First Look & New Details On Mary Zimmerman's THE JUNGLE BOOK

A plethora of new details about acclaimed director Mary Zimmerman's new stage reimagining of the classic 1967 Disney film THE JUNGLE BOOK have now been released, including a first look at the costumes and information about the score and overall visual inspiration for the new production trying out at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago starting next month.

In a new interview, Zimmerman says that she has worked alongside original film composer Richard Sherman in crafting a complete musical score for the stage adaptation, which will boast famous tunes from the film - such as "The Bare Necessities", which, incidentally, was the sole song not composed by the fraternal team (it was written by Terry Gilkyson) - as well as previously unheard songs penned for a proposed sequel by Sherman along with his former composing partner, Robert, who died last year.

Zimmerman states, "We're using the Disney film as our base, with all the original songs. We've been working really closely with composer Richard Sherman. I'm enchanted by Richard. He has such vitality for an 84-year-old. His house has Disney memorabilia everywhere - there's a stuffed King Louie behind the piano bench. We spent hours there, running through music. There are these wonderful songs The Sherman Brothers wrote for a sequel. We've repurposed those - 'Baloo's Blues' and 'It's A Kick' - for a 13-piece orchestra, which will be half clarinets and horns and half Indian instruments for a fusion of Western and Eastern music."

A first glimpse of costume designer Mara Blumenfeld's vision for the musical was inspired by two recent trips to India traversed by the design team.

Zimmerman illustrates, "I saw this amazing painting in New Delhi of someone slaying a demon dressed in an orange-and-red-striped skirt, just like a tiger. That's pretty much the costume for Shere Khan. The whole show is set in the jungle."

"Well, almost. There are a few surprises," Zimmerman hints.

Check out the original article on the matter here.

THE JUNGLE BOOK plays at Chicago's Goodman Theatre beginning June 21.

Visit the official Goodman Theatre site for more information here.

View the costume sketch for the character of Shere Khan below.