In ancient Greece, theatre was presented by a group of performers who all moved and spoke in unison. We called this group a Greek Chorus. Then one day, a man stepped out of the chorus and spoke individual lines and became known as the very first actor. This man’s name was Thespis. From then on, actors were known as Thespians.

The Thespian Society was established in 1929. The Society’s guiding principle is a dedication to excellence in educational theatre. The International Thespian Society honors those students who “do theatre well.” ITS recognizes, rewards, and encourages student achievement and celebrates the work of students in all aspects of theatre – performance and production. Each student is honored on a national level and gains access to opportunities and resources beyond those of their school.

Great Lakes Theatre's student matinees offer our students the experience of top-quality productions at a fraction of the cost. Each year, we attend a play or musical that relates to one of our productions.  This enriching experience offers students a valuable insight into the world of professional theatre.

Cleveland State University's Department of Theatre and Dance meets with our students to talk about the opportunities right here in north eastern Ohio. CSU students try out their craft on the professional stages of Playhouse Square and share the stage with Cleveland Play House, a Tony award-winning theatre and Broadway touring productions. Our students learn what it is like to study in the state-of-the-art CSU Arts Campus facilities and take classes with nationally recognized faculty and staff, who are working professionals in the field.