SHS Drama Club
Inductions and Awards

The Somers High School Drama Club, Troup #5116 of the International Thespian Society, recently held its annual induction ceremony to celebrate the inclusion of 30 new members and to recognize another 33 members on their increased ranking within the organization. Through hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, these students have earned sufficient points on a scale dictated by the ITS to have the right to be called Thespians. It is a title of honor, signifying a commitment to an art as old as humanity.

The International Thespian Society, founded in 1929, is the honorary theatre organization for students in high school. Operated by the Educational Theatre Association, ITS offers everything from varied performance venues to college audition opportunities to formal awards and scholarships. Since 1929, more than two million students have been inducted. Students inducted into this organization share the honor with some pretty high-profile fellow-thespians: Tom Hanks, Rene Zellweger, Faye Dunaway, Marcus Lovett, Sally Struthers, Jaclyn Smith, Tommy Sands, Dick Van Dyke, Tommy Tune, Kristie Allie, John Travolta, John Goodman, Jerry Van Dyke, Wayne Brady, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Jai Rodriguez, and Paula Prentiss, to name just a few.

Newly inducted (minimum of 100 hours): Paul Alexander, Megan Arnold, Serena Bailey, Beth Bardsley, Alison Brewer, Jessica Celeski, Jana Crisafi, Cody Daigle, Rebecca Dube, Lauren Dumas, Leah Estanislau, Denise Foerster, Amanda Fredette, Kyle Gallaway, Alexander Hayowyk, Nicholas Hoff, Kevin King, Joshua Marquardt, Anthony Morello, Vencent Palazzolo, Joshua Panto, Samuel Plotkin, Colin Roy, Nicole Scibelli, Jillian Soucy, Morgan Soucy, Elizabeth Tarbox, Andrew Welch, Richard Welch and Stephanie Zdebski.

Thespian 1 Star (200 – 299 hours): Alicia Bonin, Moriah Brockway, Matthew Duhrels, Timothy O[‘Hearn, Tess Plotkin, Benjamin Thompson, Andrew Woodruff, and Andrew Yau.

Thespian 2 Star (300 – 399 hours): Kayla Bliesener, Kalli Bonin, Brian Burnette, Molly Driscoll, Colleen Grady, Erin Hull, Paul Lietz, Laarni Palazzolo, and Mary Thompson.

Thespian 3 Star (400 – 499): Brian Coughlin, Lauren Houlihan, Colleen Toohey, and Laura Traceski.

Thespian 4 Star (500 – 599): Samantha Rush and Rachel Zdebski.

Honor Bar (600+ hours): Juliana Castro, Kristopher Connell, Nicholas Pantuosco, Louis Piscottano, and Rebecca Sawyer.

Best Thespian (700+ hours): Alison Hall, Kevin Orszak, Victoria Sepe and Christine Zdebski.

National Thespian (1200+ hours): Courtney Schiessl

In addition, the Drama Club awarded their annual scholarship to Rachel Zdebski who will be studying at Simmons College in the fall.

Installation of Officers for 2007 – 2008 included Kalli Bonin (President), Louis Piscottano (Vice President), Anne Kohler (Secretary), Beth Bardsley (Treasurer) and Paul Lietz (Fundraising).

Mrs. Kathy Welch is the SHS Drama Club Advisor and Troup Sponsor in the International Thespian Society.