK by April 10, 2023.
Workshop proposals are due MARCH 1, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Horst or Jeff Sams (jhorst@ohedta.org / jsams@ohedta.org).
BACKGROUND CHECK
Any adult (18+) chaperone, presenter, performer, director, musician, etc needs to have a background check on file. Troupe Directors, please use this link and share with any chaperones, staff, musicians who will be accompanying your troupe. BACKGROUND CHECK
AWARDS FOR STUDENTS & COLLEAGUES
Jimmy Humphries Scholarship
Assisting Thespians who have participated in technical theatre and are planning to study technical theatre in college.
Nominate an advocate of your program or an outstanding colleague. See Awards section for links!
2023 JUNIOR THESPIAN STATE CONFERENCE
2023 EMERGENCY MEDICAL & CONSENT FORMS
Forms used by home school are accepted. Forms must be scanned and emailed to lpoje@ohedeta.org by April 10th. No hard copy forms will be needed for check in. If you need a form, a link is provided below.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL/ CONSENT FORMS
Emergency Medical/ Consent Forms are the responsibility of the Troupe Director to gather and have on hand for their chaperones, their students, and themselves.
- Contact Matt Wolfe mwolfe@ohedta.org with questions
CLOSED FOR 22-23 YEAR: HOW DO WE BRING A MAINSTAGE TO CONFERENCE?
Throughout state conference weekend, troupes stage performances selected from high schools across Ohio, creating a one of a kind opportunity for students and teachers alike. To be considered for a performance, troupe directors must request an official screening.
It is the mission of the Educational Theatre Association: Ohio Chapter to broaden the theatrical horizons of our students. In pursuit of this objective, we will prioritize the selection of shows that have not appeared at state conference in the past four years. While we will consider shows that have been performed in recent years, we strongly encourage you to consult the performance archive prior to requesting a screening.
Request a screening of your mainstage production >>
- Contact Matt Wolfe mwolfe@ohedta.org with questions
START/ RESTART A TROUPE
Establishing or reestablishing a troupe is easy.
The school administration must appoint one adult to serve as the official troupe director. That person will submit the troupe activation form. Here’s a checklist to help you charter a new troupe or reinstate a lapsed troupe to active status.
1. Confirm school eligibility.
Your school is eligible to activate a Thespian troupe provided you have a traditional, brick-and-mortar public or private school that includes grades 9-12, provides full academic course work, and has a theatre program of any kind. Contact our membership team if you have questions about your school’s charter eligibility.
2. Download and complete the application form
The same activation form is used to charter a new troupe or reinstate a lapsed troupe. Principal and troupe director signatures are required. You can find the form by visiting the International Thespian Society registration page
3. Enter contact information for new student inductees.
All troupes must have a total of six or more active student members within 12 months of troupe activation (charter or reinstatement).
To get started, please visit the International Thespian Society registration page.
2023 PRICE BREAKDOWN & HOTEL INFORMATION
Price Breakdown
$85 per student * 50% & 100% financial assistance availble for those that qualify.
$0 Troupe Director
$0 Chaperone (1 for every 10 students registered)
$85 – Additional Chaperones
$15 – per student/chaperone – Shuttle Bus service to and from below hotels
$10 – TECH CHALLENGE – 1 team per school – 6 per team
TBA – Pizza and Donut pre orders (on your own)
Hotel Blocks – Reserve ASAP
Comfort Inn
7581 Auburn Rd., Painesville, OH 44077 440-579-0300
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Painesville-Concord
11200 Gold Ct., Painesville, OH 44077 440-898-0900
Hampton Inn & Suites Cleveleand-Mentor
5675 Emeral Ct., Mentor, OH 44060 440-358-1441
Residence Inn Cleveland Mentor
5660 Emerald Ct., Mentor, OH 44060 440-392-0800
Studio $129 per night + tax
2 Bedroom suite $169 per night + tax
Wingate by Wyndam
5783 Heisley Rd., Mentor, OH 44060 440-721-8198
Standard room $100 Executive $140
Holiday Inn Cleveland Northeast – Mentor
7701 Reynolds Rd., Mentor, OH 44060 440-951-7333
LOOKING FOR 2024 SPRING CONFERENCE HOST!
Email mwolfe@ohedta.org with questions and inquiries.
HALL OF FAME
The Ohio Thespians Hall of Fame was established to honor those individuals who have given outstanding service to EdTA:Ohio Thespians.
Nominations
- Any current Ohio EdTA adult member may submit a letter of nomination.
- Letters of nomination should be sent to Matt Wolfe no later than April 1, 2022.
- Letters should contain the following information: (a) the full name and title (if appropriate) the nominee, (b) the current school, business, community, or organizational affiliation of the nominee, (c) any previous such affiliations that contribute to the nominee’s qualifications, (d) a list of the specific contributions the nominee has made to the work of the organization, (e) a statement by the person submitting the letter that he/she has researched and verified the accuracy of the information contained in the letter.
Qualifications
- The nominee must have served Ohio EdTA in a significant manner over a period of several years.
- The contributions of the nominee may have focused on one or more areas that either advanced theatre education for students and teachers or advanced the organization’s ability to serve its members.
Election
- In any one year, the number of those elected to the Hall of Fame may vary from none to four. (0 to 4)
- The nominees will be presented to the Board for final selection. After approval by the Board, Chapter Director will notify the honorees and invite them to be present for an induction presentation during the State Conference.
