It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and that’s what one ugly duckling learns in Albert Lea High School’s fall musical “Honk!”

The show follows the classic Hans Christian Andersen story “The Ugly Duckling,” set to music. The audience follows Ugly as he meets many different animals who teach him it’s OK to be different.

“People should come see the show; it’s a really good family show,” director Molly Grimmius said.

The student who plays Ugly, junior Jordan Vano, said he was excited to be part of the show. His favorite scene is alongside Preston Smith, who plays Bullfrog, as they sing about finding someone who loves you warts and all. Vano said the moral of the story is pretty easy to understand.

“You realize even if you’re ugly someone’s going to find you and love you,” Vano said.

Senior Ella Otten plays Maureen and said older audience members will be amused by the poultry jokes and other humorous scenarios.

“It’s punny,” Otten said. “I hope a lot of people come.”

Her favorite scenes include the one featuring Ugly and the Bullfrog singing together and the scene with the geese. Director Grimmius said the students have been hard at work since September.

“The whole cast is on stage a lot of the time, which is great for gaining that experience,” Grimmius said.

She and co-director Diane Heaney have been working together with the large cast of 43, pit crew of eight and technical crew of six. It’s the 30th fall musical for Heaney, who focused on the pit, music, choreography and more. Grimmius the students have had fun transforming into their animal characters.

“I think they have been having fun becoming their animal characters,” Grimmius said. “There are not humans in the show, only animals.”

The set was designed under the direction of John Fure. Grimmius said he created a great set where everything is bigger so it looks like it’s from an animal’s perspective. The show is a comedy and is recommended for children ages 5 and above.

“It’s been a few years since we have done a family-focused show, and I like offering that option to our community,” Grimmius said. “It’s a great way to start exposing your children to the arts.”

Tickets, please
What: ALHS fall musical “Honk!”
Where: High school auditorium
When: 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday
How much: $5 for students and $7 for adults; tickets are available at the door and in advance at Addie’s Floral & Gift

Cast list
Drake: Tanner Shaft
Ida: Solveig Lange
Turkey: Michael Whitten
Henrietta: Laura Pipe
Cat: Andy Ehrhardt
Grace: Quinn Anderson
Maureen: Ella Otten
Ugly: Jordan Vano
Milly: Rika Boorsma
Fluffy: Cheyenne Ochoa
Downy: Claire Ellis

Beaky: Connor Larson
Greylag: Kyle Zogg
Dot: Kristin Sandager
Snowy: Nick Walther
Barnacles: Tyler Vandenheuvel
Pinkfoot: Matt Bera
Queenie: Julia Otten
Lowbutt: Megan Pulley
Bullfrog: Preston Smith
Penny: Katelyn Hendrickson
Mother Swan: Isabel Ehrhardt

Froglets, goslings, ducklings: Makenzie Mauntler, Genevieve Johnson, Tori Helgeson, Kailie Drescher, Carissa Fitzlaff, Savannah Simpson, Anna Englin, Emily Ortiz, Carissa Blizzard, Brittney Whitten, Bailey Ford, Alexa Wood, Tianna Abrego, Justine Nelson, Sam Ehrhardt, Roy Sollis, Ethan Lunning, Travis Nemec, Ryan Nelson, Logan Petersen and Aaron Zogg.
Pit crew: Diane Heaney, Brock Besse, Tyler Egge, Sam Ware, Maria Silva, Isaac Ware, Amanda Nicholson, Taylor Willis and Amanda Hall.
Tech crew: Mallorie Gil, Bailey Barber and John Buringa.