Two Wellesley Kids Plan to Honk! in Boston

Below is a press release from Boston Children's Theatre

AUDREE HEDEQUIST AND ALEX HUDEPOHL OF WELLESLEY TAKE THE STAGE IN BOSTON CHILDREN’S THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF ‘HONK!’

Performances February 9 – 24 at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tickets On Sale Now!

Be sure to HONK! when you see 9-year old Audree Hedequist and 10-year old Alex Hudepohl of Wellesley in Boston Children’s Theatre’s (BCT) hilarious family musical HONK!. The production that runs February 9 – 24 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. 

Playing the role of the investigative reporter ‘Jay Bird’ in HONK!, Audree Hedequist is no stranger to the Boston stage. Most recently Audree played the role of ‘Helen’ in Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of The Miracle Worker and was seen as ‘Young Frog’ in BCT’s production of A Year with Frog and Toad. She also appeared in Annie, A Tale of Two Cities and Charlotte’s Web at Wheelock. Audree is currently a fourth grader at Fiske Elementary School. 

In her BCT mainstage debut, Alex Hudepohl will be playing the role of ‘Duckling.’  An experienced dancer, Alex has performed locally in productions of Snow White, Anastasia and The Nutcracker. She is currently a fifth grader at Fiske Elementary School. Written by George Stiles and Anthony Drew, HONK! received the prestigious Olivier Award, Britain’s equivalent of the Tony Award.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, this entertaining family musical tells the story of a young bird named ‘Ugly’ whose unusual and awkward appearance triggers prejudice and ridicule among his family and friends.  Join ‘Ugly’ on his journey as he meets some very interesting characters and discovers not only his true inner beauty and destiny but also finds love and acceptance along the way.

According to BCT Executive Artistic Director Burgess Clark, HONK! is a perfect fit for the theater’s 61st season. “This year our productions are extremely diverse- from HONK! to Reflections of a Rock Lobster to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day- yet the common themes of tolerance and acceptance are underscored in each of the shows.  It truly demonstrates how creative and adaptable theater can be and how entertaining at the same time,” said Clark. “We are also thrilled to work with director/choreographer Larry Sousa who will be a master at bringing this wonderful show to our BCT stage.”

Directing and choreographing for the first time with BCT, Larry Sousa’s credits include the upcoming Broadway production of Merry Go Round, as well as many productions with Pasadena Playhouse, Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Utah Musical Theatre, Hangar Theatre and many more. An award-winning choreographer, Sousa has worked locally with SpeakEasy Stage Company and Reagle Players and he is currently on the faculty at the Boston Conservatory.

 HONK! will be performed at the Roberts Studio Theatre at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA on February 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.  All performances are at 2 pm.  Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased by visiting the BCT website at www.bostonchildrenstheatre.org or calling the BCT Box Office at 617-424-6634, x222.

School groups can also reserve tickets for weekday performances by contacting the BCT Box Office. 

About Boston Children’s Theatre

For over 60 years, Boston Children's Theatre has served as one of the regions premier not-for-profit theaters. Named Best of Boston® 2012 by Boston Magazine for Best Children’s Theatre, BCT’s mission is to provide access to exceptional theatrical experiences dedicated to fostering the artistic and personal development of diverse youth, with a focus on professional training and the development of new works. Programs at Boston Children’s Theatre provide a unique chance for self-discovery and individual expression in a supportive, and productive environment. At BCT, talented and motivated students gather from across traditional boundaries and nationalities to learn about themselves, each other and the world as they create some of the finest theatrical productions in New England.