2026 MSJH Speech Team: "Brave Enough to Be Myself"
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SIGN-UP FORM when school starts!
Info meeting: Monday August 17 from 3:30-4pm in the Cafeteria
Auditions: Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19 after school
Practices: Mondays-Fridays from 3:30-5:00pm, usually in 30-minute time slots. Not everyone will practice every day!
Performance: Wednesday, September 30 at 6pm
Students will be cast in funny or serious 2-person scenes, or chosen to present 1-person stories, scenes, or speeches. Students not selected for speaking roles will have the opportunity to support the production in other ways including Student Directing, Lights, Sound, Stage, and Publicity crews.
Speech Team is open to ANYONE who is interested in acting, interpretation, or public speaking. However you must be willing to WORK to refine your skills, SUPPORT your teammates, and maintain IESA academic eligibility (keep your grades up).
YES. For the 2026 season, the MSJH Speech Team will involve a limited number of speaking roles! Everyone who wants to be involved in Speech Team can try out and the coach will make final decisions about speaking roles and supporting crew positions.
Speech Team has several different events that include individual and 2-person events. You can try out for an event that sounds interesting to you, or a coach can suggest that you try an event that you might be good at. The events are listed below.
Practices include 1-on-1 rehearsals with a coach, group rehearsals with a coach, and practice time on your own. Coaches are available for rehearsals after school, as well as some days before school.
Speech Team is held in the fall. Students present their speeches or scenes in one performance on Wednesday, September 30. Student performances are judged by the captains of the MSHS Speech Team and receive I, II, or III ratings.
Attend weekly 1-on-1 coaching as well as work on your own outside of coaching times.
Participate in the final presentation September 30.
Be on time and be prepared for all coaching sessions and competitions.
Support and encourage your teammates.
Keep your grades up.
Speech Team is a great way to meet people at MSJH!
You can win awards and gain recognition for your hard work!!
You will make new friends while becoming a better actor and public speaker!!!
It's a lot of fun!!!!
Jaidyn Newton and Allyson Sanborn are the coaches for the MSJH team. Ms. Newton competed in speech during high school, and now teaches 8th grade ELA at MSJH. Mrs. Sanborn competed in Speech for all 4 years of her high school career, including competing in Oratorical Declamation at the IHSA state competition her junior and senior years. You can contact Coach Newton at jnewton@ms.k12.il.us
Solo Acting - Dramatic Interpretation (DI)
DI involves one person acting out a serious scene from a play involving multiple characters. The selection will be memorized and up to 8 minutes long.
Solo Acting - Humorous Interpretation (HI)
HI involves one person acting out a funny scene from a play involving multiple characters. The selection will be memorized and up to 8 minutes long.
Solo Acting - Oratorical Declamation (DEC)
DEC involves memorizing a 6-8 minute excerpt from a published speech written by someone else. It can be serious or entertaining, but it should have an important message of value.
Original Script - Informative Speaking (IS)
IS involves writing, memorizing, and presenting a 6-8 minute informative speech on a topic of current interest. It should include appropriate research and citations.
Original Script - Original Oratory (OO)
OO involves writing a 6-8 minute memorized persuasive speech that follows a basic problem-solution format, and includes some citations to give your opinion support.
Original Script - Special Occasion Speaking (SOS)
This event involves writing a 6-8 minute entertaining speech in which you could be addressing a real group on a real situation. The speech should have a serious message with humorous elements.
Prose Reading
Prose involves presenting one short story. The presentation is 6-8 minutes and is read from a notebook, so it does not have to be memorized.
Dramatic Duet Acting (DDA)
DDA involves 2 people working together to act out a serious section from a play. The selection will be memorized and up to 8 minutes long.
Humorous Duet Acting (HDA)
HDA involves 2 people working together to act out a funny section from a play. The selection will be memorized and up to 8 minutes long.