When Ugly finally emerges from his egg, he is greeted by a barnyard full of adorable ducklings and the overwhelming knowledge that he is different. In this heartwarming musical comedy, based on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Ugly Duckling," we are reminded that through accepting others, we can embrace our own uniqueness as we journey toward truth. Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for the best new musical of 2000, this captivating tale, with it's gentle plea for tolerance, is great entertainment for the whole family.

• What: HONK!

Based on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Ugly Duckling"

Music by George Stiles: book & lyrics by Anthony Drewe

Rod Caspers, guest director

Michael McKelvey, musical director

Judy Thompson-Price, choreographer



• When: April 29-May 1, 2005

Wednesday–Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

• Where: Mary Moody Northen Theatre

St. Edward's University

3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704

• Tickets: Advance sales: $12 and $10. At the door: $15

Box Office: 512-448-8484

Guest Director Rod Caspers, graduate of Illinois State University, earned an MFA from The University of Texas at Austin. He has taught and directed at the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Texas. While at UT–Austin he also served as artistic director for the Office of University Relations, creating and producing large-scale university events. Caspers conducts directing workshops throughout the nation and serves as a guest artist/instructor for the Facing History and Ourselves Program in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. While living in New York, he served as associate director for GreenPlays, creating and directing several new musicals and cabarets. He has directed over seventy productions including The Secret Garden, The Laramie Project, Big River, Merrily We Roll Along, Tintypes, Working, Lies and Legends, Shirley Valentine, Once on This Island, In the Heart of America, Fiddler On the Roof, Close Ties, Carousel, The Rivers and Ravines, Really Rosie and Ordinary People. Caspers produced and directed the UT Performing Arts Center's 20th Anniversary Gala starring Tommy Tune, Linda Eder and The Broadway Tenors as well as the We're Texas Milestone Celebration with Judy Collins. Recently he stage-managed the Rockettes' Radio City Christmas Spectacular for four years with his colleague, Chan Chandler.



The Mary Moody Northen Theatre of St. Edward's University offers one of the only pre-professional undergraduate theater program of its kind in the United States. Designed for the student-artist, the program offers theater-based academic training with a rigorous liberal arts curriculum.