Award-winning Honk! opens Friday

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When Cat (Tim Brown) tells Ugly (Alex Hollingsworth) that he'd like to have Ugly for dinner, Ugly doesn't quite understand what Cat means, in the musical Honk!, opening Friday at ACT.

The Laurence Olivier Award-winning Honk!, a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling, which opens this weekend at the Anacortes Community Theatre, delivers a message of tolerance.

Honk! is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. Ugly ultimately discovers his inner beauty. Separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry Cat, played by Tim Brown, Ugly must find his way home. Along his rollicking and harrowing journey he not only discovers his glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms.

Honk! is ACT's holiday production this year, directed by Calley Johnson, Marilyn Pinquoch is musical director and Rebecca Launius is choreographer. The book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and music is by George Stiles (of the British songwriting duo Stiles and Drewe).

Honk! opens Friday and plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 19. Tickets are $16. More information at ACT Theatre's Web site.