Leadership DayHello Iowa Thespians!

I hope you are enjoying the summer months and staying out of the heat. I’ll try to keep this month’s Newsletter short so you can get back to your rest and relaxation.

Below are updates from EdTA / Iowa Thespians:

International Thespian Festival 2026
Iowa was well-represented at the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, IN from June 22-26! We had eight Troupes attend the Festival this year, competing in Thespys, Backstage Challenge, and Auditioning for College Scholarships. Check out the group photo below, and SAVE THE DATE for next year’s International Thespian Festival in Louisville, KY!



Iowa Thespian Leadership Day 2026 | Registration Open!
You are formally invited to bring  your Student Leaders to our annual Leadership Day on Saturday, August 8th at Boone High School! This is a chance for students to collaborate with other Student Leaders from across the state. Students interested in serving as State Thespian Officers for the 2026-2027 school year are encouraged to attend. If you missed our June 1st deadline, fret not! We are still accepting late registrations throughout the summer. Cost is $35 per attendee and includes Leadership Day events, lunch, and a t-shirt. Check out the Leadership Day Registration Form. You do not need to have a chartered Thespian Troupe or Student Board to attend! All are welcome! Payment will be due at the time of the event.

Iowa Thespian Festival 2026 | Mainstage Productions Announced
It’s never too early to get excited about this year’s Iowa Thespian Festival, and we are excited to announce our lineup of Mainstage productions:

• A Spare Me - Indianola High School, Troupe #4575
• Dear Evan Hansen - Northeast Community High School, Troupe #467
• The Lightning Thief - Tipton High School, Troupe #601

Registration for the 2026 Iowa Thespian Festival will be available soon! Stay tuned!

STO Newsletters | Sign-Up Today!
Did you know that your 2026 State Thespian Officers have a Newsletter tailored for your students? Check out the STO July Newsletter and share with your students. Also, pass along the Newsletter Sign-Up Link to your students to ensure they don’t miss any important Thespian information throughout the school year! 

Year-At-A-Glance
Iowa Thespians and EdTA provide a variety of events for you and your students throughout the year, check out of all of the opportunities and be sure to SAVE THE DATE:

• July 22-24, 2026 - Theatre Education Conference | New York City, NY
• August 8, 2026 - Iowa Thespian Leadership Day | Boone High School
• November 13-14, 2026 - Iowa Thespian Festival | University of Northern Iowa
• April 3, 2027 - Junior Iowa Thespian Festival | Mt. Vernon High School
• June 27 - July 2, 2027 - International Thespian Festival | Louisville, KY

Resources / Reminders
Below you will find additional information regarding EdTA and your Thespian Troupe.

• New Member Support - Are you new to EdTA / Thespian Society? Email membersupport@schooltheatre.org with any and all questions to receive personalized support.
• Iowa Thespians - Visit the Iowa Thespians website to learn more about Iowa Thespians, the events that we sponsor throughout the year, and how we can support your troupe!
• Educational Theatre Association - Visit the EdTA website to learn more about all of the services that EdTA provides, including:
  • MyEdTA Account Login
  • Membership FAQ
  • Community Callboard
  • Education Resources
  • Thespian Troupe Handbook

As always, if you need anything throughout the year or have questions about Iowa Thespians / EdTA, please do not hesitate to reach out.


--
Nate Jorgensen | Chapter Director
IowaThespians.org | SchoolTheatre.org 

Dear Iowa Fine Arts Educators,
On behalf of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education Executive Board, Advisory Board, and our burgeoning membership, we invite you to become a member today! Membership in the Alliance increased by over 40% last school year, and its work in advocacy, mentorship, and professional development for all fine arts educators in Iowa continues to expand.
By joining the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education (IAAE), you’re not just adding your name to a list; you’re stepping into a statewide network of passionate educators who believe that the arts matter in every school, for every student. 
Your Alliance membership will help fund:
* Tools and information to advocate for fine arts education at local, grassroots levels.
* A professional lobbyist at the Iowa Statehouse to fight for well-supported and rich arts programs in our schools.
* A biennial Leadership Institute, Fine Arts Education Summit, and an annual Fall Symposium for beginning fine arts teachers
* The “Model of Excellence Mentorship Program.” The Alliance, with the organizational help of seven Iowa Fine Arts Associations, funds hundreds of mentoring visits to first and second-year teachers, and annual scholarships  
* Assistance in navigating fine arts education policies and programs for all fine arts teachers with the cooperation of the Iowa Department of Education.
* A voice in the room. The Alliance meets regularly with the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa’s professional arts organizations, Arts Midwest, the Creative States Coalition, Americans for the Arts, and public officials and legislators.   


As you renew your professional memberships this school year, please add Joining the IAAE to the list. Membership is just $35/year.


Thank you for all that you do to keep the arts alive in your classroom. Let’s work together to keep them strong across Iowa.

Sincerely, 



Leon Kuehner            Jayson Gerth
IAAE Executive Director        IAAE Executive Board Chair

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Originally published as a letter to EdTA members
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Dedicated Theatre Educators,

We want to address the recent conversations regarding the political climate and its potential impact on our educational community. Many of you have been navigating these concerns for some time, while others may be facing them for the first time. Either way, it has been a trying time for educators as we work together to navigate the ever-changing landscape and continue to put the education, safety, and well-being of our students first. We'd like to provide some clarity on what EdTA is doing and share what information we have at this moment.

Funding and DEI
Last week, the President issued Executive Orders targeting organizations with budgets over $500 million to eliminate all DEI-related work. Some members have asked what this means for EdTA. The short answer is: nothing. We are not federally funded, nor do we receive funding from the organizations affected by these orders.


Additionally, we are also reviewing all of our materials and where necessary, adjusting language to ensure that our work can continue to remain impactful to the broadest range of schools and educators possible.


We are part of a federally funded grant, the Connected Arts Networks (CAN), that runs until October 2026. Yesterday, The White House issued a statement pausing thousands of federal grants and we are closely monitoring whether this will impact CAN. We will share that information as we have it.


Protecting Students
The President has also issued orders that affect the safety of LGBTQ+ and undocumented students. Many of you have asked about EdTA’s position, and our response remains unchanged:


The Educational Theatre Association, the International Thespian Society, and the Educational Theatre Foundation are firmly committed to the work we do every day to support educators and provide all students access to theatre as part of their education. Here's what you can always expect from us: We will support teachers, schools, and communities in building inclusive, brave spaces where students can find joy, make human connections, and develop empathy and understanding. Students must be allowed to explore their own humanity with compassion and acceptance. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission, more crucial now than ever before.


Department of Education
Following the election, there was discussion about eliminating the Department of Education and its potential impact on Title 1 funding. We are working closely with the Arts Education Alliance to monitor this and remain prepared to advocate as needed. We encourage everyone to stay informed on federal funding sources and to join us in advocating for arts funding, especially at Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill this July.


We know many of you, like us, are closely monitoring the situation. However, none of these recent developments are new to the work we’ve been doing for years. We will continue to support our teachers and students in navigating these challenges. EdTA staff will stay on top of developments as they unfold and keep you informed so you can focus your energy on creating theatre and supporting your students.

We will post updates and answer future questions within the Advocacy Community on the Callboard, EdTA's online community for theatre educators. We encourage you to join that space.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to reach out. We're happy to discuss further. And if anyone asks what EdTA is doing, please refer them to either of us or use the points shared here.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our shared mission.

Sincerely,

​Dr. Jennifer Katona
Executive Director
Educational Theatre Association

Krista Carson Elhai
President
Educational Theatre Association

The Iowa Thespian Chapter Board (ITCB) is holding a special election to fill two vacant board positions come Spring 2025: Membership Chair and Student Leadership Director. 

Both the Membership Chair and Student Leadership Director are three-year appointments and will serve from April 1, 2025, to January 31, 2028. Interested individuals are invited to view the requirements of each position and submit their application at the link below through Feb. 28, 2025. No late submissions will be accepted. All eligible candidates will then be voted on by the greater Iowa Educational Theatre Association (Iowa EdTA) membership, and the new board members will be announced in April.

APPLY NOW

For questions about this special election, please contact the Chapter Director or email iowathespians@gmail.com

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About Iowa Thespians
The mission of Iowa Thespians is to honor student achievement in theatre and enrich the educational experience, to support educators by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition, and to influence public opinion and policymakers that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
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We are passionate about theatre education and believe all students should have access to theatre curriculum which provides critical life skills for educational and career success in the 21st century.