2025 MSJH Speech Team: "We Can Do It!"
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SIGN-UP FORM!
Info meeting: Tuesday September 2 from 3:30-4pm in the Cafeteria
Auditions: Wednesday September 3 and Thursday September 4 after school
Practices: Mondays-Fridays from 3:30-5:00pm, usually in 30-minute time slots. Not everyone will practice every day!
Performance: Wednesday, October 22 at 6pm. Optional competition Saturday November 1 all day at MSHS (8th graders only).
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 2025 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. Student performances are judged and receive I, II, or III ratings. Eighth grade students will also have an opportunity to COMPETE at the MSHS speech tournament on Saturday, November 1st and experience what a high school Speech Meet is like!
Attend weekly 1-on-1 coaching as well as work on your own outside of coaching times.
Participate in the final presentation October 22
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!!!!
Allyson Sanborn is the head coach and sponsor of the MSJH and MSHS Speech Teams. Kelly Maxwell is the assistant coach for both teams. 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. Ms. Maxwell coached speech in Iowa for 10 years before moving to Mahomet. You can contact Coach Sanborn at asanborn@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.