Inner beauty overshadows physical appearance. It's the theme of "Honk!", a musical retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic children's story "The Ugly Duckling", mixed with the message of accepting diversity. The Denison Singer's Theatre Workshop will feature two student performances of "Honk!" at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Burke Recital Hall (240 West Broadway). The event is free and open to the public.

With a book and score provided by British songwriting duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe aimed mostly at children and their parents, "Honk!" originally opened in 1993 as "The Ugly Duckling or the Aesthetically Challenged Farmyard Fowl."

The story features an ugly duckling who discovers his inner beauty by becoming a swan; his tearful mother Ida; his dad, who "ducks" his responsibilities; a gaggle of comical geese; a sly tomcat who just wants to play with his food; a wisecracking bullfrog and other such barnyard creatures, together with lots of  "fowl" puns that would make Shakespeare blush.

The Singer's Theatre Workshop presents a full production with costumes and scenery once each semester. It has a production history of almost 20 different shows, and is celebrating its 10th anniversary at Denison next year.

The group is directed by Belinda Andrews-Smith, and accompanied by Kevin Wines. Andrews-Smith earned her bachelor's degree at Bowling Green State University and both a master's and doctorate at Ohio State University, where she appeared in numerous productions of the Ohio State Opera Theatre program.

The concert features Singer's Theatre Workshop students: Raymond Havey; Taryn Hicks; Davis Bourland; Megan Ansbro; Erin Mulhern; Lauren Schwartz; Leah Ewing; Melissa Cyperski; Kasey Alfonso; Rachel Drennen; Melissa Cyperski; Jenni Messner; Matt Coon; Erica Hughes; Jordan Wolff; Zachary Elmassian; Travis Sterner; Kevin Lynch; Lowell Hutcheson; Allie DeFries; Katie Knisely; Bobby McGlynn; Charles Fear; Jamie Merz; Bobby McGlynn; Megan Ansbro; Katherine Damisch; Amanda Daniels; Katie Knisely; Becca Lynn; Hannah Turpin; Sophia Chen; Amanda Daniels; Megan Messer; Sarah Price; Hannah Turpin; Charles Fear and Rob Hand.

- DU -

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- The Singer's Theatre Workshop features two performances of the musical "Honk!"; 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2, Burke Recital Hall (240 West Broadway). Free and open to the public. To confirm, call (740) 587-6220.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575