The Salem Convention Center is proud of our growing arts scene in downtown Salem, Oregon so we are honored to be the host site of the 2013 Oregon Thespians State Festival, April 4-6, 2013. The Oregon Chapter of the International Thespian Society is an affiliate of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). More than 800 theatre students and adults from around the state are expected to attend the events including main stage productions, one act plays and presentations at Salem Convention Center and Historic Elsinore Theatre. Workshops are also offered by local and national theatre professionals and college students and professors. Photo: Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) The International Thespian Society (ITS) has been honoring excellence in the work of theatre students since 1929. There are at present active ITS troupes in more than 4,000 high schools and middle schools, mostly in the United States and Canada. Photo: The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) Photo: The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is a national nonprofit organization with approximately 90,000 student and professional members. EdTA's mission is shaping lives through theatre education by: honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills. EdTA operates the International Thespian Society (ITS), an honorary organization that has inducted more than two million theatre students since its founding in 1929. EdTA also publishes Dramatics, a monthly magazine for high school theatre students, and Teaching Theatre, a quarterly journal for theatre education professionals.
