The speech and debate program, which has been almost non-existent in recent years, has ignited with life and a new direction. For the first time the speech and debate program has merged with the theater program, crating new opportunities and challenges for both organizations.

Last year the speech program spread the word about the change. With those changes, students are showing results by winning competitions and building skills.

“Last year I didn’t even know I liked acting until I discovered speech. Now I’m going to competitions every other weekend and I’m involved in theater now as well.” Sophomore Jesse Lee Farquhar-Greth said. “It’s really fun and the people I work with are spectacular.”

The idea could be very daunting to students who have only ever acted on stage.

“In a show you aren’t being competitive unless you are at a festival. No one is there to rate the quality of your acting. But speech tournaments are all about ratings and scores.” Speech teacher, Jesus Valles said  “And with speech, the reward is so immediate. In theater they don’t do that. You put on a good show with other people”

“It has become a priority,” Theater teacher Maureen Siegel said. “Everyone will improve their skills and we can become more competitive.”

The current show Moon Over Buffalo is being directed by Siegel, Valles, and Theater teacher, Erica Vallejo.

“It is the three of us for speech and theater” Siegel said, “It is exciting. I’m excited about it. I love getting to work with a team.”

The plan has already gone into effect. Many of the speech students are auditioning and taking part in shows, and theater students are now going to competitions with Valles and even winning awards for their skills.

“I encourage people to come and check it out,” Valles said. “I believe training for speech competitions will make actors much stronger.”

The program is open to everyone on campus who is willing to give it a shot.

“It’s a good way to get scholarships and for people to make professional and academic connections” Valles said

Student’s who participate in the program have received much support from administrators.

“The goal is to be better than you were yesterday,” Siegel said. “We have the support of both our assistant principal and our principal.”

Most schools with successful theater programs also have speech and theatre combined

Valles is making it his priority to get kids winning awards in competition and winning this years theater UIL competition.

“At the end of the day it’s fun. It’s fun to compete, and it’s fun to act.” Valles said.

For Siegel, combining theater with speech and debate has been a goal she’s tried to achieve for some time already.

“I’ve been trying to get this to happen for a long time,” Siegel said.