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
William Merck - President
Will is a senior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Will was first seen on our stage as Corny Collins from Hairspray and has made his presence on stage more known with Tyler in Selfie, Oz the Great and Powerful in Wizard of Oz, and Pippin in Pippin. Will is a Battery Captain of the Viking Marching Band where he performs with the drum line, a Commanding Officer with East Hall NJROTC, and a dual enrollment student. Will enjoys music, theatre, and reading. He plans to continue at Lanier Tech to become a Welder and Paramedic.
Will is a senior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Will was first seen on our stage as Corny Collins from Hairspray and has made his presence on stage more known with Tyler in Selfie, Oz the Great and Powerful in Wizard of Oz, and Pippin in Pippin. Will is a Battery Captain of the Viking Marching Band where he performs with the drum line, a Commanding Officer with East Hall NJROTC, and a dual enrollment student. Will enjoys music, theatre, and reading. He plans to continue at Lanier Tech to become a Welder and Paramedic.
Maura Ostrander - Vice President
Maura is a Junior who is a Honor member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Maura has been involved in productions of East Hall High School theatre since she was in sixth grade. Some of her credits include: Winifred Sanderson in Animations, Marguerite in Dearly Departed and Morgan in Selfie and of course, ensemble. When she played Morgan in Selfie, she received an All-Star cast member award at the One Act competition. The program is extremely important to her and she loves it very much. Maura is so grateful for being able to have the opportunity of being Vice President. She plans to help make the program bigger and better than it already is. After she graduates, she plans to go to college and double major in nursing and theatre.
Maura is a Junior who is a Honor member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Maura has been involved in productions of East Hall High School theatre since she was in sixth grade. Some of her credits include: Winifred Sanderson in Animations, Marguerite in Dearly Departed and Morgan in Selfie and of course, ensemble. When she played Morgan in Selfie, she received an All-Star cast member award at the One Act competition. The program is extremely important to her and she loves it very much. Maura is so grateful for being able to have the opportunity of being Vice President. She plans to help make the program bigger and better than it already is. After she graduates, she plans to go to college and double major in nursing and theatre.
Rachel Bonilla - Secretary
Rachel is a Junior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Rachel has appeared in Our Place, Wizard of Oz, and Pippin where she blew us away with her balancing act. Rachel use to be a competition cheerleader, for six years, which has aided her in rhythm and dance in our shows helping her to shine on stage. Rachel is a member of the National Honors Society. Rachel enjoys reading, singing, listening to music, and dancing. Rachel's hidden talent is that she is remarkably good at remembering due dates.
Rachel is a Junior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Rachel has appeared in Our Place, Wizard of Oz, and Pippin where she blew us away with her balancing act. Rachel use to be a competition cheerleader, for six years, which has aided her in rhythm and dance in our shows helping her to shine on stage. Rachel is a member of the National Honors Society. Rachel enjoys reading, singing, listening to music, and dancing. Rachel's hidden talent is that she is remarkably good at remembering due dates.
Holly Wade - Co Historian
Holly is a Junior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Holly has been in our program since her Freshman year and has made her presence known as an amazing tools-woman and techie. Holly has been featured as ensemble in Our Place, A Night On the Aisle, Hairspray, Wizard of Oz, and Pippin and run crew for Selfie and Dearly Departed. Holly is a very active member of the technical theatre program and has helped so much with building the sets for many of our shows. Holly enjoys music and reading. Holly is unsure of her future but knows that whatever it is she wants to be happy.
Holly is a Junior who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Holly has been in our program since her Freshman year and has made her presence known as an amazing tools-woman and techie. Holly has been featured as ensemble in Our Place, A Night On the Aisle, Hairspray, Wizard of Oz, and Pippin and run crew for Selfie and Dearly Departed. Holly is a very active member of the technical theatre program and has helped so much with building the sets for many of our shows. Holly enjoys music and reading. Holly is unsure of her future but knows that whatever it is she wants to be happy.
Allie Ladd - Co Historian
Allie is a Junior who is a Honor member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Allie shined on stage as Dorothy in our winter production of Wizard of Oz for the 2018-19 school year where she, along with her amazing acting skills, went over the rainbow for a colorful journey. Allie's other credits also include, Lucille in Dearly Departed, Pippin, Hairspray, Disney Animations, Our Place, and A Night On The Aisle. Allie is a member of the National Honor Society and is a Color Guard Captain with Viking Marching Band. Allie received the All-Star cast member award at the One-Act Play Competition where she played as Laura in Selfie.
Allie is a Junior who is a Honor member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Allie shined on stage as Dorothy in our winter production of Wizard of Oz for the 2018-19 school year where she, along with her amazing acting skills, went over the rainbow for a colorful journey. Allie's other credits also include, Lucille in Dearly Departed, Pippin, Hairspray, Disney Animations, Our Place, and A Night On The Aisle. Allie is a member of the National Honor Society and is a Color Guard Captain with Viking Marching Band. Allie received the All-Star cast member award at the One-Act Play Competition where she played as Laura in Selfie.
Noah Ledford - Webmaster
Noah is a Sophomore who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Noah joined theatre last year as a Freshman and made his presence known in our department earning the Best Newcomer award at our banquet. Noah found a family and joy in our program last year and wants to help people in and out of our troupe find this too. Noah's credits include Norval/Clyde in Dearly Departed, ensemble in Wizard of Oz and Pippin, and was on the crew of Selfie. Noah enjoys theatre arts, film production, literature, writing, dancing, and singing. Noah plans to attend the Columbus University and major in journalism while sub-major in creative writing and theatre arts.
Noah is a Sophomore who is a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #5432. Noah joined theatre last year as a Freshman and made his presence known in our department earning the Best Newcomer award at our banquet. Noah found a family and joy in our program last year and wants to help people in and out of our troupe find this too. Noah's credits include Norval/Clyde in Dearly Departed, ensemble in Wizard of Oz and Pippin, and was on the crew of Selfie. Noah enjoys theatre arts, film production, literature, writing, dancing, and singing. Noah plans to attend the Columbus University and major in journalism while sub-major in creative writing and theatre arts.