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WELCOME TO OREGON THESPIANS!
YOU BELONG HERE!
Oregon Thespians is the Oregon Chapter of the International Thespian Society,
an affiliate of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).
The International Thespian Society (ITS) has been honoring excellence in the work of theatre students since 1929. Thespian troupes serve students in grades nine through twelve, and Junior Thespian troupes serve students in grades six through eight. There are at present active ITS troupes in more than 4,000 high schools and middle schools, mostly in the United States and Canada, but includes international schools, too.
Oregon Thespians has been a long-standing Chapter of ITS and maintains a prominent and active presence at national and international EdTA events. Each troupe is led by a Troupe Director who is a professional member of the Educational Theatre Association. The Troupe Director is typically—but not always—the theatre teacher in the school. Students earn an invitation to Thespian Society membership on the basis of their achievements in the school’s theatre program.
Membership in Oregon Thespians is automatic, once a school charters and maintains a Thespian Troupe (or Junior Thespian Troupe) with ITS. Complete information on how to charter and maintain a troupe can be found at the EdTA’s website: http://schooltheatre.org/
IMPORTANT DATES
Oregon Thespians Deadlines 2025-2026
Click the links below for more information.
​MEETINGS & WORK SESSIONS
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Oregon Thespians Board Meetings (Sundays @ 11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.)​
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July 17-19, 2025: Arts Advocacy Day & EdTA Leadership Summit -- McLean, VA
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August 4-6, 2025: Board Work Weekend & Planning Session
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September 27, 2025: Parkrose HS (during Thespis: a Leadership Summit)
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December 14, 2025: Tigard HS
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January 25, 2026: Linfield University
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March 1 & March 8, 2026: North Salem HS
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April 26, 2026: Off site for old/new board (online for guests)
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~Please email Dir. of Comms. Bobi Bergh, Lake Oswego HS Troupe Director, in advance if you plan to attend a board mtg so we can send you the virtual meeting link or directions.~
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Oregon Thespians Troupe Director Meetings (pre/post/during lunchtime)​​
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InstaFest (Jr. Troupe Directors and HS Troupe Directors)
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Jr Play Day (Jr. Troupe Directors)
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Regionals (HS Troupe Directors)
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State (Jr. Troupe Directors and HS Troupe Directors)
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Oregon Thespians Troupe Director Committee Work Session
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Thespis: a Leadership Summit (time to work in committees to prep for events)
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EVENTS & PROGRAMS
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Sat. Sept. 27, 2025
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Host: Parkrose HS
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​Registration opens in September
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Sept. 25​​​​​
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INSTAFEST​
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Sat. October 4, 2025
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Host: Grants Pass HS
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​Registration opens in September.
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Sept. 25
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OTEA Away CONFERENCE (For Teachers) "Connecting Theatre Education Ecosystem"
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Friday-Saturday, October 10-11, 2025
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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​Registration opened May 1. See flyer on OTEA page for details.
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DEADLINE: Open until all spots are filled; slots limited.
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OpenWater Submissions
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Window opens Nov. 1
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DUE Dec. 15
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Production Adjudication Submissions
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​DUE Dec. 15
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DUE Dec. 15
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South: Sat. Dec. 6, 2025
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10am-3pm
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Host: Redmond Proficiency Academy
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North: Sun. Dec. 7, 2025
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10am-3pm
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Host: Clackamas HS
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Registration opens in November.
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Dec. 4
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JUNIOR THESPIANS PLAY DAY (incl. Jr. Regionals)
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Sat. January 10, 2026
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Host: Fowler Middle School
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Registration opens in December.
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 8
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Virtual: Sun. Jan. 11, 2026
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6pm-9pm via Google Meet
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NOTE: Virtual training is only a refresher for trained judges outside of 60 miles roundtrip from either the Judge Training North or South options above.
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Registration opens in November.
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 8
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OTEA Stay CONFERENCE (For Teachers) "Oregon Theatre Education Ecosystem"
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Saturday, January 24, 2026
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(Optional early arrival on Fri. Jan. 23.)
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Location: Linfield University, McMinnville, OR
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​Registration opens in December.
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 8
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LATE FEE DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 22
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Sat. February 7, 2026
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NE Host: Gresham HS
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NW Host: Mountainside HS
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S Host: Summit HS
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Registration opens in January. (Click here for grant info.)
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DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 22
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CHANGE DEADLINE: Thurs. Jan. 29
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Only DROPS allowed after final deadline. NO OTHER CHANGES. NO ADDs.
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Oregon Thespians State Festival Guest Artists and S.T.E.V.E. Registration (ongoing)
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Other State-related submissions DUE MARCH 20
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Parade of Troupes slide DUE March 20 (See State Festival page for submission links and info)
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Theatre Etiquette Video DUE March 20 (See State Festival page for submission links and info)
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Honor Troupe application DUE March 20 via OpenWater (See Honor$ - For Students $ page for OpenWater submission links and info). Application opens by Feb. 27.
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College Auditions application DUE March 20 (See College Auditions page for more info). Application opens by Feb. 27.​
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Melba Day Sparks Henning Scholarship for Teachers DUE March 20 (See Teacher$ page under Honor$ for more info. Please not this is not the Melba Hall of Fame Award as that is a separate non-monetary award, not scholarship. Award nominations also are DUE March 20.)
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Thurs.-Sat. April 9-11, 2026
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Salem Convention Center, Elsinore Theatre, Grand Theatre, Reed Opera House, all in Salem, OR + additional venues in downtown Salem
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Registration opens in mid-February. (Click here for grant info​.)
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BIG STATE DEADLINE: Thurs. Feb. 26
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NO ADDS after Feb. 26
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FINAL CHANGES/DROPS DEADLINE: Thurs. March 5
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NO CHANGES after Mar. 5
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Saturday, April 11, 2026
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Salem First Presbyterian Church and Grand Theatre in Salem, OR
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Registration opens in February.
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BIG STATE DEADLINE: Thurs. Feb. 26
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NO ADDS after Feb. 26
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FINAL CHANGES/DROPS DEADLINE: Thurs. March 5
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NO CHANGES after Mar. 5
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EdTA NATIONAL THEATRE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE (TEC is For Teachers)
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In 2025, TEC is co-located with ITF.
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Location: IU Bloomington
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​Registration info​ on the EdTA site
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Mark your calendars now to attend in person!
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DEADLINE: See EdTA website for details.
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INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL
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June 22-27, 2025
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Bloomington, IN (IU campus)
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Virtual option available.
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​Registration: See ITF site for details.
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DEADLINES: See ITF site for details re: main stage submissions, registration, Thespys, college auditions, payments, consent forms, and more.​
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Check out our Instagram Feeds!
@orjuniorthespians
@oregonthespians
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Troupe Production Map
Map to the Stars
Click on the map. Select a point to reveal an Oregon Thespian troupe. Find their productions by clicking on their web address located in the map bubble.