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
- 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 Troupe and join a national movement to celebrate and elevate the theatrical arts in our schools! A school gets an official National STAR Troupe number and renew annually to maintain their active National STAR troupe status. This allows them to run their school STAR Troupe and induct their most dedicated students to the National STAR Guild. Those students inducted into the National STAR Guild then receive many benefits including discounted prices for attending our STAR Festivals.
STEP 1 – SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL STAR GUILD WITH A STAR TROUPE –
Schools Register their school 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
BENEFITS FOR THE SCHOOL & TROUPE DIRECTOR –
- This allows the School Troupe Director (usually the drama teacher) to induct their most dedicated students into the National STAR Guild. Canada’s only national honours society for the theatrical arts.
- It also elevates the stature of the drama program to be an official STAR Troupe inducting students into the National STAR Guild.
- The Troupe Director automatically becomes a member of the TAEA – with wonderful member benefits.
- Plus, they have the opportunity to apply for exclusive STAR Troupe school awards, grants, programs and even apply for royalty reductions.
- And so much more…
STEP 2 – INDUCT STUDENTS INTO THE GUILD –
The school can then induct students into their STAR Troupe and by doing so they become members of the National STAR Guild – linking them with the best Theatrical Arts students and alumni from across the country. Induction should be managed by the School STAR Troupe Director, usually the school drama teacher or designate and once inducted the STAR student is inducted to the guild for life. 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 (15 points) in the development of theatrical arts productions, this also allows them to be declared an Inducted Major in the area of work.
Areas that a student can major in (150 quality hours) or minor in (75 quality hours) are:
- Performance: Acting
- Performance: Musical Theatre
- Technical Theatre
- Design
- Stage Management
- Directing
- Script Writing
- Front of House
- Theatre Marketing
- Film & TV
- Multidisciplinary Theatrical Arts
A student needs to qualify for one of these areas as a Major to be inducted into the guild.
BENEFITS FOR STUDENT INDUCTEES – All students that qualify and are inducted into the National STAR Guild from their STAR school troupe 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 so much more…
Step 3 – MONITOR YOUR STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT IN THE GUILD AND UPGRADE THEIR STAR CREDENTIALS
- A student can continue to upgrade and push for further accolades once inducted into the guild.
- To learn more about upgrading please check out the National STAR Guild Honours Society page.
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?
A school that would like to be a member pays $229 per year to charter a troupe and then $129 per school year to renew.
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.
How can I induct students from my school STAR Troupe into the National STAR Guild?
Induction should be managed by the school STAR Troupe Director, usually the school drama teacher or designate and once inducted the STAR student is inducted to the guild for life. 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, this also allows them to be declared with specialties
- Performance: Acting
- Performance: Musical Theatre
- Technical Theatre
- Design
- Stage Management
- Directing
- Script Writing
- Theatre Marketing
- Front of House
- Film & TV
- Multidisciplinary Theatrical Arts
A student needs to qualify for one of these areas to be inducted into the guild.
Upon induction, a qualified student can have a maximum of two areas
How do students upgrade their credentials in the National STAR Guild?
- Please see the chart at the top of the page. Students have 4 levels that they can achieve!
How much does it cost to induct a student into the National STAR Guild
– A one-time fee of $35 – Per STAR student induction gets them lifetime membership in the STAR Guild. Materials provided upon induction includes induction pin, personalized certificate, bumper sticker, personalized ID Card Plus $15 – Per STAR student upgrade.
– Materials provided upon upgraded credential application – updated Certificate expressing the upgraded credentials.