Breckenridge Texan

The Breckenridge High School Theater Department inducted its first charter students into the school’s newly established theater honor society during a ceremony at Bailey Auditorium on Monday, May 6. The event marked the school’s inaugural induction into the International Thespian Society with its official charter of Troupe 11934.

BHS theater students take the oath for induction into the International Thespian Society during a ceremony at Bailey Auditorium on May 6. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cassie Johnson, the theater teacher at BHS, provided insight into the significance of the ceremony. The International Thespian Society is for students who have accumulated more than 60 hours in a theater department, participated in numerous productions, and maintained a strong grade point average. The organization is an honor society for kids “who do theater things,” Johnson said.

She emphasized the long-term value of the recognition, noting that membership in the society extends beyond high school. “This one is international, and so they can take it into college and even out of college. There are lots of members you probably see on TV that are still in the International Thespian Society,” Johnson said.

The ceremony celebrated the induction of 13 student charter members, marking the beginning of what Johnson anticipates will become a more formal annual tradition. During this year’s ceremony, the inductees stepped forward when their names were called and signed the Troupe Charter, making them charter members of the new BHS chapter. She said future inductions will include more formal elements, such as candle lighting, and will last about an hour.

“This one was just very quick,” she said. “We wanted our seniors that went to state last year to get those accolades put on their scholarship applications.”

Breckenridge High School’s troupe was officially approved on April 6, 2024. The charter members inducted at the ceremony are Shaley Cone, Kyelin Cope, Zoey Cotter, Morgan Duncan, Tori Gotschall, Haley Graham, Reyse Hash, Caius Matheson, Cole Morton, Briley Powers, Josh Powers, Zaea Ragle and Dylan Tidwell.

The 2024-25 officers are: President – Haley Graham; Vice President – Briley Powers; Secretary/Scribe – Shaley Cone; and Historian – Kyelin Cope.

BHS Theater Teacher Cassie Johnson watches as Zoey Cotter signs the charter of school’s new International Thespian Society troupe during a ceremony at Bailey Auditorium. The students inducted at the ceremony became charter members of the school’s new ITS Troupe 11934, which became official on April 6. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Charter members of Breckenridge High School’s new International Theater Society troupe pose for a photo in front of the charter and membership list following an induction ceremony at Bailey Auditorium on May 6. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)