The Educational Theatre Association (abbreviated as EdTA), founded in 1929, is the

professional association A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that professio ...

for

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

. EdTA is a national nonprofit organization with approximately 135,000 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. As the professional association for theatre educators, EdTA operates the International Thespian Society (ITS), an honorary organization that has inducted more than 2.3 million

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

and

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

theatre students. ITS honors student achievement, provides leadership opportunities, and provides access to resources beyond the student's own school including awards and scholarships. EdTA publishes ''Dramatics'', a magazine for high school theatre students, and ''Teaching Theatre'', a journal for theatre education professionals. Meetings include an annual conference for theatre teachers and a massive week-long

International Thespian Festival The International Thespian Festival is an annual week-long theatre festival that brings together U.S. high school theatre clubs, thespian troupes, and programs. Organized by the International Thespian Society, it was held annually in late June on ...

. Currently, the event is held at the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincol ...

. This celebration of theatre hosts over 4,000 students and their teachers from theatre programs throughout the world.

External links

Official EdTA website

Official EdTA FAQ

Official ITS website

Official International Thespian Festival website
Theatrical organizations in the United States Theatrical organizations in Canada {{edu-org-stub