By Jeanni Ritchie
Manship Theatre’s Manship On the Move series brought a unique theatrical experience to Baton Rouge with Lightwire Theatre’s The Ugly Duckling, staged at the Magnolia Theatre on the Baton Rouge Community College campus.
Known for blending technology, music, and movement, Lightwire Theatre creates performances in complete darkness using electroluminescent wire to illuminate characters and tell stories in a visually striking way. The result is a production style that feels equal parts dance, puppetry, and digital art—captivating audiences of all ages.
Founded by Ian Carney and Corbin Popp, who met while performing in Movin’ Out on Broadway, Lightwire Theatre has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to storytelling. The company has appeared as a semi-finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and won TruTV’s Fake Off, bringing its signature style to audiences around the world.
In The Ugly Duckling, that style is used to reimagine the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale of a young bird struggling to find acceptance in a world that sees him as different. Through light, music, and movement, the production explores themes of identity, belonging, and self-worth without relying on spoken dialogue.
After wondering what was wrong with me as I sat crying in the darkness at the deep connection I felt to this fictitious bird, I learned that Andersen considered the tale an autobiographical account of his own life. He, too, struggled to fit in until finding his place in the world.
What sets this show apart is its emotional depth. The use of light and motion—along with carefully selected songs—allows the audience to connect with the character’s isolation and longing in a way that feels immediate and immersive. Even in moments of humor—such as a playful scene featuring an over-the-top feline set to Stray Cat Strut — the story never loses sight of its central message.
Rather than focusing on transformation alone, this interpretation leans into the journey of acceptance. The duckling’s story unfolds not just as one of change, but of being seen—of finding a place where he belongs and being valued for who he is.
The production is part of Lightwire Theatre’s growing repertoire, which includes titles such as Dino-Light, Moon Mouse, The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare, and A Very Electric Christmas, which the Arts Council of Central Louisiana brought to Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center in 2024.
Each show reflects the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional theatre through a fusion of art and technology.
With The Ugly Duckling, Lightwire Theatre proves that even a familiar story can feel entirely new when told in a different light—literally and figuratively.
