TIPTON -- Performing from a portable stage, the Tipton Tiger Speech Team entertained more than 150 onlookers with their award-wining contest entries. Because of the unexpected number of tickets sold, the event, originally scheduled for performance in the Hanna Activities Center, was moved to First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Speech coach Kathy Price welcomed the crowd. "You're about to see the hardest working young people in the whole area," she said, "and I'm proud to be a part of this group."

After expressing her appreciation for the attendance, Price told the crowd, "Through their talents and enthusiasm, not only have they brought special recognition to our school, but also they have let other sites across the state know there really is a Tipton, Oklahoma."

Among other performers, participants included regional qualifiers and state finalists. Two of the state finalists, Rebecca Witt and Katy McCown, presented the monologues that moved them into the competition finals.

Generally speaking, a monologue requires special effort and talent because one speaker interprets from two contrasting viewpoints -- one humorous and one serious.

These selections may or may not center on one theme. Only the introduction can consist of original dialog and is designed to prepare the audience for the contrasting materials. The final analysis is based on the actor's versatility and believability.

"I like doing monologues," said Witt, "because there's a real challenge in being able to switch in mid-stream from one character to another and match it with body language."

She added with a smirk, "I always try to leave the audience in tears so I do the silly stuff first."

Other performances included humorous duets by Harli Brunson and Crystal Witt, Lindsay Abla and Sara Moore, Cathryn Good and Katy McCown, and Sheri Gaches and Ashlee Scribner; dramatic duets by Amanda Meeks and Rozalija Obajdin, Maurice Walton and Rebecca Witt. Also included were solo performances: dramatic interpretation, Cathryn Good; monologue, Sharaya Blackmon; poetry, Shari Gaches; and prose, Garrett McCown.

In the kitchen, dishing up the baked lasagna dinner, Harold Gaches, First Baptist's pastor and Sheri's father, said, "We're so thankful our fellowship hall is large enough to accommodate such a crowd. One of our goals is to support our school and our community. We're already looking forward to next year."