The Ugly Duck

This telling of a beloved classical tale is a family musical that champions creativity and individuality through an Americanized, contemporary, thematic adaptation. Max is a 10-year-old boy who is thrown into a crisis when he is forced to spend his summer vacation with his Great Aunt Junie—a true original who lives in a faraway place called Kansas. Notorious in town as "Loony Junie the Crazy Duck Lady," Aunt Junie makes purple popcorn balls, practices karate, lives in a house with playful furniture (played by actors) and sings to her ducks. Maximum, as Aunt Junie calls him, is a city kid trapped in a small town who slowly overcomes homesickness and his own intolerance. He ultimately transforms his fears into love and enthusiasm for creativity and individuality. As Aunt June tells Max, "People think everything has got to be one way and one way only. No matter how crowded it is—there's always enough room to be yourself." The original production toured with five actors.