SIOUX CITY — North High School junior Allen Qasim is hoping he doesn't break into a show tune when enacting a dramatic monologue from George Orwell's "1984."
On Saturday, he'll star as musical comedy-obsessed detective Frank Cioffi in his school's production of "Curtains."
Two days later, Qasim will portray "1984"'s O'Brien during a dystopian piece he's chosen in the Acting category of the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) All-State Individual Events Festival at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.Â
"Playing Cioffi on Saturday and playing O'Brien on Monday won't be confusing," the confident Qasim explained. "They're completely different characters."
His classmate Olivia Wagner admitted to having a few pre-All-State jitters. Also a junior, Wagner's chosen to recite some works from Robert Frost for the IHSSA festival's Poetry category.
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"Frost's poems are all about imagery," she said. "That's why I really like them."
East High School's Noah Elder, Mackenzie Crawford and Nolin Moreno will all be participating at the Iowa high School Speech Association All-St…
Believing "good communicators equal great citizens," the IHSSA annually hosts 27 district contests, nine state contest and two all-state festivals, putting the spotlight on some of the best high school speech students in the state.Â
According to English and Language Arts teacher Korey Cantrell, Wagner and Qasim will be the first North students to participate in the All-State Individual Events Festival in 15 years.Â
"We've had some turnover in our speech department over the years," Cantrell said. "A few years ago, we decided to start competing in speech competitions again because it was what our students wanted."
Which makes sense given the ISSHA said participation in a speech curriculum can lead to higher test scores and a rise in college acceptance. It can also increase a student's creative, collaboration, communication and critical thinking abilities, according to the ISSHA.
For East High School sophomore Noah Elder, being selected to participate at All-State Festival will allow him the opportunity to espouse on a very personal topic.
"I love pie and that will be the topic for my selection in the After Dinner Speaking category," he explained with a laugh.
So, what's Elder's favorite kind of pie? Apple, cherry, pumpkin?
"Chicken pot pie," he said as a preview to his humorous speech.
East instructor Nathan Irwin said the After Dinner Speaking category was a perfect fit for Elder, due to his writing and performing abilities.
Nolin Moreno's acceptance into All-State Festival in the Radio Broadcasting category was more of a curveball.
"Anyone who knows Nolin realizes he is a very animated speaker," Irwin said. "In the Radio Broadcasting category, it is all about maintaining a professional tone while being able to think on your feet."
"Nolin did a terrific job in stepping out of this comfort zone," he continued.
Moreno was just surprised at how hard it was to be himself.
"When you're acting out a scene or giving a reading, you get to be a different character," the East sophomore said. "In the Radio Broadcasting category, I had to be myself."
Mackenzie Crawford, on the other hand, is extremely comfortable in losing herself inside of a character.
Very active in her school's show choir and theater department's shows, the East senior wants to try her luck on the Broadway stage after college.
During the IHSSA All-State Individual Events Festival, Crawford is taking a calculated risk in the Solo Musical Theater category. She will be performing the ballad "With You," from the stage musical adaptation of the hit movie "Ghost."
"Most people will choose a happy, uplifting number to perform," she said. "I chose 'With You' because it is somber and romantic and very dramatic."
Like North's Wagner and Qasim, this will mark the first time that Crawford, Elder or Moreno had participated in the All-State Individual Event festival.
But unlike their cross-town counterparts, the East High students are all past participants in the IHSSA's Large Group Speech competitions.
Plus Irwin said East has had a strong speech program for several years.
"The kids who participate in speech tend to be the ones who participate in a bit of everything," he said. "The skills that they learn during speech competitions will stick with them forever."
"You will need outstanding communication skills in everything that you do," Irwin added.
Apparently, speech contests also help you when it comes to multitasking, at least that is the case with Wagner.
She must balance playing cello in North's orchestra as well as the Sioux City Symphony's Youth Orchestra with student council, a part-time job, homework as well as with her speech obligations.
"If you're as busy as me, you learn time management skills very quickly," Wagner said with a smile. But when you're ready to crash, you crash hard. If there's an Olympic category when it comes to competitive napping, I would win it."
Qasim knows exactly what Wagner means.
"When you enjoy what you're doing, you want to keep on pushing just a little bit harder," he said.Â
While Wagner wants to pursue a career in science after college, Qasim is more interested in the arts.
"Performing is something that has become a passion," he said. "This is something that I found through North's speech program."