Student Thespian Officers

What is an Student thespian Officer?

A Student Thespian Officer (or STO for short) is a position not just within the theatre company, but also a role across the entire state of Michigan. STOs are members of a 13 person student board comprised of upperclassmen members across the state dedicated to running the events of the Michigan Thespians. These include leadership camp and the Thespian Festival. 

How to become a student thespian officer

In order to become an STO, one must:

• Be A current sophomore or junior 

• Attend at least one leadership camp OR thespian festival 

• Be an inducted member of the International Thespian Society 

• Talk with your director for permission to apply (Only one applicant is permitted to apply per theatre company. A letter of intent may be required) 

• Apply to be an STO between January 1st and March 1st (Your application will include short response questions and a virtual interview with the STOs, given you are selected to move forward with the selection process)

As an STO, you will be required to:

• Attend and help run Leadership Camp, and arrive one day early (held in Northern Michigan University in July)

• Attended monthly virtual planning meetings for thespian festival 

• Attend at least one in-person state board meeting with your director 

• Work with your fellow STOs to create and preform an opening number (with dancing and singing) to be preformed at the Michigan Thespian Festival in front of 1,000+ thespians  

• Attend and help run the Michigan Thespian Festival 

• Have and maintain an exuberant personality (think Sam)

Tips from a previous student thespian officer

• The application is not about you wanting to represent your troupe, its about you wanting to lead in the overall organization 

• The interview is all about hearing how you lead and how you work through issues (it's also very fun and not very long at all)

• The most important trait of an STO is being able to listen to what other have to say, and work with it. Every STO is an STO for a reason, listen to their valuable perspectives

• Go to fellow STO's shows and build relationships with them and their troupe; this is such a unique opportunity, don't waste it