Theta Alpha Phi

Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honors Fraternity (ΘΑΦ) is an American recognition honor society that accepts members who achieve excellence in the art of theatre. Membership is available to undergraduates and graduate students at member institutions.

The first chapter, referred to as "Oklahoma Alpha", was formed on December 22, 1919 at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Since the dissolution of the National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta (ΠΕΔ) National Theatre Honor Society, Theta Alpha Phi is the oldest honor society for theatre in the United States. Currently, the society has around 30 active chapters. Theta Alpha Phi can only be chartered at colleges & universities (four-year institutions).

The pronunciation of the society's name can be either "Thay-ta Al-fa Fye" or "Thay-ta Al-fa Fee". The latter is closer to the original Greek pronunciation.

The official colors of Theta Alpha Phi are Purple and White.

The motto of Theta Alpha Phi is "The purpose of playing is [...] to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature" (a reference to the "advice to the players" speech in Hamlet).

Members are referred to as "Thetas," "Thetans," "TAPs," or "Taffies."

National President - Michael Allen, Adrian College.

Theta Alpha Phi National Theater Honors Fraternity is an honors society rather than a recognition association or activity club. It confers nationally recognized honor on graduate and undergraduate students who earn a specified high level of quality in theater study and production at over 36 selected, accredited colleges and universities in 22 states.

Theta Alpha Phi is the only honorary theater organization restricted entirely to that level of education where students can be expected to have a serious purpose in theater work and study. It charters only four-year-or-more, Class "A" colleges and universities, has no branches or subsidiaries, and admits to membership only students of sophomore standing or above.

Theta Alpha Phi is the only wholly independent theater honors organization with standards and functions established solely by its own constitution without regard to requirements of other organizations. It is not a member of any association whose member societies are concerned with areas other than theater, but which nevertheless control the standards and hence the functions of members.

Theta Alpha Phi is the only national organization which honors graduate and undergraduate students for quality as well as quantity of work and study in theater arts alone. Unlike some organizations which demand that students achieve a certain level in all studies, most of which are unrelated to theater, Theta Alpha Phi demands excellence only in theater. Recognizing individual differences as a fact of life, Theta Alpha Phi believes a student can be outstanding in theater and deserving of honor in theater without comparable achievement in all areas of study.

...
Wikipedia