ITS, or International Thespian Society, is an honor society for students interested in all aspects of theater and is run by Mr. Fahrer. The club encourages connectedness and provides members with a sense of belonging as well as a chance to have fun and be loud. There are no prior qualifications required to be an incumbent member. However, to be an official member, one must earn 10 points, with one point equaling about ten hours of work. Events such as general meetings, competitions, being involved in shows, etc. will provide one with opportunities to earn said points. You must also participate in at least two of the three shows throughout the year, whether that be through acting or crew. When asked why someone should join ITS, Mr. Fahrer had this to say: “Theatre is a collaborative art form that brings together so many different skills and backgrounds. ITS is a way to celebrate the art form and the people who create it.” ITS President Leila Paredes shared this sentiment, saying, “It is such a fun community to be a part of, it’s like having a second home. We do a lot of fun events like field trips and movie nights, etc. But it’s also really great to have on a resume. So it’s really a win-win.”
One of the highlights of ITS is the two yearly competitions, STANJ and ITS Fest, both of which typically occur in January. These competitions allow students, even those not officially in ITS, to perform in categories such as comedic or dramatic monologues, musical performances, and improvisational acts with groups, pairs, or solos. You can sign up for up to six categories in STANJ and three categories each for both performances and crew for ITS Fest. Since you don’t have to be a full member of ITS to participate, these competitions are the perfect opportunity for students with a passion for theatre to perform even if they don’t have time to take part in shows.
STANJ follows a more traditional competition format. There are preliminary and final rounds, and students who qualify in their category will receive a placement of 1-6. STANJ is free and takes place at Montclair State University. Participants typically leave Morris Hills at 7am and return by 6:30pm. Meanwhile, in ITS Fest, you’re competing with yourself. Participants are scored against a rubric, with high scorers being given a superior medal. ITS Fest costs $20.00 to participate. This is because, in addition to the standard performance-based competitions, ITS Fest also has more tech-based workshops for those interested in crew or script writing to participate in, as well as acting, dancing, and vocal workshops. Both competitions allow Thespians to receive feedback from professionals. Audience members are also welcome to come and cheer for both.
When discussing the two competitions with ITS Secretary Tiffany Albornoz, she said she used her GT in theatre arts and the scheduled practice times with Mr. Fahrer to prepare. In STANJ, she ended up finaling in the Contrasting Monologues category. She also placed 6th for Best Group Scene (alongside Leila Paredes, Megan Graham, Makayla Hawkes, Bethany Soto, Maria Sullivan, Cal Kim, Danica Bascherow, and Gray Bowerbank). When specifically asked why someone should participate in competitions, Albornoz said this, “Competitions are a fun way to get involved in the performing arts without fully committing. You also get incredible feedback from various people that help you improve in your performance skills as well as your confidence. Competitions are a great way to meet new people and see how far you can go when it comes to competitive theater.”
All-in-all, if you have any interest in theatre at all, you should try and sign up for next year’s STANJ and ITS Fest competitions. They are fun experiences that allow you to get feedback from experts. Not only that, but if you like the competitions, you will be on the right track to earn points that will allow you to join our school’s International Thespian Society!