The Everett High School Theatre Company is proud to present their spring musical: Honk! JR., a contemporary and comic retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling.
Based on the award-winning musical Honk! by George Stiles (composer) and Anthony Drewe (books and lyrics), Honk! JR. is a witty and heartwarming show celebrating what makes each of us special.
Honk! JR. follows Ugly (played by sophomore Wilbur Portillo Valle), who hatches looking quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice, and despite his loving mother Ida (played by sophomore Annabele Ibrihimi) protecting him, Ugly’s odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors.
When Ugly is separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry Cat (played by freshman Briana Jean-Denis), he must find his way home. Along his harrowing yet hilarious journey he not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms. Other featured cast members include junior Vinicius Porto, junior Isabella Vaz, and senior Anthony Santizo.
EHSTC’s version of Honk! JR. features a lot of underclassmen and newer actors in the cast.
“This spring, we are excited to feature a lot of newer members of the Theatre Company on and offstage,” theatre teacher and head advisor Britt Mitchell said. “This musical is the perfect training ground for our theatre company’s newest members. We are losing a lot of seniors this year and our goal is to build our theatre company for next year and beyond.”
Even though a majority of the cast are underclassmen, something new to EHSTC this year is that Honk! JR. features many upperclassmen in the production staff. Senior and four-year theater company veteran Gianna Rodriguez Sanchez co-directed the production.
The choreography team is led by senior choreographer Rebecca Louine and junior assistant choreographer Olivia Laidlaw. The stage manager is junior Rayssa Castro. Lighting designers are senior Kawanne Marins and junior Kaylee Rodriguez. Senior Cecia Cruz is assistant technical director. Junior George Reeves is the sound designer and sound board operator.
Faculty members Corey Crofoot, Josephine Dougan and Evan DeMarzo also helped spearhead this production and lead the cast and crew to produce a musical in only two months.
Honk! JR. hatches on Wednesday May 28 and Thursday May 29 at 6 pm in the Everett High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 dollars for adults and free for any EPS student and EPS staff member.
Tickets and concessions are cash only. For more information on the show, please email Britt Mitchell at [email protected] or call Everett High School at 617-394-2490.
Honk! JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY, (212) 541-4684, mtishows.com.
