By Tara DeRock  Mahoney
Senior Staff Writer

    Morgan County residents, brush up on your Hans Christian Andersen and plan to attend “Honk!” next weekend. The re-telling of the classic fairy tale of the ugly duckling that grows up to be a beautiful swan is presented by Madison Community Theater (MCT).
    “It’s going to be a wonderful show,” said MCT director Kathleen Bryant, who also heads up the International Thespian group at Morgan County Middle School. Honk! will run Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, at 7 p.m.; there will also be a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon. All shows will take place at the Morgan County High School auditorium on College Drive in Madison.
    Honk! will star Robert Prior as “Ugly,” Emily DeJarnett as “Ida,” and Hal Pritchett as “Drake.”
    Other cast members include Hope Chastain, Jordan Haeusser, Ryan Pagett, Sophie Duan, Jessie Robinette, Katherine Key, Benjamin Shytle, Catherine Bishop, Campbell Harrison, Chan Courchaine, Jack LeClair, Jessie Adams, William Prior, Shelby McLeod, Kristen Bozeman, Leah Bonas, Laura Margaret Burbach, Reed Pagett, Emily Shannon, China Colley, Laura Foster, and Kathleen Bryant as “Lowbutt.”  Ensemble players include Ashton Prior, Katelin Benkoski, Chelsea Stacy, Sarah Gallagher, Ellen Wilson, Caroline Harrison, Savannah Williams, Victoria Young, Kilee Norman, Ansley Sirmans, and Lydia Adkins. Ben McMichael and Garrett Gardner will provide off-stage voices. 
    Last but not least, the play will feature a number of young Morgan County stars as “Froglets,” including Zane Simpson, Carolina Zant, Alissa Benkoski, Jessie Pagett, Joe Lindsey, Curry Wadsworth, Lily Courchaine, Hayden Snowden, Missy Miles, Hannah Kate Miles, and Jay Wadsworth.
    The next MCT production is expected to be “Smoke on the Mountain,” a summer offering coming in June.