Musical marks 50th show Bonneville High School musical teacher has directed at the school

There’s something unique about Bonneville High School’s upcoming production of “Crazy for You.”

It’s the 50th musical, music director Steve Dresen has directed at the Bonneville Little Theater.

WIth all that teaching experience, Dresen says he is convinced the arts are just as important as science, technology, engineering and math – the so called STEM subjects.

“Stem should be STEAM and it should include the arts,: Dresen said. “It’s a fundamental expression of who we are.”

With 27 years of teaching music under his belt, Dresen is passionate about importance of teaching the arts in school.

“To watch these students as they’re involved with something like this find self-expression, and understand what a true collaborative environment is supposed to be like,” Dresen said.

The students feel there’s value this musical experience in school.

“It teaches determination, the value of time management and those sort of things,” Ethan McCall said. “It has helped me develop social skills.

And the students say while they’re learning they’re having fun.

“Oh man it’s so fun, Lauren Nix said. “I just love being on stage because everything is so real and you’re performing in front of a live audience to the energy they give you feeds back into what you’re doing. It just makes you even more excited to perform.”

” It’s important they have that fun but I think there’s so much more depth they’re gaining from this experience,” Dresen said.

The students appreciate Dresen’s experience and and knowledge.

“He really knows what he’s doing and you can’t replace the experience of a teacher like that with anything else,” McCall said.

The performers say they like Dresens teaching style that promotes creativity.

“He just allows us to be so creative in our choreography and in our singing and he donates months and months to the entire production,” Jared Espiritu said.

“I really love Mr. Dresen because he makes it so much fun, because he makes sure we’re doing everything the way we’re supposed to, and he makes it a learning experience so we grow to love it,” Nix said.

“Crazy For You” will be presented at the Bonneville Little Theater May 10 – 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at bonnevillebees.ludustickets.com.