In order to induct your students into the National STAR Guild for a lifetime induction you need to have an active TAEA STAR Troupe. To do that ensure you have renewed or chartered your school by clicking the appropriate purple buttons below.
In order to maintain the highest standards of commitment and excellence to the theatrical arts, STAR Guild induction is based on the requirement that a student completes 150 quality hours in the development of theatrical arts productions, STAR Fest participation, and other theatre-related activities in and out of school, allowing them to select up to two specializations for their induction. Below is the list of possible specializations that a student can select:
- Performance: Acting
- Performance: Musical Theatre
- Technical Theatre
- Design
- Stage Management
- Directing
- Script Writing
- Front of House
- Theatre Marketing
- Film & TV
- Multidisciplinary Theatrical Arts
To qualify for STAR Guild induction, a student will need to dedicate their journey in at least one of these areas (and a maximum of two). But the journey doesn’t stop with induction. Students can continue to advance their skills and deepen their expertise within the theatrical arts through dedicated effort and commitment. Students can upgrade their standing in the STAR Guild with continued hours and achievements, improving their STAR Guild certification as outlined in the chart on the next page.
All students that qualify and are inducted into the National STAR Guild will receive a personalized STAR Guild Induction Certificate, personalized STAR membership card, official Guild induction pin, and a bumper sticker. They will get discounted rates to select TAEA, STAR Festivals, and programs. Plus, they have the opportunity to apply for exclusive Guild scholarships, bursaries, awards, student leadership programs, and more.
A qualified student may enter the Guild with a maximum of two areas of specialization. Each school year that a student has been active, post induction, they can advance their standing within the STAR Guild. Once they have enough hours/points, they can achieve new levels of excellence within the STAR Guild. Once a student reaches a new level, it will be added to their file and an updated induction certificate will be created to honour their achievement. Middle school students will be transferred into their local high school if they are an active STAR Guild school.
As a National STAR Troupe director, your connection to theatre education is more than a membership ― it’s a yearlong investment in you and in your students
Included on this page…
Student Recognition
The recognition students gain through induction in their school based National STAR Troupe signals to colleges and employers their leadership, service, and extracurricular achievements. It gives theatre students the same validation common for sports or academic success. And it’s a valuable asset when recruiting new students to your theatre program ― especially in a year when live productions may be limited.
Event Access
Our STAR theatre festivals provide opportunities for learning, recognition, and life-long memories ― at the regional and national levels. Regional and national events offer our students a chance to compete for thousands of scholarship dollars, earn commendation through our national festival structure, and audition for dozens of college theatre programs.
Professional Development
Your school’s National STAR Troupe renewal comes with exclusive access to our TAEA Drama Teacher Resource Library with resources from educational theatre experts such as Don Zolidis and Stephen Gregg. Whether you’re new to the field or an expert theatre educator, we have resources that will help your delivery in the drama classroom.
Community Support
As a member of TAEA, you gain access to the most engaged network of theatre educators nationwide, eager to share ideas, collaborate on problem-solving, and offer expertise.
School STAR Troupes & National STAR Guild Student Inductions - Step by Step
The National STAR Guild is Canada’s only national honours society for the theatrical arts, recognizing middle and high school students who go above and beyond in their school theatre program. Once your school has an active STAR Troupe, your drama teacher or troupe director can induct qualifying students into the Guild for a lifetime membership.
Important: Scholarship Eligibility Is Changing in 2027-2028 Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, STAR Guild induction will be required for students to audition for TAEA scholarships. Last year alone, TAEA awarded over $2 million in scholarships nationwide. If your school doesn’t have an active STAR Troupe yet, now is the time to charter one, so your students don’t lose access to these opportunities. |
Getting Started
Step 1: Register Your School as a STAR Troupe
Charter your school as a School Theatrical Arts Recognition (STAR) Troupe to receive an official troupe number and the ability to induct students into the Guild. Troupe directors also receive automatic TAEA membership, plus access to school awards, grants, and royalty reductions.
Step 2: Induct Your Students
Once your Troupe is active, induct any student who has completed 150 quality hours of work in their specialization(s) into the Guild for lifetime membership.
Step 3: Track Their Advancement
Students can keep logging hours after induction to advance their standing and unlock higher credential levels within the Guild.
Induction Requirements
To be inducted, a student must complete 150 quality hours in theatrical arts development, festival participation, and related activities. Students may choose up to two specializations:
- Performance: Acting
- Performance: Musical Theatre
- Technical Theatre
- Design
- Stage Management
- Directing
- Script Writing
- Front of House
- Theatre Marketing
- Film & TV
- Multidisciplinary Theatrical Arts
Member Benefits
- A personalized certificate, membership card, official pin, and bumper sticker
- Discounted registration rates for TAEA and STAR Festival events
- Eligibility to apply for exclusive scholarships, bursaries, and awards
- Access to student leadership programs, including STAR Guild Regional Student Leader roles
- For troupe directors: exclusive TAEA teaching resources and a national network of theatre educators
Program Costs
What | Cost |
|---|---|
Charter your STAR Troupe (one-time) | $100 |
Annual STAR Troupe renewal | $129 / year |
Per-student induction (certificate, pin, sticker, ID card) | $35 |
Per-student credential upgrade | $15 |
In your first year, budget for $229 total ($100 charter + $129 annual renewal). Every year after, it’s just the $129 renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the STAR Guild different from the International Thespian Society?
The STAR Guild is an honour society for more than just thespians. Students can be inducted for their work in any area of school theatrical arts, not just acting performance.
Can schools participate in STAR Festivals without a Troupe?
Yes, though schools with an active, inducted Guild membership receive discounted registration rates.
School STAR – Program Costs –
$100 – One Time STAR Troupe Activation Cost
Materials provided upon chartering your school STAR Troupe – Your Theatrical Arts Guild introduction package including an Official STAR Troupe Charter, National STAR Guild Induction Ledger.
$129 – Annual STAR School Troupe Renewal
$35 – Per STAR Guild student induction
Materials provided upon induction includes induction pin, personalized certificate, bumper sticker, personalized ID Card
$15 – Per STAR Guild student upgrade
Materials provided upon upgraded credential application – updated Certificate expressing the upgraded credentials.
National STAR Guild and school STAR Troupes
-- Frequently Asked Questions --
What is the National STAR Guild?
The STAR Guild is a national honours program for middle and high school students that excel in the theatrical arts at their school. Once your school has a STAR Troupe your drama teacher/troupe director can induct you into the National STAR Guild.
What is a school STAR Troupe?
Drama Teachers/Schools Register as a School Theatrical Arts Recognition (STAR) Troupe and they get an official STAR Troupe number and renew annually to maintain their active status in the Guild. This allows them to run their school STAR Troupe within the National STAR Guild. Once your school has a troupe your drama teacher/troupe director can induct you into the National STAR Guild and those student receive many benefits including discounted prices for attending our STAR Festivals.
Is it the same thing as the International Thespian Society?
No the STAR Guild is an honour society for more then just thespians. Students can be inducted for their work in any area of school theatrical arts including, but not exclusive to, acting performance.
How much does it cost to start a STAR troupe at your school?
How much does it cost to start a STAR troupe at your school?
There’s a one-time $100 charter fee to start your troupe, plus a $129 annual fee to keep it active. In your first year, that’s $229 total ($100 charter + $129 annual). Every year after, it’s just the $129 renewal.
What are the benefits of having a STAR troupe at your school?
- By chartering a troupe your school gets a National STAR Troupe # and recognition as one of Canada’s most committed Drama & Theatrical Arts programs
- You get the opportunity to win national honours for your school troupe annually.
- As the troupe director you will get your professional membership for free including all of the awesome membership benefits
- Playwrights reductions and other promotions specifically for STAR Troupes.
- You are able to induct your talented, passionate drama students to our national student honours society – the STAR Guild. They get a personalized certificate of induction, personalized ID card, bumper sticker and pin. This is a lifetime induction with opportunities for credential advancement as they demonstrate excellence in your program. STAR Guild induction lowers the students registration costs at our Regional and National STAR Festivals. Induction also opens your students to potentially win scholarships and awards at our events.
Can I participate in our STAR festivals without being a school STAR Troupe?
- Yes your school does not need to be a STAR Troupe to participate in our event and if you are a STAR Troupe school your students don’t need to be inducted into the National STAR Guild to participate at the STAR Festival. Inducted National STAR Guild students will be given a discounted rate at our events.
