Panorama School District will have a group of students attending the Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group All State Speech Festival this weekend.

Speech Coach Deb Wooldridge says that the readers theater group was selected to attend the festival after their performance at the State Competition. Group member Jaysen Stagg tells Raccoon Valley that they chose to perform a spoof version of “Romeo and Juliet, and why.

“Well, our main thing that we’ve been doing for reoccurring years is the comedic versions of readers’ theaters. Something that can really grasp the attention of crowds and make them laugh, especially with the judges. The judges certainly do like it, especially when it’s things like Romeo and Juliet. Being a crowd full of English teachers and judges (that are) English teachers, that’s the main thing they like to grasp upon. It’s honestly comedic for us from the get-go.”

Fellow member Emme Hardisty shares her thoughts when the group found out they were selected to attend the All State Festival.

“I was super happy because it’s only my second year doing speech and so this will be my first year going to Allstate. So when I found out, you know, I was super happy. It’s going to be a lot of fun, I think, especially because we don’t have to perform.”

Group member Baylyn Herring talks about what she’s looking forward to when attending the festival.

“Definitely being able to meet everybody in speech from all over the state and be able to watch other people’s events.”

The IHSSA Large Group State Speech Festival is on Saturday, and will take place at Iowa State University, with opening ceremonies to begin at 8am.