Thanks to a new policy approved by the Tyrone Area High School administration, members of the TAHS Drama Club are now eligible to earn varsity letters.

This was a well-earned victory for the Drama Club because it recognizes the passion and dedication of students who are not athletes but still dedicate as much or more time and effort to perfecting their skills as the athletes do.

“There was a lot of feedback from the initial editorial Ryleigh [Holmes] wrote that expressed some pretty strong opinions,” said Drama Club advisor Jonathan Holmes, “Sure, Drama Club isn’t as competitive in a traditional, athletic sense, and it shouldn’t be. It’s an art. That doesn’t mean that because our students aren’t athletically competitive that they shouldn’t be recognized for their time, talent, growth, and dedication to a program.”

Just like their athletic counterparts, varsity letters for Drama Club members are based on a specific criterion.

Members earn points for different activities and offices held within the club. For example, Drama Club members can earn points for attendance at practice, earning certain roles, and being a leader in the club

A lead role in the musical or play is worth ten points, and a supporting role is five. In Mr. Holmes’s new Theatre Workshop class, each letter grade average is a point value, with 30 points being an A average.

“My letterman program is rigorous. Any letterman program should be. If you want to wear the letter or bar, you need to earn it,” Holmes said. “That’s why I designed a point system that is based on a national theatre honor society’s letter system.”

Holmes compared his system to that of most athletic teams.

“Athletes need to put in the time and practice to earn a place on the field to earn a letter. My drama kids do the same. They have to show up, practice, put in the time, and work their tails off to try to earn that same recognition on a stage. The paradigm is different, that’s all. One isn’t any more “right” than another. They’re equal, and they’re equally different, as they should be,” Holmes said.

Members are ecstatic to be able to earn letters like their peers in athletics and the band.