About Iowa Thespians
The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is a national nonprofit organization with approximately 90,000 student and professional members. EdTA’s mission is shaping lives through theatre education by honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
The Iowa Educational Theatre Association (Iowa EdTA) is the link between an individual and the national organization. Iowa EdTA believes that all schools have high quality arts programs and promotes the importance of theatre as a component of lifelong learning. Iowa EdTA offers its members a festival at which participants attend mainstage and studio performances and learn from workshops. Students may also compete in Individual Events and audition for scholarships.
For Teachers:
The Iowa Educational Theatre Association (Iowa EdTA) helps make you the best theatre educator possible. Through the Educational Theater Association (EdTA), we provide professional development resources, networking opportunities, and advocating for the theatre field. Here are just some of the benefits our members enjoy:
For Students:
Iowa EdTA honors student excellence in school theatre through the International Thespian Society (ITS). Thespian troupes serve students in grades 9-12 and Junior Thespian troupes serve students in grades 6-8. Here are some ways ITS benefits theatre students:
Iowa Thespians Operations Manual
The Iowa Educational Theatre Association (Iowa EdTA) is the link between an individual and the national organization. Iowa EdTA believes that all schools have high quality arts programs and promotes the importance of theatre as a component of lifelong learning. Iowa EdTA offers its members a festival at which participants attend mainstage and studio performances and learn from workshops. Students may also compete in Individual Events and audition for scholarships.
For Teachers:
The Iowa Educational Theatre Association (Iowa EdTA) helps make you the best theatre educator possible. Through the Educational Theater Association (EdTA), we provide professional development resources, networking opportunities, and advocating for the theatre field. Here are just some of the benefits our members enjoy:
- Programs and educational events, such as the annual Iowa Thespian Festival.
- Teaching Theatre, a quarterly journal for education professionals.
- Dramatics magazine, a practical classroom resource for theatre teachers and students, published monthly September through May.
For Students:
Iowa EdTA honors student excellence in school theatre through the International Thespian Society (ITS). Thespian troupes serve students in grades 9-12 and Junior Thespian troupes serve students in grades 6-8. Here are some ways ITS benefits theatre students:
- A one-year subscription to Dramatics magazine, the only publication edited exclusively for students and teachers of theatre.
- The opportunitiesy to attend Iowa Thespian Festival, where students will develop theatre skills in workshops, audition for college admission and scholarships, participate in programs showcasing talents in performance and technical theatre, and interact with a diverse group of theatre students.
- Student leadership opportunities at the troupe, state, and national levels, giving forums in which to learn and put leadership skills to work.
Iowa Thespians Operations Manual
