Dozens of performers from several area schools are gathering for the Iowa High School Speech Association District Group Speech Contest this evening.

Pella High School is hosting several area teams, including group performances from Pella Christian, Knoxville, Twin Cedars, PCM, Pleasantville, and North Mahaska. Pella High Speech Coach Suzi Jones says the students have been hard at work honing their craft to test their acting skills in a variety of categories.

Students will try to earn three Division I ratings from judges in categories such as one-act play, musical theatre, reader’s theatre, improvisation, mime, ensemble acting, choral reading, radio broadcasting, and TV news.