For most students, March is just a long month that they trudge through, waiting for spring break. For the theatre department, March is prime time for Theatre in Our Schools (TIOS) to celebrate all things Theatre.
“Theater in our schools is a time to really recognize the importance of theatre education not only within the theatre community but as a whole,” North Penn senior Haruka Weir explained.
Sponsored by the Educational Theatre Association and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. EdTA is the “umbrella” for all chapters of thespians including NPHS’s chapter.
The whole point of TIOS, as per EdTA, is to raise awareness and support for theatre at schools as well as help students develop various skills.
“It really helps to develop students in their public speaking skills, and also focuses on the need to fund theatre education because oftentimes when school districts are making budget cuts, it’s usually first to go,” Weir said.
The advocacy and outreach coordinators, Haruka Weir (Senior) and Ella Robinson (Junior), explained how North Penn has been a part of TIOS for a longtime. For Weir and Robinson themselves, this is their first year being the coordinators.
“Theatre really shows you how to be expressive and captivate your audience,” Weir said
TIOS is so important because it helps students in theatre build connections between the unlikely.
“It really teaches you how to interact with other people that you wouldn’t find yourself interacting with,” Robinson explained, “It builds a big community.”
Theatre has provided students a community where students can be themselves while learning important skills such as teamwork, self expression, and public speaking.
Students can help the theatre department at our school by showing up to their spring musical, Children of Eden, and if they want to get involved, join the google classroom for thespians!
“Our general membership meetings, you can come to those things, but if you’re not coming to that, just recognizing that we have spirit days especially this month [every Friday],” Weir said.
The NPHS thespians chapter holds a birthday party for Thespis to commence at the end of TIOS month. Thespis was an ancient Greek poet who was considered “the first actor.” His birthday party is being held on the 18th of March where the thespians will have fun activities planned
Back in the early ages, goats were given as “awards” to the best actors. NPHS has kept this tradition going in their own way! They have a fluffy stuffed statue of a goat named Thes”Pete” and gave out little goats last year to the most ‘Thespis’ Enthusiastic thespians.
“Even if you are thinking of joining theatre, like you’re in 10th grade and you might want to join next year, just do it and see if you like it! It’s really fun, it’s really cool, and it’s a really great way of meeting new people and getting new experiences,” Robinson urged.
The coordinators unfortunately missed their third coordinator, 11th grader Tanvi Iyengar, who couldn’t make the interview.
To stay up to date with important events and spirit days, go follow their instagram @nphsthespians and join their google classroom!