New Jersey actors don feathers and fur in "Honk! Jr."

Performances of the colorful and “quacky” musical, HONK! JR. will begin at Walnut Street Theatre later this month, featuring young talent from the Cherry Hill region.

HONK! JR. is based on the classic fairytale, The Ugly Duckling, and tells the story of Ugly, one odd looking baby duck that doesn't quite fit in. With the help of a whole flock of unique characters, Ugly sets off on a wild adventure where he soon learns to accept and love what makes him different.

Cherry Hill actress Ella Hampton plays the characters of Fluff, Goose, and Froglet. Her prior Walnut credits include playing Tam in Miss Saigon and Ngana in South Pacific. She was also in the ensemble of The King and I.

She will be joined by her cast mate Zoey Schaffer, local to Lumberton, NJ, who plays the Cat. She has performed regionally as Hannah in Newsies Jr., Penny Pingleton in Hairspray Jr., and Peter Pan in Peter Pan Jr.. She is in the eighth grade at St. Joan of Arc School.

HONK! JR. will mark the beginning of the WST for Kids series with a fun hour-long musical that you and your family will love. Performances run from September 23 to October 8. For tickets and more information, call 215-574-3550 or visit walnutstreettheatre.org.

The Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series is celebrated for its commitment to encouraging parents (and grandparents) to read to their kids. Families can read together, and then discover a whole new level of imagination when they see the shows live onstage. The Walnut takes pride in bringing families together and beginning a creative conversation through reading and the arts.

[Photo credits: Photo 1: Ella Hampton; Photo 2: Zoey Schaffer][Photos courtesy of Walnut Street Theatre.]