Thespian Point System

The Thespian point system establishes guidelines for logging the quality and quantity of student work. Quality may include the caliber of the work and the educational value of the experience. Troupes may adopt changes to the point system to meet their unique circumstances. Changes are recorded in the troupe’s constitution. Troupe directors must notify students of all induction requirements and provide access to their point records. Only the troupe director may award points, but a troupe secretary or clerk is often responsible for maintaining point records.

Recommended Thespian Point Awards

The chart below provides a quick and easy way to calculate points. Numbers indicate the recommended maximum point awards for the duties listed. Troupe directors should use their discretion in awarding points—from zero to the maximum—according to the caliber of effort and work, and they may award up to two additional points for any task performed with exceptional merit.

Guidelines for awarding of Thespian points

• The minimum eligibility requirement for Thespian induction is one hundred hours of quality work in theatre arts and related disciplines.
• One Thespian point represents approximately ten hours of quality work. Use this formula to award points for duties that aren’t listed. Performing arts schools and others with mandatory participation may choose to change that to twenty hours or more to avoid point inflation and maintain the honorary nature of induction in that setting.
• Inductees must earn ten points, five of which should be for work done at the school where they will be inducted.
• Thespians moving to other affiliated schools are entitled to transfer their memberships. Transferring Thespians bring a minimum of ten points with them to the new school. See the Thespian Troupe Handbook for details.
• Induction points should be earned through participation in at least two full-length productions, or one full-length and two one-acts, or four one-acts.
• Induction points should be earned in at least two of the listed categories, for example, acting and production.
• Students may earn up to five points toward induction through participation at the middle school level; in community, children’s, or professional theatre; or in other performing arts activities. They may earn additional points after induction at the troupe director’s discretion and upon knowledge or verification of participation.
• Thespian membership will be made available on an equitable basis to all students who qualify. No student will be elected into the Society; and peers may not have a role in awarding points or deciding induction eligibility.