“HONK!” Comes to the Bridgeport High School stage Oct. 23, but the cast has been popping up throughout the community.

 

Appearances by the ducklings, froglets and other characters are not only to promote the show, but also to bring awareness to its underlying theme of tolerance and acceptance.

 

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story, “The Ugly Duckling,” “HONK!” features the adventures of Ugly, who is rejected by most, but accepted by a few.

 

Some members of the upcoming production were involved with the 3^rd Annual Walk for Autism held Oct. 11 at Clarksburg City Park in Nutter Fort.

 

“The characters mixed and mingled with the crowd and talked to the kids about ‘HONK!’ in which the main character gets bullied,” said Diane Whitman, who is helping with show public relations.  “Some of the children told us their own experiences of being bullied and ways they have learned to stop others from treating them that way.”

 

Some cast members also attended the “Malls & Retailers Unite Against Bullying” event at Meadowbrook Mall that same day.

 

“The character gave children a paper duckling and asked them to write something encouraging that they could say to someone,” Whiteman said.

 

Those paper ducklings will be on display in the lobby of the BHS auditorium through the Oct. 26 final show.

 

Meadowbrook Mall Marketing Director Robin Urquhart said the characters were a welcome addition to the event. 

 

"They came up with such a creative idea to tie into the mall's anti-bullying initiative," she said. "...It seems like such a simple idea, but the parents and the kids really enjoyed the activity."

 

Cast members also joined the mall’s Friendship March with Batman, carrying signs promoting a stop to bullying, Urquhart said. 

 

“HONK!” characters plan to attend a story reading and discussion of “The Ugly Duckling,” Thursday afternoon at Bridgeport Public Library. Tonight, some of the cast will be mingling with guests at the Bridgeport Farmers Market Community Dinner at Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

Looking ahead, characters will be available for a meet and greet, Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Bridgeport McDonalds. That event will be held from 5-6:30 p.m.

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 22 – which has been designated Anti-Bullying Day - they will be stationed along Johnson Avenue.

 

Those locations will be easy to spot – and hear.

 

The cast members will be holding signs that read, “Honk! If You're Against Bullying.”

 

"HONK!" will be presented at BHS Oct. 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. All tickets are $10. They can be purchased at the BHS Theatre Box Office at 304-842-6785. 

 

Read about the show and cast HERE.