Westerville North High is one of three schools in the nation who are being honored for their efforts to raise public awareness during Theatre in Our Schools Month (TIOIS), March. TIOS is a campaign to bring attention to the impact of theatre education and shine the spotlight on the need for more access to quality programs for all students. The movement is jointly sponsored by the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, the Educational Theatre Association, and the International Thespian Society. Thousands of students and theatre educators from hundreds of schools across the nation spread the word online, in their communities, to school boards, and to elected officials, demonstrating how their school theatre experience provides 21st Century skills.
North’s Thespian Troupe 3156 earned third place in the 2019 Theatre in Our Schools Outstanding Impact Award competition. Under the direction of Kim Mollohan, Westerville North hosted a school assembly where thespians performed, held a question and answer session, and spoke to pupils about the importance of school theatre and how they can get involved. The troupe also reached out to the Arts Council of Westerville and presented about Theatre in Our Schools Month to their board. Troupe representatives further visited Ohio State Senator Tina Maharath’s office, where they discussed the importance of theatre education with her legislative aide, Eric Connelly.