Generation GF Kids Magazine – Summer 2026
I recently went to a high school in my area for the production of Honk Jr. It’s an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s play The Ugly Duckling. Spoiler alert – a swan is mistakenly hatched with a gaggle of ducklings. While the mom is more than happy to have a significantly-bigger bird in the family, the daddy duck, duck family, and most of the entire farm mocks the “duckling” for being ugly. Even though this baby swan (called a cygnet) will eventually turn out to be beautiful and the envy of the farm, he feels sad and unwanted. He leaves the farm, trying to find family and a home, and eventually meets a cat that tries to eat him. He also finds plenty of other friends, like a family of swans and bullfrogs! Throughout an adventure off the farm, he learns that different isn’t a bad thing. Of course the swan ends up finding out he’s a swan, meets his swan girlfriend, and his family finally accepts him for being different. The overarching theme of the play is celebrating being different and what makes us all unique.
What made this play particularly great was it was performed by a cast of special needs kids and teens (and some adults) as part of the adaptive theater program. One of my best friends is the makeup director for this theater program and this is now her 6th theater show with this cast. I’m so lucky she introduced me to this theater program and to this adorable musical!
On the night I attended, over 100 talented performers in costumes and makeup were part of this musical that brought the crowd to their feet. The cast included actors and actresses with down syndrome, autism and other conditions that might make them seem different. But together, their differences are what made them all shine! The performance brought tears to my eyes and the message was clear. What makes us unique is what makes us shine!
Every time I see a message about our differences and uniqueness make us who we are, I just have to share. This message is everything I’m about. What makes you different or unique is what makes you YOU! I know sometimes it feels impossible to stay positive about being different – but it’s this difference that brought us all together today, reading this magazine together, and becoming a community of friends and family.
Honk honk,
Erica