Mission Statement
Brown Working Theatre's goal is to provide a home for any student who is interested in theatre. Whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes (lighting, sound, sets and other aspects of stagecraft and production), students will have the opportunity to participate together in a creative collaboration to "tell the story".
Director's Note
I am beyond pleased to welcome you all to Brown Working Theatre’s first full-scale musical in three years! Our cast and crew of 77 students (plus a handful of adults) have been working hard to bring this production to life, and we can’t believe the day is finally here!
Honk! is an award-winning musical adaptation of one of the world’s most enduring and beloved fairy tales: the story of The Ugly Duckling. Ugly is a little different from all the other birds on the duckpond, rejected by everyone except for his loving mother, Ida. When the villainous Cat lures Ugly away from the pond, he finds himself on an unexpected adventure, meeting a series of colorful animal characters—from a flock of questionably military geese, to an indoor chicken and cat, to a wise and hilarious bullfrog, to a family of swans—who help him understand that being different might not be so bad after all.
People who are viewed as “different” (whether because of their race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, ability, health status, or any number of other reasons) still face great intolerance in this country. Even in our own school, kids who feel or are seen as different may struggle to find acceptance. Middle school is a time when many students begin to define themselves and their identities, influenced both by how they feel inside and by what those around them think. Like Ugly’s duckyard, it can be an unforgiving place, and most students probably end up feeling like the Ugly Duckling at some point during these three years. But Honk! reminds us that it is our differences that make us special, that “it takes all sorts to make a world,” and that through love, acceptance, and time, we may all find ourselves transformed.
We hope you enjoy this production of Honk!
Lucy Kania
Special Thanks
We'd like to thank Kim Lysaght, Richard King, Matt Bailey-Adams, Devon Nelson, Pat Pollard, Caleb Cutler, Gina Colella, Margaret Power, Courtney Ross, Nandine Timperio, Lucy Boyer, Stephen Peruzzi, Danny Coffey, Ted Williams, Mike Perry and the entire Brown staff for your support.
Special Thanks to Wegmans for all the flowers.
Thank you to ALL the wonderful parents who supported our students throughout this process, gathered costumes, ran errands, provided refreshments, helped in the dressing rooms, and much more. It takes a village!
