2010 Summer Show - Honk
"I can't understand how this ugly duckling can be one of mine!" said Mother Duck as she looked at her last born.
As the days went by, the poor ugly duckling became more and more unhappy. He was so clumsy, and all the farmyard folks simply laughed at him. He felt sad and lonely, while Mother Duck did her best to console him...
Most people know the story of "The Ugly Duckling," written by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875).
Lakeshore Productions, Inc. will be telling that tale this summer when the musical Honk! comes to the Random Lake High School stage.
It's the story of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until - much to his delight (and to the surprise of others) — he matures into a graceful swan.
"The Ugly Duckling" was first published in 1843 with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark, to great critical acclaim. The tale has been adapted to various media including opera, plays, and animated film. The tale is completely Andersen's invention — the story does not come from other folklore.
Honk! is a fairly new musical, which has become popular among community theater groups and on college stages. Honk! made its debut in Great Britain in 1993, and its U.S. debut was in 2001.
Lakeshore Productions, Inc., becomes one of the first community theater groups in southeastern Wisconsin to perform Honk!
The musical was slightly rewritten for American audiences. For example, the Turkey's fear of Christmas was changed to a fear of Thanksgiving.
Honk! has roles for many cast members — ducks, geese, chickens, frogs, cats, basically an entire barnyard.
The musical has 22 songs, lots of dancing, and it's described as a show that the whole family can enjoy.
Since 1991 Honk! has winged its way around the world in over 4,000 productions and in many different languages. It has been seen by more than five million people.
Honk! has won multiple awards including the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical (beating the Lion King and Mamma Mia for the prize).
The show comes from the successful team of Anthony Drewe (lyrics) and George Stiles (music).
Drewe says: "Honk! is great family entertainment ... fun for all ages, as much about people as it is about ducks. The main message that we wanted the audience to go away with was that being different is OK, it is something to be welcomed, embraced and celebrated rather than feared, misunderstood or persecuted."
James J. Lentz, Jr., of Milwaukee will be the director of the 2010 summer show in Random Lake. Auditions are scheduled for Mon., June 7, and Tues., June 8, at RLHS. Watch this web site and The Sounder newspaper for announcements.
Lentz has a long record of involvement in community theater. Since 1996 he has been director, assistant director or music director of 33 shows in the Milwaukee area.
Lentz becomes the 10th director to work with Random Lake’s summer theater program.
Past Random Lake shows include The Wizard of Oz (1996), The King and I (1997), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1998), From The Tower Window (1999), Annie (2000), Cinderella (2001), Fame - The Musical (2002), Crazy for You (2003), Footloose (2004), Beauty and the Beast (2005), Cotton Patch Gospel (2006), Seussical (2007), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2008) and Grease (2009).
