By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
After a two-year hiatus, the West Bend High Schools talent show is coming back.
Randy Reysen, a West social studies teacher, coordinated auditions and worked with the PBIS committee and a marketing class to bring the show back to West Bend, which is happening Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Silver Linings Arts Center.
PBIS, known locally as the Compass program, is dedicated to promoting positive behaviors.
“I thought a talent show would be a great way for students to show off their, in a lot of cases, hidden talents to friends, families, and especially to the wider West Bend community,” Reysen said. “I always ask [the student] ‘Does anybody know you can do this?’ And some of them say yes, and that’s awesome because they bring stage presence, experience and showmanship to the show.”
“But I really love that hidden talent that nobody know about because I know that they’re going to be able to stand up on that stage and just show themselves off. I am always so impressed by the talent here,” Reysen said.
Reysen collaborated with students to make the show happen.
“Mrs. Mennig’s marketing class has really taken this over as their talent show,” Reysen said. “They’re the ones that are marketing this and helping to organize it. It’s just amazing, a wonderful partnership.”
“I am always so impressed by the talent here.”
– Randy Reysen, West social studies teacher
Mennig, an East business teacher, credits the students for doing most of the work. “[I’ve been] the facilitator: making sure we set up what the goals are, the timelines, and the actual tasks that need to get done. Realistically, the students are doing it all on their own. They’ve been responsible for the promotions. Advertising for auditions, and getting out the word that there will be an upcoming talent show,” Mennig said. “[The students] have been awesome.”
“It’s been a really cool experience to be part of something that’s real life,” said Claire Frick, a West junior and marketing student. “We went to homerooms and talked about the talent show and also went to graphics for posters. Each person in class found something to apply their skills to. It will be cool seeing it all come together on Friday.”
The objective for Friday’s talent show is to raise funds for the PBIS committee. This year, Compass cards are worth 25 cents and can be used to buy snacks and other items at the school store. Compass cards are given to well-behaving students and they encourage good behavior, but the new policy is draining the PBIS budget. The goal is for over 1,000 people to attend the show.
Viewers at Friday’s show can expect to see the regular talents, like singing and dancing, as well as some unusual talents like parkour, a combination of gymnastics and tumbling. Spectators will also witness acts by the staff. It is the first talent show with staff involvement.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in the bookkeeper’s office.
(Top image: East junior Anna Johnson rehearses for Friday’s talent show. Photograph courtesy of Johnson.)
The West Bend Current 