HONK! No, it's not a car beeping in downtown Boston, it's the sound of young actors performing one of the theater's most endearing and entertaining musicals, HONK!. Boston Children's Theatre (BCT) is proud to produce this witty and hilarious musical by George Stiles and Anthony Drew at The Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts February 9 through 24, 2013.

Awarded the prestigious Olivier Award, Britain's equivalent of the Tony Award, HONK! is 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 and Bridgewater State University.

Working with Sousa is a talented cast of young actors including Brookline resident Alec Shiman; Lexington resident Ally Aquilino-Piscetello; Malden resident Katie Roeder; Newton residents Kenley Buchanan, Carly Kastel and Yarden Yacoby; Peabody resident Karllee Hunt; Revere resident Bradon Barbosa; Rockport resident Tom Rash; Rye, NH resident Blaine Stevens; Sandwich resident Megan McMahon; Wakefield resident Nina Barresi; Wellesley residents Audrey Hedequist and Alex Hudepohl; and Westborough resident Deirdre Pedersen.

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.