Tag Archives: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Danielle Meo as Kaa the Snake and Will Graber as Mowgli from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s 2010 production of DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS.

Coming to the Taft Theatre this February

CINCINNATI:  The jungle is jumpin’ with a jazzy beat in The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS, February 16-25, 2019 at the Taft Theatre.

Adapted from the classic Disney animated film, this musical features a host of colorful characters and famous songs from the animated movie.  Based on the works of Rudyard Kipling, the “Man-Cub” Mowgli, bounds through the jungle and learns what it means to be human.  You won’t want to miss this culturally-infused and spectacular Disney classic!

Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman and Terry Gilkyson.  Book Adapted and Additional Lyrics by Marcy Heisler.  Music Adapted and Arranged by Bryan Louiselle.  Based on the Screenplay by Larry Clemmons.  Based on the Novel, “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling.  Directed by TCT Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice.

In an effort to increase cultural diversity, as the production is set in the jungle of India, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is collaborating with various local groups to comprehensively infuse the production with Indian culture, in order to authenticate the production in a culturally-relevant and educational manner.

To that end, TCT has hired a Cultural Consultant and Associate Choreographer, Ms. Anupa Mirle, to focus on Indian authenticity within DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS. Ms. Mirle is working with the creative team, including: Choreographer, Paula Rakestraw; Assistant Director/Shadow Puppet Designer, Kevin Frisch; Costumer Designer, Jeff Shearer; Scenic Designer, Nate Bertone; and Music Director Steve Goers, to infuse culturally-relevant elements into the production.

Ms. Mirle is the Executive Director of NrityarpanA School of Performing Arts, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit performing arts academy dedicated to sustaining the Indian arts in the metropolitan Cincinnati area. Ms. Mirle is a member of the International Dance Council (a UNESCO organization) and was recognized as an Ohio Heritage Fellow in 2013. Ms. Mirle’s goal is to provide educational and cultural events that are innovative and thought provoking, serving the purpose to both entertain and inform participants and audiences of the vital American experience of Indian Heritage and Culture.

Showtimes for DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS include:

• Saturday, February 16 at 2 PM* (this performance is signed for the hearing impaired)
• Saturday, February 16 at 5 PM (this is a designated Sensory-Friendly performance)
• Sunday, February 17 at 2 PM and 5 PM
• Friday, February 22 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, February 23 at 2 PM and 5 PM
• Sunday, February 24 at 2 PM and 5 PM

All of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS, are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10.  1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.

School performances of DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS will be held February 18-22 & 25, 2019 during the daytime hours.  TCT’s Sensory-Friendly performance on Saturday, February 16 at 5 PM is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand.

For details about how to purchase tickets to TCT’s school or Sensory-Friendly performances, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS is made possible by the generosity of Production Sponsor Chemed; Season Sponsors H.B., E. W. and F. R. Luther Foundation and the Charles H. Dater Foundation; and ArtsWave and the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.  The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.  Media sponsors are LOCAL 12 and Q102.

CAST

Starring:

• Kavan Vadivelu as Mowgli†
• Joanna Bennett as Baloo
• Matt Krieg as Bagheera

Featuring:

• Rhys Boatwright (Ensemble)
• Madeleine Burgoon (Ensemble)
• Donald Burns (Ensemble)
• Jordan Collins (Ensemble) †
• Marlo D’ascenzo (Ensemble) †
• Ian Timothy Forsgren (Ensemble)
• Nick Godfrey (Ensemble)
• Anna Gortner (Ensemble)
• Nicholas Gundrum (Ensemble) †
• Heather Hale (Ensemble)
• Chanduni Herath (Ensemble) †
• James Jones (Shere Khan)
• Ava Jewell Kroener (Baby Elephant) †
• Rishi Mathur (Ensemble) †
• Ashley Olivia Morton (Ensemble)
• Dain Alan Paige (Colonel Hathi)
• Jeremiah Plessinger (Ensemble)
• Edrico Evans- Pritchett (Ensemble) †
• Caroline Rakestraw (Ensemble)
• Rosvic Siason (Ensemble)
• Renee Stoltzfus (Kaa)
• Nyla Jolie Thomas (Shanti) †
• John Woll (King Louie)

UNDERSTUDIES

For Shanti – Marlo D’ascenzo†; for Hathi – Nick Godfrey; for Mowgli & Baby Elephant – Rishi Mathur †; for Bagheera & Shere Kahn –  Jeremiah Plessinger; for Baloo – John Woll

† Denotes Young Artists Company

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