The PA State Thespian Conference meets annually in a host high school location or collegiate campus.  Students and teachers serve on the PA Thespian State Board to help organize the conference and promote theatre in our schools. 

​

The PA State Thespians are a subgroup of the International Thespian Society, a world-renowned honor society for students studying theatre. Ridley High School is one of the only schools in Delaware County to have an ITS charter.  We typically try to enter the lottery to perform every other year.  Thus far, we have brought main stage shows like Shrek, the Musical, White Christmas, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Mean Girls, HS Edition to the conference, as well as many one-act plays over the years. 

​

This year, the conference will take place at Altoona Area High School in Altoona, PA. ​Because of the distance from Ridley, trip costs will be higher than in previous years. Students will be asked to FUNDRAISE along the way to offset the costs. At conference, students will have the opportunity to participate in scholarship auditions, workshops, and the popular "Technical Challenge" at conference, showcasing their skills and competing for recognition. Hall of Fame students are named for performance, tech, and leadership, as well as the Responder's choice for best actor in performing shows.  Last year, Ridley took home many awards for their achievements. 

​

Finally, each year, students from around the state can go through a leadership process to audition and apply to be a State Thespian Officer. These students are responsible for meeting with the adult state board multiple times a year to choose a theme for conference, plan its events, and organize materials before everyone arrives. While at conference, these students run the performances and take care of all things conference, including training and selecting the following year's student board!  Ridley has had many STOs along the way. Students interested in this position should contact Mrs. McGovern about eligibility.