In upcoming weeks, Alta Vista, Van Meter and Daves Avenue schools will be putting on the shows "Into the Woods Junior," "Flapper!" and "Honk!," respectively.

The Daves production of "Honk!" opens first, with a run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 in the school cafeteria. Evening performances are scheduled for the first three days, with the Feb. 2 show at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased every each afternoon in front of the school for $8.

According to producer Kate Paisley, "Honk!—Daves' 31st annual musical—is an updated version of "The Ugly Duckling," presented as a musical comedy with a "fun, upbeat quality."

"It's got a great message. It's about accepting diversity and valuing differences in people—in this case, animals," Paisley says.

The two running the show are Dan Harris and Ali Hasha, both graduates of Daves Avenue and recent graduates of Los Gatos High School. Paisley says, "They really enjoy working with the kids," who number 55 in the cast and 10 in the crew this year.

Van Meter's performances of "Flapper!" start the day after Daves' opening night and also end on Feb. 2. Due to construction at Van Meter, "Flapper!" takes place at the Blossom Hill School cafeteria, with tickets costing $6.

Producer Carolyn Dufort says there are 59 students in the cast, ranging from third to fifth grade. This year, the school had to hold a lottery to determine which students could be eligible to audition because of the volume of interested kids.

"In the past, we would have to wait to get 45 applications, now we get 80 applications for these 50 parts," Dufort says.

"Flapper!" is a "tribute to the Roaring '20s," Dufort says, that includes Charleston steps and period costumes. The group chose this particular musical because it decided, "Since our school is under construction, it would be great to have something glittery and showy," Dufort says.

"It's just a fun, family event," Dufort says.

The following weekend, Alta Vista presents "Into the Woods Junior," which runs Feb. 6 through Feb. 9. The Feb. 8 evening performance, however, will be a special show to fundraise for next year's musical—parents and school staff will take over the students' roles, with Principal Barbara Dabel playing the role of Milky White.

Publicity chairwoman Sharon Vaughan says "Into the Woods Juniors" features fairy tale characters as well as roles that are a "blend of these different characters."

The show, which will be held at the Alta Vista cafeteria, costs $8 and features 60 first through fifth graders divided into two casts.

According to Vaughan, the publicity posters for the musical were designed by students in a competition for the cast. The two winners were Alexandra Quinn and Julia Loper, both third graders, and their designs were posted all over the school and the town.

To purchase tickets, visit the cafeteria between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on school days.