Auburn Ave Kids welcomes Tears of Joy Theatre’s “The Ugliest Duckling” for its season-opening act on Saturday at the Auburn Avenue Theater.

Everyone feels like an ugly duckling once in awhile; but what if you were a platypus that would never turn into a beautiful swan? Tears of Joy Theatre re-imagines this Hans Christian Anderson classic, sending the classic story to Australia and filling the tale with an array of wonderful creatures. The star platypus reminds us that everyone is different and unique for their own reasons and that true beauty lies inside us all.

Besides its extensive touring program, Tears of Joy Theatre is a resident company at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts where they present six productions each year.

The company is recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding puppet theatres, known internationally for its innovation and excellence. Originally founded in Hawaii in 1971, TOJT moved to Portland in 1973. They have received a Washington State Governor’s Arts Award and a Young Audiences Sunburst Award for their “exemplary commitment to arts in education.” Four of the theatre’s productions have received American puppetry’s highest honor, The Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from UNIMA-USA.

Auburn Ave Kids showcases local, regional and national acts and touring presentations with an emphasis on audiences ages four through 12 and their parents.

The Ave Kids also offer birthday party packages.

For a full listing of upcoming shows and to order tickets, please visit www.auburnwa.gov/arts.

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Showtime

• What: Auburn Ave Kids presents “The Ugliest Duckling”

• When: 2 p.m.,Saturday, Sept. 24

• Where: Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave

• Tickets: $6. Call 253-931-3043, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online through Brown Paper Tickets at www.auburnwa.gov/arts.