the ensemble of “Honk! Jr.” at Davenport Junior Theatre -- October 11 through 19.
Saturday, October 11, through Sunday, October 19
Davenport Junior Theatre, 2822 Eastern Avenue, Davenport IA
A special one-act version of the hilarious fairytale musical that won Great Britain's 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical – and triumphed over such contenders as Mamma Mia! and The Lion King – the family entertainment Honk! Jr. will be staged by the young talents at Davenport Junior Theatre October 11 through 19 demonstrating why Broadway World said the show boasts “plenty for kids, parents, and grandparents to enjoy.”
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling, Honk! Jr. tells the story of an odd looking baby duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mother. Soon after Ugly is born, he is seduced away by a wily cat who wants to eat Ugly for dinner. Eventually, Ugly manages to escape, but he also has no idea how to return home. Along his way, though, he encounters a beautiful swan named Penny tangled in a fishing line. After saving her, the two birds fall in love. But what will Ugly do when Penny inevitably has to return to her flock and fly south for the winter? That and other questions are raised and answered in the charming, hour-long presentation of Honk! Jr., a family production that Broadway Baby called “a jolly good, fun-filled egg.”
The Junior Theatre company includes 35 students ages 10 to 18, in roles both on and off stage. Junior Theatre's artistic director Ashley Becher serves as Honk! Jr.'s director and choreographer. “Not a lot of the kids knew this show, but now they all love it!” says Becher. “The music and characters are vibrant, and the story is poignant. It’s been a blast introducing them to the material. I know audiences will fall in love with this gem of a show.”
Becher is a professional actor, director, choreographer, and creator who truly loves the transformative magic of theatre and the way it can bring us together. Becher spent more than a decade as an NYC-based actor, creating in professional theatres around the country, and three years in South Korea (where she met her husband Bobby). In 2020, the Bechers relocated to the Quad Cities, where Ashley's direction and/or choreography was seen at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Irving Berlin's White Christmas, A Christmas Story: The Musical, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Seussical, Just Desserts, Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School, Grace for President, and other productions. She guest directed Beauty and the Beast and Frozen Jr. for North Scott High School, and has choreographed for Double Threat Studios and Moline High School. Other previous QC area stage positions include director/choreographer for Newsies! at Countryside Community Theatre and director for Davenport Junior Theatre's productions of Aesop’s Falables (2019), Imagine That (2022), Wind in the Willows (2023), and Finding Nemo Jr. (2024).
While Junior Theatre classes have moved to the Kimberly campus, all performances will continue at the Nighswander Theatre on the Annie Wittenmyer campus. “This is our first show in our split campus configuration, and we ask that audience members be patient with us as we navigate the best way to accommodate parking.” says Junior Theatre Board President Nicole Savatski.
Junior Theatre requests that anyone able to, park in the pool lot down the hill, or in the parking lots on the North end of the campus (off the corner of Wittenmyer Lane and Eastern Avenue), leaving close parking spaces for elderly patrons and families with small children. The parking lot previously used around the back of the cottages is closed off and not available for use.
Honk! Jr. will be staged from October 11 through 19, with performances on Saturdays at 1 and 4 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. (The October 11 1 p.m. performance will feature ASL interpretation.) Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7862 and visiting DavenportJuniorTheatre.org.
