Mount Vernon has nine All-State large group nominations this year, five performing and four non-performing. According to head coach Grant Freeman, that ties the school record of All-State nominations received in the past, and 38 students are attending All-State, seven of those performing in multiple events.
“One of the best accomplishments goes to senior Emmett Jordan, who coached the first ever all ninth-grade All-State performing short film,” Freeman said. “There is pride when your students make All-State, but it becomes overwhelming when they coach their own students and make All-State.”
The team is coached by Grant Freeman, with assistant coaches Tawnua Tenley, Trevor Baty, Mary Horst and Amy White. The Large Group speech festival is at Iowa State University in Ames on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Mount Vernon’s ensemble actings “Hamlet” and “Sports” have performing nominations. Ensemble acting “Sisters” has a non-performing nomination.
“Sports!” starring Skye Rodman, Grant Tucker and Kevin Zehms, takes the stage in Center 4 in the Alumni Building ballroom at 9:17 a.m. “Hamlet” starring Penelope Vig, Megan Teague, Michael Covington, Chester Rood and Violet Olinger takes the stage at 9:51 a.m. Guest critic in Center 4 is Rob Lindley, a Chicago based actor and director known for Phantom of the Opera.
“Sisters” stars Bella Hasley, Renee Vig, Norah Weber and Emara Perrault.
Mount Vernon’s television newscasting “Backseat News” has a performing nomination this year. “Backseat News” starring Ava Willems, Carly Steen, Cora Smith, Cait O’Connor and Hannah Jones takes the stage in Center 6 (Scheman Rooms 260-262) at 1:18 p.m. Guest critic in Center 6 is Laryssa Leone of Channel 5 WOI.
Mount Vernon’s radio broadcasting WGOV has a performing nomination this year. WGOV starring Will Turner, Hannah Jones and Grace Hale takes the stage at 1:45 p.m. in center 6.
Mount Vernon’s short film “Zapatrilovaxitalum” has a performing nomination this year. “Zapatrilovaxitalum” starring Andrew Errington, Danny Dye, Beck Oesterle, Everett Marshall and Isaiah Hanson takes the stage in Center 9 (Scheman Room 4) at 2:55 p.m. Guest critic in Center 9 is Alex Mitchell.
Short film Pieces of the Past has a non-performing nomination this year. “Pieces of the Past” stars Grant Tucker, Lydia Marshall, Kevin Zehms, Will Turner, Charlie Weldon and Nathan Conrad.
Mount Vernon’s improvisation group of “Hasley/O’Connor and Thuerauf” has a non-performing nomination this year. The group is comprised of Bella Hasley, Natalie Thuerauf and Cait O’Connor.
Mount Vernon has a non-performing nomination for Reader’s Theater “Then I’ll Be Happy.” “Then I’ll Be Happy” stars Summer Bowie Smith, Katie Whitehead, Owen Francois, Ellah Shook, Sarah Sharif, Lydia Marshall, Effie Johnson, Charlotte Hand, Collin Clark and Eva Bishop.