Quack like a duck or honk like a swan? “Honk! Jr.,” an award-winning retelling of “The Ugly Duckling,” takes the stage at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., on Oct. 22 and 23 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Childrens Theatre Project.
“Honk!”– which beat out the “Lion King” as best musical for an Olivier Award (the English equivalent of the Tony) in 2000 – is delightful for children while wickedly winking at adults. It’s an ode to persity that features a Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-like score that you simply can’t get out of your head, with music by George Stiles and book by Anthony Drewe (the duo who brought to you the British musical, “Peter Pan”). The show opened in 1993 in Newbury, England as “The Aesthetically Challenged Farmyard Fowl.”
Ugly, supported by his mother Ida, stalked by Cat and bullied and teased by every duck on the farm, is played by Katharine Demers. The young cast is directed by Karen Braz, who founded the Childrens Theatre Project 15 years ago as a training ground for young actors and actresses, many of whom have gone on to star in the Concord Community Players’ main stage productions.
There will be two performances of “Honk! Jr.” on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8.
For more information, visit communityplayersofconcord.org or call 224-4905.
