Educational Theatre Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Educational Theatre Association (abbreviated as EdTA), founded in 1929, is the professional association for theatre education. EdTA’s mission is to make theatre a part of lifelong learning. The Association’s major areas of effort—educational development, teacher training, and advocacy—serve to accomplish this mission by helping to improve the learning environment in the theatre arts.

As the professional association for theatre educators, EdTA has two divisions: the International Thespian Society, an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students, and the Senior Theatre League of America, an organization for older adults in theatre. The ITS offers everything from varied performance venues to college audition opportunities to formal awards and scholarships.

EdTA publications include Dramatics and Teaching Theatre. Meetings include an annual convention for theatre teachers and a massive week-long International Thespian Festival. Held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, this celebration of theatre hosts over 2500 students and their teachers from theatre programs throughout the world.