The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high school and middle school theatre students. It is a division of the Educational Theatre Association. Thespian troupes serve students in grades 9-12; Junior Thespian troupes serve students in grades 6 through 8. A few famous ITS alumni include Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, James Marsters, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Stephen Schwartz. Festivals are held annually at the district, state and national levels. Each June the International Thespian Festival is held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Membership currently stands at approximately 100,000 student members across 4,700 schools. The one millionth Thespian was inducted in 1976 and the two millionth Thespian was inducted in 2009. As of 2017, there have been over 2.3 million Thespians inducted.
Troupe # 5432 2018-2019 Officers
TRISTAN PRATHER- President
Tristan is a Senior who is no stranger to East Hall’s theatre department. His credits include; Animations, A Night on the Aisle, Our Place, Once on This Island, High School Musical, Eurydice, Cinderella, and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. He has also had experience with lighting, sound, stage management, writing, and directing. Tristan is in love with dancing, performing, and has a passion for drawing. He attended the Governor Honors Program this past summer. He is in Student Council and the International Thespian Society Troupe.
Instagram: @tristan_prather
MAKENZIE RUSSELL- Vice President/Clerk
Makenzie is a Senior and was the President last year of our Troupe’s International Thespian Society. Her previous theatre experience includes Animations, Celeste in A Night on the Aisle, Stage Manager for Our Place, Director for Cinderella, Sound Board Technician for Junie B. Jones, and Kelsi in High School Musical, but her real passion is Stage Management. Makenzie is also a member of the color guard. She works extremely hard to see that each production is a success.
Instagram: @makenzie.russell
ALLIE LADD- Historian
Allie is a Sophomore. Her performance credits include; Hairspray, A Night on the Aisle, High School Musical, Suessical the Musical, Cinderella, and Once on This Island. Allie was a Techie for Our Place and Laundry and Bourbon. She likes to sing and dance. Allie is a member of the Beta Club, Colorguard, Viking Singers, and VVTG.
Instagram: @_allisonladd
MICHAEL KINSEY- Web Master
Michael is a Senior who recently appeared in Hairspray as Mr. Spritzer (which he was also the Stage Manager for), A Night on the Aisle and was a stage hand for Our Place earlier this year. He likes to act, sing, and dance. Michael plays trumpet in band. He is also in the Student Council and the Viking Marching Band. Michael plans to attend the University of Georgia To study Medicine.
Instagram: @michaelkinseyyy
MAURA OSTRANDER- Secretary
Maura is a Sophomore whose many credits include: Hairspray, Seussical, Once on This Island, High School Musical, Cinderella, A Night on the Aisle, Our Place and she was Winifred Sanderson in Animations. She has been performing for the past 5 years with the theatre and choral departments. Maura enjoys singing, acting, drawing, and dancing, as well as indulging in her love of makeup and shopping. In addition to continuing in theatre, Maura hopes to one day to earn her Bachelor of Nursing degree and be a mother/baby nurse.
Instagram: @m.c.o_