Alpha Psi Omega

Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society () is an American recognition fraternity for participants in collegiate theatre.

History

Alpha Psi Omega

The ''Alpha Cast'' (Alpha Psi Omega's term for "chapter") was founded at Fairmont State University on , by Professor Paul F. Opp.Alpha Psi Omega History

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Alpha Psi Omega was founded after Opp was denied charter petitions by both Theta Alpha Phi, the National Theatre Honors Fraternity, and the National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta, which were unwilling to charter a chapter at Fairmont State College, then primarily known as a "teacher's college." The first student members of the society were Elinor B. Watson and Robert Sloan.

Membership is open to students (primarily undergraduate) who are active in collegiate/university theatre at four-year institutions (full colleges and universities). Most casts/chapters use a "point system" for determining membership eligibility, with a certain number of points earned for tasks in theatre. With some chapters, there is an induction/training process, while other chapters choose members solely on merit, where the theatre experience is considered the induction process. Honorary membership may be conferred on certain individuals (usually department faculty) after obtaining permission from the National Officers.Alpha Psi Omega FAQ

In 1997, under pressure from anti-fraternity sentiments nationwide, the national officers decided to update the public titles of the organization. This changed the official name of the society from Alpha Psi Omega National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity to Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society.

Delta Psi Omega

Delta Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society (), Alpha Psi Omega's sister society, was founded in 1929 as the official junior-college division of Alpha Psi Omega. Both societies are governed by the same national officers, yet have separate coat-of-arms and induction ceremonies. Delta Psi Omega chapters are located at two-year institutions.

Thespian Society

Opp and Alpha Psi Omega were also instrumental in helping to organize the Thespian Society, now known as the International Thespian Society (I.T.S.) the theatre honor society for high school students (also founded in 1929). With an original grant of $500, the society was able to help organize I.T.S. and help publish the first issues of the I.T.S. magazine. The International Thespian Society has since been assimilated into the Educational Theatre Association, but the influences can be seen in the similarities of both organizations' colors and induction ceremonies.

Symbols

As was common practice in naming honor societies during that time, at the founding, Alpha Psi Omega was called ''"Alpha Psi Omega National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity"'' and used theatre-related terminology to refer to the honor society's officers and workings. Examples include:

The fraternity is overseen by an executive council called the Grand Cast.
* President/National President – ''Director / Grand Director''
* Vice-President/National Vice-President – ''Stage Manager / Grand Stage Manager''
* Secretary-Treasurer/ National Secretary-Treasurer – ''Business Manager / Grand Business Manager''
* Chapter – ''Cast''
* Inductees – ''Understudies''
* National Officers – ''Grand Cast''
* National Convention – ''Grand Rehearsal''

The open motto of Alpha Psi Omega, written in ancient Greek upon their coat-of-arms, is ''αιτειτε ψύχην ωφελιμον'' or "seek a life useful". The colors of Alpha Psi Omega and Delta Psi Omega are moonlight blue and bastard amber, from the names of the shades of lighting gels commonly used in theatre lighting. Its flower is the violet.

The fraternity's badge is monogram of the Greek letters . The Alpha Psi Omega coat of arms is designed to represent a Greek theater's stage. Its magazine is ''The Playbill''.

Chapters

Alpha Psi Omega/Delta Psi Omega has installed 1,048 chapters. The society calls its chapters "casts". Chapters of Alpha Psi Omega are named with Greek Letter names according to the order in which they were chartered. Chapters of Delta Psi Omega use a number system for designation.

Notable members

* Maxwell Anderson, playwright and actor known for ''Both Your Houses,'' ''High Tor,'' ''The Bad Seed''
* Dan Blocker, actor known for ''Bonanza''
* Jeff Coopwood, actor known for '' Star Trek: First Contact, Beverly Hills, 90210, The Wild Thornberrys, Seinfeld, The Bold and the Beautiful''
* Dann Florek, actor known for ''Law & Order,'' '' LA Law''
* Lillian Gish, actress known for ''Follow Me Boys'' and a number of silent movies; Broadway revivals of ''Uncle Vanya''
* Ron Glass, actor known for ''Firefly'', '' Serenity''
* Robert Hegyes, actor known for '' Welcome Back Kotter''
* Don Knotts, actor and commedian known for ''The Incredible Mr. Limpet'', '' The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'', ''The Andy Griffith Show,'' ''Three's Company''
* Sondra Locke, actress known for '' Willard'', '' The Outlaw Josey Wales'', ''Every Which Way but Loose'', '' Sudden Impact''
* Burt Mustin, actor known for ''Miracle on 34th Street'', ''All in the Family,'' ''Petticoat Junction,'' ''Mame'', ''Leave it to Beaver''
* Olaf Odegaard, artist and playwright
* Eugene O'Neill, playwright known for '' Long Day's Journey into Night,'' '' The Iceman Cometh,'' '' A Moon for the Misbegotten''As noted i
Chatham University's ''The Arrow'' on 03/20/1952, p. 4
accessed 2 Aug. 2021.
* Bill Pullman, actor known for ''Independence Day'', '' Newsies'', ''Spaceballs''
* Stelio Savante, actor known for ''Ugly Betty'', '' My Super Ex Girlfriend'', '' What If...'', '' Starship Troopers 3: Marauder'', '' Corrado''
* Jimmi Simpson, actor known for '' Rose Red''
* Dulcé Sloan, comedian and actor known for ''The Daily Show'', '' The Great North''
* Robert Taylor, actor known for ''Ivanhoe''
* Tennessee Williams, playwright known for ''The Glass Menagerie'' and ''A Streetcar Named Desire''.

References

External links

Alpha Psi Omega's Official Web site

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Student societies in the United States
Honor societies
Theatrical organizations in the United States
Fraternities and sororities in the United States
Student organizations established in 1925
1921 establishments in West Virginia