North Texas high school theater students attended Troupe Day at Walnut Grove High School on Sept. 14 to cultivate leadership skills through diverse experiences.
Students attending Troupe Days are able to expand upon their personal skill set and receive troupe acknowledgments. Throughout the day, state advisors and directors highlight educational growth by providing workshops for students to attend. Workshops may vary from leadership and teamwork, acting skills, vocal health, dance technique, etc. Troupes showcasing these characteristics can receive Bronze, Silver or Gold Honor Troupe status within the community. However, these skills leave more than a temporary impact on students. Texas Thespian Ambassador Advisor, Libby Rotan, gives an insight into the lifelong impacts of theater education.
“If you’re using creativity in the ways you’re taught in theater classes, then you can apply that to your job in video game design or as a lawyer and how you craft your argument. It will help you have confidence in the fact that your voice matters,” Rotan said.
One major event during Troupe Day is the Returning and Emerging Leaders Workshop. This training session gives local student leaders guidance on promoting leadership in their school theater departments. State Thespian Officers (STOs) provide insight on how to foster an optimistic community of students.
“My favorite workshop is definitely the STO returning leaders workshop,” Social Media Chair for the Texas Thespian Ambassador Board, Avisihi Pandya, 12, said. “Student leaders will gain advice on how to specifically make their departments better. Not only staying the same, but growing into the future.”
Troupe Days offer a variety of different activities and training opportunities for students to establish or further develop their range of skills. Throughout the day, thespians can attend workshops that facilitate their desires.
“Texas Thespians has a ton of different sessions at Troupe Days ranging from acting and singing, tech, to focusing more specifically on Texas Thespian ‘thespy’ events, and finally leaning into leadership workshop,” Pandya said.
Although Troupe Day has ended for this year, north Texas theater students excitingly await to see what opportunities will be presented at the Texas Thespian State Festival this November.
