2008 Woodie Awards
Summer showbiz ends season with "Honk!"
Soni Kumar
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: A&E
Summer Showbiz will bring a popular children's fable to life on the SIUE stage with their last show of the summer season, "Honk!," starting Thursday.
"Honk!" is a musical based on the story of "The Ugly Duckling", which is about a duck named Ugly wanting acceptance. The story is set in a pond on a farm in the countryside, where Ugly is known to be different.
"It is a story of not being accepted," director of "Honk!" Lana Hagan said. "It is told through the eyes of animals, but we know anytime you personify an animal (story) it is always a human story."
Ten-year-old Bridget Gittemeier plays a frog, a goose and a fish in the show. This is Gittemeier's first musical performance.
"It's fun learning how to dance and sing," Gittemeier said.
According to Hagan, the characters in the story signify human roles.
"The bullfrog acts as a psychiatrist who helps Ugly understand that he is different and how it's a good thing," Hagan said.
"It's sad the other ducklings tease Ugly," Gittemeier said.
Rehearsing for the show took a lot of hard work and dedication for the actors and actresses.
"Learning the dances are long and complicated," Gittemeier said.
Keith Wehmeier, a senior vocal and performance major, plays the role of lead fowl, Ugly.
"The hours of practicing, acting rehearsals and exercises are time consuming," Wehmeier said.
Wehmeier said he enjoyed portraying the innocence and naivety of his character.
"Its fun to play someone so young that doesn't know what's going on in the world," Wehmeier said.
Music performance major and international graduate student Anita Len plays three different characters in the show: a goose, a fish and a frog.
"It's hard to memorize the music and script for all three characters," Len said. "I really like the music parts though, they are full of harmony. Every actor has to learn the harmonic parts which is difficult, but since I am a music major, I like the challenge."
"Honk!" is a musical based on the story of "The Ugly Duckling", which is about a duck named Ugly wanting acceptance. The story is set in a pond on a farm in the countryside, where Ugly is known to be different.
"It is a story of not being accepted," director of "Honk!" Lana Hagan said. "It is told through the eyes of animals, but we know anytime you personify an animal (story) it is always a human story."
Ten-year-old Bridget Gittemeier plays a frog, a goose and a fish in the show. This is Gittemeier's first musical performance.
"It's fun learning how to dance and sing," Gittemeier said.
According to Hagan, the characters in the story signify human roles.
"The bullfrog acts as a psychiatrist who helps Ugly understand that he is different and how it's a good thing," Hagan said.
"It's sad the other ducklings tease Ugly," Gittemeier said.
Rehearsing for the show took a lot of hard work and dedication for the actors and actresses.
"Learning the dances are long and complicated," Gittemeier said.
Keith Wehmeier, a senior vocal and performance major, plays the role of lead fowl, Ugly.
"The hours of practicing, acting rehearsals and exercises are time consuming," Wehmeier said.
Wehmeier said he enjoyed portraying the innocence and naivety of his character.
"Its fun to play someone so young that doesn't know what's going on in the world," Wehmeier said.
Music performance major and international graduate student Anita Len plays three different characters in the show: a goose, a fish and a frog.
"It's hard to memorize the music and script for all three characters," Len said. "I really like the music parts though, they are full of harmony. Every actor has to learn the harmonic parts which is difficult, but since I am a music major, I like the challenge."
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