Lincoln Community Theater Presents Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical

 

[July 18, 2023] 

A beloved children’s story is brought to life with music and dancing this week by Lincoln Community Theater (LCT). Directed by David Helm and choreographed by Brittney McLaughlin, this all-ages show features a cast of 59 children, teens, and adults from Lincoln and surrounding communities. From stage veterans to brand new thespians, this dedicated cast has been working hard to bring the Lincoln audience strong vocals, entertaining antics, and delightful choreography.

According to the LCT website, “This musical is based on one of the world's favorite fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen's “The Ugly Duckling.” Ugly is born as a Duckling but it soon becomes clear that he is no ordinary Duck. Mocked on the farmyard, pursued by the ever-hungry Cat, Ugly finds himself lost on a nearby marsh in the middle of a duck-shoot and embarks on an odyssey through the countryside, meeting a battery of colorful characters and finding himself, and love, along the way.”

The cast of Honk! includes Joshua Schleich in the role of The Ugly Duckling. Ugly’s parents, Ida and Drake, are played by Melissa Cremeens and Douglas Drake, and his duckling siblings are played by Marin Crombie, Cecilia Davis, Ethan Jones, Atticus Beatty, and Paige Zemsky. Azul Kong is the villainous Cat and Emma Adams is Maureen, Ida’s best friend. Stephanie Hall is Henrietta, barnyard mean girl, and Mike Koke is the gregarious Turkey, whose only wish is surviving Thanksgiving. Brian Bolton plays the directionally challenged goose, Greylag, and Sheralyn Bolton plays his supportive wife, Dot. Charlie McFadden and Kristina Morrow are domesticated pets, Lowbutt and Queenie, and Tate Whitted plays Jay Bird, the news anchor. Curt Schleich is the jocular Bullfrog and Tegan Follis is Grace, farmyard aristocracy. Rounding out the named cast are Alyssa Stauffer as Mother Swan and Lauren Peabody as her daughter, Penny.

The ensemble is comprised of Morgan Andrews, Kendall Bartman, Emma Bates, Sophia Bauer, Abigail Brennan, Lily Butler, Charlotte Cox, Kaden Eales, Celie Ernst, Charlee Gleason, Rafe Green, Mazie Green, Sloan Green, Ava Helm, Dixie Jackson, Emersyn Keith (Barnacles), Donna Kessinger (Blizzard), Owen King, Magenta Kong, Elaina Martin, Aera Merritt, Willow Merritt, Aurora Pieper, Hailee Rempe, Emma Rodgers (Pinkfoot), Rose Sering, Lily Sering, Abigail Smith, Grace Tolliver (Snowy), Esther Van Wie, Amelia Van Wie, Adilyn Vaughn, Harper Whitted, Sophia Wilkerson, Harper Williams, Audrina Williams, Olivia Wrage, and Ellie Wrage.

Special appreciation goes to the costumers for this production of Honk! Costume Headmistress, Dr. Kristen Green, has led her tireless team of Stephanie Zemsky, Helen Knecht, Cari Hieronymous, Diane Martin, Ann Brookens, Amanda Rempe, Alice Morris and Donna Kessinger in sourcing, creating, sewing, and altering costumes for the 59 actors-- plus multiple costume changes! Additional support comes from Becky Kunken as accompanist, Stephanie Zemsky as Props Mistress, Lacy Buss as Sound Technician, and Grace Keith as the Stage Manager. Honk! will also feature a live pit orchestra of volunteer musicians whose sound is professional quality.

Helm said, “I am thrilled to be directing this all-ages cast. It’s great to see the children and adults working together to bring this enjoyable show to the community. We hope we are building relationships and mentoring young actors who will continue to keep community theater alive.”

The show opens on Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. and runs Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, also at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, July 23, at 2:00 p.m. All performances will take place at Lincoln Community High School. Tickets are available at the door beginning one hour before showtime, and all seating is general admission. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. As the opening number of Honk! invites: “Come on down and don’t be strangers in our duckyard of free-rangers!”

[Stephanie Hall with photos by Hall and Jenni Godfrey]

See slideshow - Lincoln Community Theatre presents Honk!