Our Mission:

Washington State Thespians’ 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.

About

Washington State Thespians is a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association. WA Thespians hosts multiple events to honor student achievement and support theatre educators in our state. From unified college auditions to Thespian Excellence awards (Thespys) that assess and recognize student work in acting, musical theatre and technical theatre to our all-state festivals for middle and high schools, WA Thespians is proud to celebrate theatre arts throughout our state. Click Here to read our governing structure and bylaws.

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.

Meet Our Directors

  • Greg Pschirrer Headshot

    Greg Pschirrer

    Co-Director

    Greg Pschirrer is enjoying his 21st season at Lewis and Clark High School as Tiger Drama Director and Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair. He holds a BA in History from Gonzaga University and an MA in Theatre Production from Central Washington University. In addition to serving as an adjudicator for the Educational Theatre Association, he has enjoyed working on the EdTA National Thespy committee reworking rubrics and guidelines to follow National Core Arts Standards, and advocating for students nationwide to experience high-caliber educational theatre.

  • Ben Stuart Headshot

    Ben Stuart

    Co-Director

    Ben Stuart serves as the Roosevelt High School Theatre Department Co-Director. Mr. Stuart earned his BA in Theatre Education and M. Ed in Literacy from Seattle Pacific University. In 2015, Mr. Stuart was elected by the national membership of the Educational Theatre Association to serve on their national governing board of directors. He also serves on the board of Washington State Thespians as the Co-Chapter Director where he spends a week each summer in Washington D.C. advocating for theatre education in our Washington and across the country.