Carnation City Players takes on tale of acceptance
Carnation City Players will continue its 63rd season with a musical adaption of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.”
“Honk! Jr.,”which features a cast of youth ranging from elementary to high school, opens Friday at Firehouse Theater.
The production runs Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees start at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at carnationcityplayers.org or the CCP box office at 330-821-8712. Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students younger than 18.
The show will spotlight the long-awaited chicks arriving at the farm, and one that looks quite a bit different from his duckling brothers and sisters, and the other animals on the farm are quick to point this out. The odd-looking duck is separated from the farm and embarks on an adventure across the marsh, discovering acceptance in all its forms.
Marlington High School student Robby Ritchie returns to Carnation City Players as the innocent and impressionable young Ugly. He appeared in last season’s production of “Newsies Jr.”as Jack Kelly. He has performed in other CCP shows, and can be found on the soccer pitch when he’s not on stage.
Sophia Vigliotti plays Ugly’s sweet but feisty mother, Ida. A Marlington High School junior, she has performed with CCP in several shows, including “Shrek Jr.”
Ida’s husband Drake is played by Dakota Albertoni, a Marlington 10th grader. His past CCP credits include “Aladdin Jr.”and the theater’s “60th Anniversary Show.”
Zachary Kinser plays the cunning villain of the production, the Cat. A senior at Alliance High School, he last appeared on the Firehouse Theatre stage as Crutchie in “Newsies Jr.”
Ugly’s brother Billy is played by Andrew Horning. The fourth grader at Alliance Intermediate School most recently performed at CCP as Les in “Newsies Jr.” Horning also has performed at Alliance High School and with The Players Guild.
Other Alliance City Schools students in the production are Dominic Falconer as Beaky, Ugly’s brother; Corie Horning as Downey, Ugly’s Sister; Annalise Guappone as Ugly’s other sister, Fluff; and Riley Horning as Ida’s best friend, Maureen.
Other Marlington Local Schools students performing in the show are Evan Dennison as Greylag/Father Swan; and Autumn Ronske as Dot.
Other featured roles include Sophia Mathie as Bullfrog; Kylee Puckett as Turkey; Madison Wike as Henrietta; Lauren Price as Grace; Aidan Kern as Jaybird; Hannah McConnell as Barnacles; Gracie McGeehen as Pinkfoot; Lia Foith as Snowy; Avery Horning as Lowbutt; Gabrielle Hill as Queenie; Stella Jackson as Penny; Vivian Fritz as Mother Swan; Cailyn Woolf as Froglet Soloist; and Zoey Kandelas Blizzard Soloist.
The production’s ensemble includes Libby Barr, Jordan Bulgara, Maddie Coblentz, Ava Doak, Abrielle Demos, Ava Fritz, Beatrix Fritz, Philip Fritz, Sofia Fritz, Adrian Hairston, Lucas Herold, Becky Hornyak, Nellie Lanzer, Kinsey Linder, Tessa Linder, Kate Simbro, Mia Vigliotti, Audrina Wait, Camryn Wike, and Mati Williams.
Don McCallister is directing “Honk! Jr.” Music director is J. Kim Lewis, and choreography is by Chanda K. Porter. Katie Jo Johnson is stage manager.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Carnation City Players takes on tale of acceptance
