South Tama’s large group speech program is headed back to the All-State Festival this winter. This time with not one, but two events honored with the designation of being a performing act to be presented before their peers as well as special guest critic judges.

On Saturday, Feb. 5 more than two dozen South Tama speech students traveled to Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School for the annual State Large Group Speech Competition.

At the conclusion of a long day of performing, the team came home with seven events that received division 1 ratings and two events that received division two ratings.

On Monday afternoon several of the students gathered in the Little Theatre at STCHS for a watch party to wait for the list of All-State Festival nominees to be released.

Not long after 4 p.m. the list was posted online and the room erupted with emotion as the students discovered two of their events had been nominated to perform at the festival.

South Tama’s choral reading event, “Citizen Illegal”, earned All-State honors and will perform on the afternoon of Feb. 19 for guest judge Suzy Messerole at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

Messerole is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the Exposed Brick Theatre in St. Paul, Minn.

The choral reading team is composed of Luis Avalos, Itzel Herrera, Jasmin Ramos, Alondra Bolanos-Lupian, Alex Carrera, Almendra Ramirez, Keiler Alvarado, Arianna Herrera and Ciela Ornelas.

South Tama’s musical theatre event, “Bright Star” by Steve Martin and Edie Brickel, earned All-State honors and will perform on the morning of Feb. 19 for guest judge Joel Waggoner at the Ames City Auditorium.

Waggoner is a writer, actor and composer who was a part of the Broadway cast of “School of Rock” and “Be More Chill.”

The musical theatre team is composed of Libby Albright, Luis Avalos, Itzel Herrera, Riley Grimes, Fred Witt and Jonah Houghton.

State Contest Results from Feb. 5

South Tama’s other large group events that competed at the state competition included:

Ensemble Acting featuring Evan Glockl, Ivy Viramontes and Autumn Steinback. The group performed a piece called “Wanda’s Visit” by Christopher Durang and earned three division 1 ratings at state.

Group Improv featuring Daryn Cherveny and Isaac Shuckahosee. The group earned three division 1 ratings at state.

Ensemble Acting featuring Jalyssa Rozevink and Trusten Rosenberger. The group performed a piece called “But I’m French” by Terry Roueche and earned two division 1 ratings and a division 2 rating at state.

Solo Mime featuring Isaac Shuckahosee. Shuckahosee performed a piece titled “Yard Work” and earned two division 1 ratings and a division 2 rating at state.

One Act Play featuring Sahara Downs, Jonah Houghton, Daryn Cherveny, Riley Grimes, Autumn Steinback, Fred Witt, Libby Albright, Jalyssa Rozevink and Rae Curran-Banda. The group performed a pieced called “All Because of Agatha” by Jonathan Troy and earned two division 1 ratings and one division 2 rating at state.

TV News featuring Kara Nachazel, Keiler Alvarado, Arianna Herrera, Abigail Chyma, Ciela Ornelas and Alex Carrera. The group’s performance was titled “KNTK-News to Know” and received three division 2 ratings at state.

Ensemble Acting featuring Peyton Van De Walle and Ella Rosario. The group performed a piece from “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams and received three division 2 ratings at state.