NW production a HONKer!
Frances Matteck
nw news editor

The NW Campus opens its spring season next week with HONK!, an upbeat musical based on Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Ugly Duckling.”
According to cast member Chloe James, the show is more upbeat than last semester’s dark comedy BE AGGRESSIVE.
This show offers several dance numbers, many humorous songs and a lesson in tolerance toward those who are different. Although a children’s story, cast members say this production has strong social undercurrents that encourage audiences to reevaluate their views and prejudices.
Cast member Lee Niesler said the show is geared for all audiences.
Johnny Thompson plays the role of the Ugly Duckling. This 14-year-old normally attends Bowman Middle School and has been involved in drama all of his life. A former director recommended him for the musical.
Thompson said he didn’t even know what he was auditioning for when he tried out for the role, but he said he is enjoying working with his “crazy cast members.”
“It’s very interesting and different from other plays because I’m working with college students, but everyone is really nice,” he said.
Brent Alford, NW theater director, invited Alex Chrestopoulos to direct this show because of his experience directing musicals. Artistic director for the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake, Colo., Chrestopoulos said he likes this musical because it gives a lot of people a chance to get onstage.
The cast consists of 16 members with some playing up to four parts.
“I think the show was brilliantly cast; everybody fits their part perfectly. Not only do some of us look the part, but you couldn’t have picked better people,” Trey Brown, cast member, said.
They have been attending rehearsals three hours per day for five days a week since the week before the spring semester started.
As they get closer to opening night, though, cast members will increase their rehearsal time to seven days a week with eight-hour days on the weekends.
Handling the technical aspects is a group of very capable people, Chrestopoulos said. The energetic dance numbers are being put together by choreographer Brandon Mason while music director Richard Powell, of the NW music department, supervises the vocals.
Drenda Lewis of Granbury Opera is designing the costumes for the show, and Aaron Bell is working on the scenic design.
HONK! originally debuted in England in 2000. That year it won several Olivia Awards, the British equivalent of the Tony Award, including Best New Musical beating the Lion King.
Critics have described the production as “witty and hilarious, but also deeply moving.”
Cast member Kayla Foster said it is a very good family show.
Compared to its wide success in England, HONK! has not received a lot of recognition in the United States because of limited exposure, Chrestopoulos said.
Honk! will run at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 19-21, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 for non TCC students and seniors and free for TCC students, faculty and staff. Call 817-515-7724 for reservations.