CHAPTER DIRECTOR'S AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Hello Iowa Thespians!

Happy August! As many of us prepare to head back to school, I wanted to take a moment to re-introduce myself and pass along some updates from the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) and Iowa Thespians. 

My name is Nate Jorgensen and I am serving as the Chapter Director of Iowa Thespians for the coming year. I look forward to connecting with you to champion theatre education in your communities. I will be sending monthly Newsletters on the first Wednesday of every month, but please do not hesitate to reach out at any time should you need anything. 

Join the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board | Secretary Applications Open!
At the end of this calendar year, the Secretary position on the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board will be opening up. We would love to have you join our team! Consider submitting your candidacy to serve on the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board. The Secretary position will serve a term from January 2027 - January 2030. You can learn more about the position and submit your application HERE. The Candidate Submission Form is due September 30th.

Iowa Thespians Performance Calendar 2026 / 2027
Help us promote your productions for the upcoming year! Take a quick moment to fill out the Iowa Thespians Production Calendar Form so that we can add your shows to our 2026-2027 Production Calendar on our website and promote them across social media. We hope to send as many State Thespian Officers to see and promote your productions as possible!

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 August 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:

• 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
  
• June 30 - July 2, 2027 - Theatre Education Conference | 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 [email protected] 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
    
  • Community Callboard
    
  • Education Resources
    
  • Thespian Troupe Handbook
    

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