The Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group District Contest is Saturday, and a pair of local schools will be heading to the same location to take part.

Perry and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn are assigned to Woodward-Granger High School for the contest, bringing a multitude of students eager to earn invitations to the State competition two weeks later. Perry has 17 students taking part this year, participating in seven entries. The categories they’ll be competing in include short film and readers theater, two ensemble acting pieces, and three group improvisational acting teams. The short film group will be the first to present their work, scheduled at 9:25 a.m.

Meanwhile, ADM is travelling with a small army to Woodward tomorrow, with 105 students in 9th-12th grade, and a total of 18 entries. The groups are divided between freshman and varsity teams, with the youngest participants having three group improv teams, reader’s theater, radio news, and TV news. The varsity team includes two improv acting groups, two ensemble acting pieces, and two musical theater entries, as well as reader’s theater, choral reading, one act, short film, TV news, and mime. The ADM team’s day will start at 8:15 a.m. with group mime.

The event is open to the public, with admission being a suggested $3 donation to the host school. Any entries that earn a “I” rating at Districts will advance to State, which will be held February 8th at Waukee High School.