Mark Capichana attended Susquehanna University and achieved Dean’s list honors, prior to graduating in 2022. In the following article, Mark Capichana provides insight into what it takes to become a National Honors Thespian.
As one of the pillars of the arts community, many regard becoming a professional thespian as a noble calling. However, knowing one’s calling and being able to achieve it are two different things. For those interested, it is important to understand what it takes to become a national honors thespian and the leadership building skills this prestigious society teaches.
Mark Capichana, has researched that a student needs to
earn a total of ten points on a democratic basis. Five of these points must be earned at the high school where the potential thespian intends to be educated. Becoming a society member can build character quality and teach leadership skills.
In this article, Mark Capichana explains more on what being a National Honors Thespian is, as well a list of what it takes to become one of the respected people of this distinguished honor.
What is a National Honors Thespian
The Honors Thespian Society was formed in 1929 and can be defined as an organization with honorary status. It was created as a branch of the Education Theater Association for the benefit of middle school and high school students who need an outlet for their passion in the performing arts.
Mark Capichana has learned that this honorary society is made all the more impressive by being affiliated with over
4,000 secondary schools all across the United States. In each of these schools, they honor the achievements of students in the department of theater arts.
Additionally, grants and scholarships are awarded to honor the achievements of individuals and theatre programs, providing winners with the financial support to attend association events or further educational endeavors.
The students themselves are called “thespians” only when they enter the program in high school. Until then, they are referred to as “Junior Thespians.” Altogether, these students gain leadership skills that go above and beyond their talents as performers.
Students are given encouragement and guidance after completing theater productions. They also have access to an extensive professional and educational network through the society itself, which provides everything from uplifting recognition to essential resources.
Finally, Mark Capichana agrees that the National Honors Thespians influence public opinion toward the importance of the skills that theater programs and the arts are uniquely equipped to offer training in.
What it Takes
Mark Capichana expands on what he sees as a few key points towards achieving this prestigious honor:
- Experience
- Official Points
- Dedication
Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps toward becoming a National Honors Thespian.
1. Experience
Mark Capichana says that experience is truly the greatest teacher. A primary example of this fact can be seen in the way that the program requires its students to participate in productions first, before being given admittance into the society.
To advance into the program, a student needs to have participated in no less than two productions of full-length. Substitutes for this could be the combination of one full-length production and two one-act productions; another is four productions that are each one-acts.
The participation does not always need to take the form of acting. In fact, the same time periods qualify a student for entry into the National Honors Thespian Society if they participated in production without acting.
2. Official Points
These points are an essential way to measure one’s candidacy for the society. A single point is awarded to a student after they have completed ten hours of work in theater arts of an excellent quality.
Mark Capichana also says that a student must earn at least ten of these points, rounding out to around 100 hours of great work. In addition, five of these cannot be earned anywhere else other than at the productions of the school where the National Honors Thespian Society is represented.
3. Dedication
Overall, it takes intense dedication to be awarded entry into this highly regarded program. Not only must a student participate in several hours’ worth of work to gain points, but this work must be of high distinction. The attributes of a performer should demonstrate a passion for the craft and a willingness to go the extra mile for the sake of the arts.
In Conclusion
Mark Capichana explains that becoming a National Honors Thespian requires dedication and leadership skills. These must be demonstrated specifically through experiencing the craft in actual productions; this experience, in turn, must total around 100 hours. While earning the points these hours are represented by, a thespian student must accomplish their work with excellence in quality.
