Montezuma to host District Large Group Speech Contest this Saturday

by J.O. Parker

   The show must go on!
   Montezuma is the host site for the District Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, Jan. 23. Joining Montezuma will be BGM, HLV, Newton and Williamsburg.
  “Montezuma was supposed to be the host school for about 20 schools but with the changes due to the pandemic, there were several options given by the Iowa High School Speech Association that schools could utilize in order to still participate in speech and drama contests,” noted Liesl Roorda, speech and drama coach at Montezuma. “Montezuma chose to still hold our own contest on Saturday and have a live judge with live performances.  Several area schools asked if they could join our day and we are glad to accommodate them.”
   Each school will have its own time block and only students from that school and their spectators will be allowed to attend their performances.  All of the groups will perform one after the other and will only be utilizing one judge for the day.
  “We are very happy to have the opportunity to perform live and are thankful to our administration and school community for supporting these efforts,” added Roorda. 
   Those interested in attending may do so and should enter through the south elementary doors. Masks are mandatory and social distancing is highly encouraged. All performances will be in the auditorium.
  Montezuma groups will perform from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
  Musical Theatre: Little Women, Delighted & Our Finest Dreams, Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, Book by Allan Knee
Tia Shaffer, Haley Roorda, Ashlyn Huff and Maddy Fleming
   Freshmen Readers Theatre: Never Trust a Man by Anne Coulter Martens
Camryn Brennan, Laila Kercheval, Coral Lowry, Aja Kapajou, Lydia Singleton and Lily Shoemaker
   Musical Theatre: Annie, Fully Dressed & Easy Street, Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin, Book by Thomas Meehan
Brayden Stockman, Kiara Bru, Kaleah Shoemaker
   Readers Theatre: Asylum by Dennis Bush - 
Rebeka Teumer, Allyson Larmore, Haley VanDerHart, Kailey Shaffer
  Freshmen Musical Theatre: Little Mermaid, Daughters of Triton & She’s In Love, Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater, Book by Doug Wright
Izzy Roorda, Lydia Singleton, Faith Ferry, Kaya Latcham, Lily Shoemaker, Maddy Vanzee, Camryn Brennan
   Group Improv: Haley Roorda, Ally Gunderson, Lexi Ferneau, Jacob Facile, Kiara Bru
   Ensemble Acting: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Miah Foubert, Elaina Singleton, Peter Roberts
   Coaching musical theatre and improv is Kelly Kaup. Other coaches helping with speech and drama are Macy Taylor Richards, Dianne Singleton and Liz VanGorp 
   There will be a donation box outside the auditorium door to help support the speech program and help cover expenses for the day. The typical suggested donation by the Iowa High School Speech Association for attending a speech contest has been $3. Spectators will be required to leave through the south doors following each school’s performances.