International Thespian Society Awards First Internship

As part of its 100th Anniversary in 2017, The Costumer has awarded a national internship in costuming to an outstanding student in the International Thespian Society (ITS), the nation's oldest and largest theatre-arts honorary society for high school students. This partnership marks the first internship for ITS. The 2017 internship was awarded to Grace White of Troupe 6188 from Bothell High School in Bothell, WA.

The Costumer, which provides costumes and accessories for more than 1,000 theatrical performances annually, will host White for two weeks in July, 2017 at its headquarters in upstate New York. In addition she'll have a week backstage in New York in September 2017 where White will meet costumers and crews and observe backstage at Broadway and off-Broadway shows. White will also join the International Thespian Officers, staff, and alumni at the Broadway Cares/EFA Flea Market and the Broadway Back to School 2017 Thespian alumni reunion event. In addition to these opportunities, White will receive a stipend and travel allowance.

"Since I have been in the costuming business for 42 years, and [The Costumer] is coming up to celebrate our 100th year, we wanted to give an opportunity to a student to further their career in costuming. We thought that partnering with the Thespian Society was the best way for us to give back in celebration." says Kathe Sheehan, President of The Costumer.

White, a senior at Bothell High School, was chosen for her original costume designs submitted with her application. She plans on attending college in the fall of 2017 and majoring in art.

White says, "One of my favorite artists, Maurice Sendak, ended up doing set and costume design for the Pacific Northwest balletNutcracker, and seeing that has inspired me so much. I am so excited to get out there and work with people who love their work and are using it to shape so many beautiful productions! I am honored to be chosen, it's an opportunity I didn't even know was possible."

About the Educational Theatre Association

The Educational Theatre Association, is a professional organization with approximately 100,000 members nationwide. EdTA's mission is shaping lives through theatre education: honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills. EdTA operates the International Thespian Society, an honorary organization that has inducted more than 2.2 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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.