There’s a special kind of magic stirring at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School this fall; one filled with feathers, laughter and lessons about what it means to be different. Beginning Nov. 14, the SLV Theater Department will proudly present “HONK! JR.,” a contemporary, musical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale “The Ugly Duckling.”
Directed by Chelsea Leone with choreography by Jaycee Barber, “HONK! JR.” transforms the San Lorenzo Valley High School Performing Arts Center into a barnyard bursting with color, humor and heart. The show follows “Ugly,” a duckling who looks a bit different from his siblings and faces teasing and isolation, until his journey of self-discovery reveals the true beauty of being unique.
Playbills will meet duckbills on Nov. 14, 15, 20 and 21 at 7pm, and Nov. 15, 16 and 22 at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, seniors and staff—though, as the show’s cheeky announcement says, “a handful of cracked corn will probably suffice.”
But behind every webbed foot and feathered costume is a cast and crew of remarkable students who have found not just a story to tell, but a community to belong to.
For sixth grader Ember Morrison, who plays the kind-hearted swan Penny, the stage feels like home.
“This isn’t my first play, but it’s my first in middle school,” said Morrison, recalling her earlier roles in “Beauty and the Beast” and “Shrek.” “Penny is one of the only characters who never judges Ugly, and that’s something I really like about her.”
Morrison said the best part of “HONK! JR.” has been “making a bunch of friends with theater kids.” Between learning to sing and dance at the same time and discovering the play’s message—“It’s good to be different, as long as you are yourself”—she’s already thinking about future performances.
“I want to be a lawyer,” she said with a laugh, “but I also want to be a model and actor.”
Not every duckling in the show is as nice as Penny—and that’s just fine with Cody Kurek and Alice D’Alessio, both sixth graders who play Ugly’s teasing siblings.
“My role is very mean to Ugly, but I act innocent when I get yelled at,” said Kurek, who has also appeared in “The Nutcracker” and “Gold Dust or Bust.” For him, the most fun part has been the improv games and “the whole play itself.”
D’Alessio, who’s also no stranger to the stage, agreed.
“I’m very mean to Ugly too,” she said with a grin. “But I loved learning make-up and choreography.” Her takeaway from the story? “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Seventh grader Charlotte Maver, who plays the upbeat and bubbly Maureen, brings contagious optimism to both her role and the rehearsal room.
“Maureen is very happy and excited about life,” she explained. “She’s supportive to Ida, but a bit too honest sometimes!”
Maver said the hardest part has been mastering the choreography for “Wild Goose Chase,” but the friendships she’s formed along the way make every step worth it.
“Theater gives me confidence,” she said. “I’ve always known I want to perform—people tell me I love the spotlight.”
For Selena Hooper, playing the mischievous Cat has been the highlight of her middle school year.
“My character is really fun because it’s so humorous,” she said. “I love playing characters with big personalities.”
Hooper has been in several productions before, but she said “HONK! JR.” stands out for its sense of community.
“There hasn’t been a single day I didn’t look forward to rehearsal,” she said. “The best part has been making new friends. This cast and crew are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
Even hitting a tough high note became a triumph, thanks to support from her director and peers.
“The moral of the story,” she added, “is don’t give up hope—and don’t bully people, because you never know how cool they really are.”
The spotlight doesn’t only shine onstage. Seventh grader Madi Paup, who operates the followspot from 20 feet up in the catwalk, has found her own creative thrill behind the scenes.
“I love learning how to hang and focus lights,” she said. “It’s exciting to see how lighting helps tell the story.”
Paup’s takeaway from “HONK! JR.” is simple and wise: “Don’t judge someone until you really get to know them.” She hopes to one day become a technical director—or specialize in lighting design.
Parent volunteers Mackenzie Aluffi and Jessica Kurek, who help lead the costume team, said the production is about far more than feathers and fabric.
“The costumes you see on stage have been made with heart,” they said. “These productions create team-minded and courageous kids. The energy that builds through tech week and opening night is infectious.”
For them, watching the students grow and support each other has been the true reward.
“We’re so fortunate to have such a skilled and caring community behind these kids,” Aluffi said. “Theater brings them together and gives them confidence that will carry far beyond the stage.”
As the students of SLV Middle School prepare to take flight in “HONK! JR.,” they carry with them lessons about kindness, acceptance and courage—lessons that echo far beyond the barnyard.
“It’s good to be different,” said Morrison, “as long as you are yourself.”
And in this flock of young performers, every one of them is proving just how beautiful it is to be their own kind of bird.
For tickets and more information, visit SLV Theatre Boosters.
