Nov 30, 2023 By Katherine Mansfield 4 min read

The inaugural Chartiers-Houston Thespian Troupe No. 11413 will participate in the annual PA Thespian Conference Thursday and Friday. Pictured, back row, from left are seniors Alex Weiss, Jack Cornell, Kyle Rush and Maxwell Kasperowski. Front row, from left, are seniors Abigail Albright and Anna Knight, junior Grace Baer and senior Noelle Bova.

The newly established Chartiers-Houston Thespian Troupe No. 11413 will spend the next few days learning new skills, taking in live performances and making connections at its first-ever state conference.

This year’s PA Thespian Conference, Stages of the Ages, Journey to the Past, runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at North Penn High School in Lansdale, and Char-Houston secondary part-time music teacher Nicole Tafe and eight of her theater students are looking forward to three jam-packed days of hands-on theater arts experience.

“There’s an opportunity to do workshops, which we will be participating in, which basically help you hone your craft. We’ll be seeing a whole bunch of shows. There are scholarship opportunities for two of our seniors,” said Tafe. “It’s just a really great weekend of theater, where you’re learning from watching your peers perform, they’re bonding together as a group. It’s very busy, but it’s just a great overall experience.”

Junior Grace Baer plans to participate in a junior showcase, where she’ll display her talent in front of colleges, and seniors Kyle Rush and Anna Knight will perform solos during the Cash-Prize Scholarship Competition. All those attending the conference will come away with new skills and a deeper appreciation for their art.

Tafe, who during high school was part of Peters Township’s thespian troupe, was inspired to form the troupe after directing past Char-Houston productions and coming aboard as a part-time staffer this year.

She worked with Superintendent Dr. Gary Peiffer, high school Principal Phil Mary and the school board to charter the thespian troupe, with additional guidance from Peters Township’s veteran sponsor, Jeanie Cygrymus. With administration approval, Tafe also founded the Troupe’s Parent Boosters, headed by president Jenna Baer.

“I had such a great experience when I was in Peters Troupe No. 185. I wanted to bring that to these kids. After directing the musical the past two years, I kept seeing the talent grow and the potential to keep it growing,” she said. “I felt like, it’s time. It was time to bring it (the thespian troupe) to Chartiers. It was time to grow it and grow it in the way of an honor society that can benefit them on a resume or in the future.”

The troupe is under the International Thespian Society, a globally recognized organization that aims to provide every student with access to theater taught by qualified educators by supporting teachers, advocating the importance of theater in building life skills and honoring student achievement in the theater arts.

“It’s a recognized honor society internationally. You hear a lot about the National Honor Society and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and sports. There really isn’t much in the theater world,” Tafe said. “The International Thespian Society … raises the bar for your theater program to be a chartered troupe.”

At the end of this year, Tafe will host an inaugural induction ceremony for the 10 students who comprise Thespian Troupe No. 11413. Students become members by participating in various theater activities and acquiring points.

“By the end of the year … there’ll be, I hope, many more that are eligible for induction for both the junior high and senior high,” Tafe said.

Tafe is proud to offer membership to her students, and said Char-Houston students are eager to be part of the organization, which offers them more than just experience during the fall and spring productions.

The trip to the state conference is just one of the perks of being part of a chartered troupe, and Tafe is looking forward to her students immersing themselves in theater arts over the next few days, bringing back and applying what they learn, and growing the thespian troupe at Chartiers-Houston School District.

“It’s extended learning for them. Chartiers-Houston doesn’t currently offer any theater classes. It’s an opportunity for these kids to get some training and hands-on experience,” Tafe said. “We have some really super-talented kids. The kids, they’re really excited to raise the bar for themselves. It’s just giving them a chance to shine.”