Some stories age with you. The Ugly Duckling is one of them. A child reads it as a fairy tale about a bird. An adult hears it as a story about being the one who does not fit, and then finally does.
Honk! Jr. brings that story to the stage at The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road in Berea, from September 18 through 27. It is presented by Spotlight Acting School, with students age 9 to 14 in the cast. The music is by George Stiles, with lyrics and book by Anthony Drewe, based on the classic tale The Ugly Duckling.
The plot is simple and the feeling underneath is not. A duckling is born different, gets lost, and has to find his way back to where he belongs. Around him is a pond full of quirky characters, big laughs, and a message that lands for all ages. The show runs about 60 minutes, which makes it an easy first theater trip or a relaxed family night.
Why a cast of 9 to 14 year olds makes the point for you
The ugly duckling is a story about belonging, and the kids on this stage are right in the years when belonging is the whole project. They are learning where they fit, who they trust, and what it feels like when a group makes room for them. Put that cast in front of that story and the songs about being an outsider stop being cute. They are real.
That is also why this one works as a family night. A parent watches a stage full of kids who are figuring it out, and a kid in the audience sees someone their own age singing the exact thing they felt at school last week.
The practical part
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. The show is rated all ages. Friday performances are Pay What You Can, meaning you name your own price at the box office. Unsold tickets open two hours before showtime, so a last-minute plan still works. Front-row seating is wheelchair accessible with companion space, and if you have special needs, the theater just asks that you let them know when you arrive.
Why come now
Honk! Jr. is a funny, heartfelt musical about finding where you belong, and it is built for a mixed-age room. The Spotlight Acting School students are the reason it lands. Come see a duckling find his way home, performed by kids who are finding theirs.
Honk! Jr. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.