A Note From The Artistic Director

"Your example's there to take – just believe in yourself; don't be left on the shelf feeling that all hope is dead and gone and you may find in your own way you're a swan." — Honk! Jr.

Character counts. It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: character counts.

As we sat down to pick this year's season, there was one common thread that kept coming through. In each of the stories, strength of character and self-reliance were the elements that made the difference for each story's heroes or heroines.

Whether it was Alice working her way through the fantastical world of Wonderland, Junie B. Jones facing her own personal demons at school or even Brother Bear finding the strength to stand up to peer pressure, each of this season's narratives challenge their characters to look inside themselves to find the answers.

Someone once said, "Character is what we do when no one is looking." Children learn how and who to be by watching others, i.e. parents, family members, friends. They can also make these discoveries through fictional role models on television, in books and especially on stage, where stories are developed in live action.

It was also important for us to present our young audience members with role models who were their own age. And so we meet a curious Alice, the irrepressible Junie B., the obsessive Pinkalicious, a bored Milo and an alienated Ugly. Of course, we've also thrown in a honey-loving family of bears and a misunderstood wolf for good measure!

The season begins and ends with two very different souls searching for something more from life. For Alice, it's an escape from the ordinary in search of a reality that mirrors her inner passion for excitement and for Ugly it's a quest to find his beautiful inner swan and a place to truly call home.

Is it possible we've all got a swan inside? There's only one way to find out…

Stretch your wings; test yourself…And fly!

Mark Metzger
Managing Artistic Director