Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Parker School’s ITS Leaders

Welcome to the first installment of Club Spotlight, a new series where we highlight Parker School’s incredible clubs through exclusive interviews with their leaders and/or supervisors. To kick things off, we sat down with the International Thespian Society (ITS), an international honor society dedicated to celebrating student achievement in the theatre arts.

So to start off, can you tell me a little about ITS and what it’s all about?

Georgia: Hi! We’re ITS, also known as the International Thespian Society. It’s an international honor society and the only one centered around the theatre arts. ITS recognizes, rewards, and encourages student achievement, celebrating the work of students in all aspects of theatre, from performance to production. Over 2.4 million students have been inducted worldwide since it was founded in 1921. We are Troupe #7723, and there are 20 other troupes in the Hawaii chapter.

That’s awesome! And talking a bit more about how it’s structured, who helps run ITS here at Parker?

Adalyn: Well, we have 4 senior leaders in ITS, and we all fulfill different roles in different aspects of the club. Mikali Paris-Larson is our Director of Membership and Outreach, which means she helps welcome new members and makes sure people know about all the opportunities we offer. Georgia Kasameyer is our Director of Events and Activities, and she mainly plans things like Theatre Nights and other fun events for everyone to enjoy. I am the Director of Service and Advocacy, which means I focus more on the community service side of theatre, like organizing volunteer opportunities and promoting causes that matter to us. Finally, Maile Miller is our Director of Communications, which means her job is to keep everyone informed - sending out reminders, posting meeting updates, and making sure members always know what’s going on. Also, our club supervisor is our amazing theatre director, Ms. Candie Duggan. We would all love to answer any questions you might have, so please don’t be afraid to ask!

Now, switching gears a bit, we know ITS is mainly focused on theatre, but could you share more about the kinds of activities or projects the club does throughout the year?

Mikali: We do theater nights, which are overnights in the theater, we play improv games, host service events and outreach for our community, we do short acting scenes, we plan the Richard awards, and so much more!

Photo Creds: Georgia Kasameyer, Stage at The Richard Awards, May 2025

Sounds like so much fun! How often or when do you meet? What’s a typical meeting like?

Mikali: We meet every Thursday for the first half of lunch. Our meetings usually start with a bit of housekeeping, and then we do improv games.

Georgia: Yes, and as we get further into the year, we’ll also work on our individual scenes and get group feedback as well.

So with that in mind, what would you say is the main goal or mission of ITS?

Georgia: Our main goal is to get members involved in all aspects of being a Thespian. ITS quantifies theatre involvement through points that you can earn from engaging with theatre in 5 different categories. One is the Classroom, where you earn points by taking classes or workshops. Another is Outreach, either volunteering or performing for the community. Advocacy is also important, encouraging members to advocate for theatre at the local, state, and federal levels. You also get points for Service or Leadership if you’re an officer or mentor a newer Thespian. The last category is Application, rewarding members for participating in shows both on and off stage. We want all of our members to be active in as many categories as possible.

That’s a really great way to get everyone involved! And now I’m curious, what’s the most fun part about being in ITS?

Adalyn: This year, we’re starting something brand new called Theatre Nights, and I think that’s definitely going to be the most fun part. Once a quarter, all of our members come together in the theatre to play theatre-related games, eat yummy snacks, listen to good music, spend time together, and then end the night by watching a musical! It’s such a good way to bring everyone closer as a group and to enjoy something that we all love. Our first theatre night is actually September 18th, next Thursday night, so if anyone is interested in attending, please reach out to any of our leaders! We would love to see you in the club and at theatre night!

That sounds amazing! Next, for all of the students reading this who are on the fence about joining the club, why should someone join ITS?

Mikali: Because we are awesome!

Adalyn: Yes, that, and, if you love anything about theatre - whether that’s acting, tech, singing, dancing, or even just watching shows - there’s a place for you in ITS. A lot of people think you have to be a performer to be part of theatre, but that’s not true at all. We welcome anyone who’s curious, just enjoys the energy of being around creative people, or wants to have tons of fun in an awesome, non-judgemental group - even if you’ve never stepped foot on a stage before!

So, can anyone in high school join, or do you need prior theatre experience?

'Georgia: Anyone can join! We hold our Induction Ceremony at the end of the year, and you need 10 points to be inducted into the honor society. However, we have so many opportunities to earn points throughout the year that by the time Induction rolls around, even someone who was brand new to theatre in the beginning will be able to be inducted.

Good to know! Before we get to the fun questions, are there any misconceptions about ITS that you’d like to clear up for our readers?

Georgia: A lot of people think ITS is just an extension of Dramatiques. In reality, it’s a more holistic way to experience theatre. All of our showcases are different groups performing what they want, without the pressure of a cast list or a huge show. We are also able to get into different styles, and it’s a lot more adaptable to what you want to learn or practice.

Love it! Finally, I have a fun question for you guys - if your club were stranded on a deserted island, what’s the first thing you’d do?

Mikali: Definitely Improv games.

Georgia: It would literally never end.

That certainly makes sense! And why not just one more for fun - if ITS could take a dream field trip anywhere in the world, where would you take the club?

Georgia: The International Thespian Festival! It’s this huge event in June where troupes from around the world come together for a week of workshops and performances. It’s always been our dream to go, and this year we’re trying to raise money for it.

Cover photo credits: Georgia Kasameyer, Theatre Trip to NYC, Summer 2025