The Penn State Thespian Society, previously known as The Penn State Thespians, is the oldest consecutive running organization on campus, the second oldest student-run organization on campus, after the Penn State Glee Club, and is the second oldest college theater organization in the country.
[1] The first Thespians meeting was called to order on October 22, 1897, by the founders, Dr. Fred Lewis Pattee (author of Penn State's “Alma Mater”) and Dr. John Leete.
Dr. Pattee was the head of the Department of English, and Dr. Leete was a professor of Mathematics.
This tradition continues today, as many members are amateurs not actively pursuing degrees or careers in theater.
A few notable alumni from the organization include: Some notable performances that the organization holds throughout the year include: To become a member of Thespians, one must first start out as a New Member.