Goodman Theatre Hosts Citywide JUNGLE BOOK Events, Now thru 6/30

In conjunction with Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's world-premiere stage musical adaptation of The Jungle Book (June 21 - August 4) this summer, Goodman Theatre teams up with community partners to present show-related events and activities at venues throughout Chicago-many free of charge.

The Goodman is grateful for the programming and promotional support of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Libraries, Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Eye on India Festival (in Chicago June 9 - July 14), Field Museum, Hamdard Center, Indo American Center, Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Girl Scouts of America. Events and information are listed below; visit GoodmanTheatre.org for updates.

Rehearsals are underway for The Jungle Book - a new music- and movement-filled adventure chronicling young Mowgli's coming-of-age in the animal kingdom. Zimmerman's adaptation is based on Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and Walt Disney's 1967 animated film.

Tickets ($27-$125, discounts available for Subscribers, students and military) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org, 312.443.3800 or at the Goodman box office. The Jungle Book is produced in association with the Huntington Theatre Company (where it will appear September 7 - October 6) and is appropriate for adults and families with children aged 6+.

FREE EVENTS IN THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY:

Printers Row Lit Fest - Featured Conversation with Mary Zimmerman
June 8 at 1pm | Printers Row | ChicagoTribune.com/PrintersRowLitFest
Zimmerman discusses The Jungle Book with Mark Caro, arts and entertainment reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Summer Dance in Grant Park
July 5, 6 - 7pm lesson, 7:30 - 9:30pm dancing | Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden | ChicagoSummerDance.org
The City of Chicago and Goodman Theatre present a celebration of Indian music and dance styles with musicians from Karsh Kale Collective and Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts.

The Jungle Book "Story Time" with Chicago Public Libraries
July 11 at 6:30pm | Various venues (see below) | For families and children ages 3-8
The Goodman partners with Chicago Public Libraries to offer interactive story sessions. Professional actors accompanied by dancers from the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts bring Kipling's stories of Mowgli, Baloo, Shere Khan and Bagheera to life through music, story and dance at Chicago Public Library branches including Budlong Woods, Douglass, Marshall, Bezazian, Daley, Woodson, Sulzer, Garfield Ridge, Mt. Greenwood and Lozano.

The Jungle Book: Stage Chemistry with Chicago Public Libraries
For students ages 12+ | Check with local branches for dates and times
Bringing the jungle to life on stages takes imagination, creativity-and math and science! Learn how Goodman artists and technicians create the magic of the jungle every performance with this lively demonstration of stagecraft. Follow up this experience with hands-on set construction activities in select local library branches.

Millennium Park Film Series - Screening of Walt Disney's The Jungle Book
July 23 at 6:30pm | Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion | CityofChicago.org
Grab a seat under the stars in Millennium Park for a screening of the original 1967 Walt Disney animated classic, The Jungle Book, featuring the voices of Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot and Bruce Reitherman (78 min).

In addition, the following neighborhood festivals offer show-related family-friendly activities: Andersonville Midsommarfest (June 7 - 9, Clark Street/Andersonville); Taste of Randolph (June 14 - 16, West Loop); Custer's Last Stand (June 15 -16, Evanston); Summer on Southport (June 29 - 30, Southport/Waveland); Taste of Lakeview (July 6 - 7, Lincoln Avenue/Belmont) and Taste of Chicago (July 10 - 14, Grant Park).

EVENTS AT Goodman Theatre:

"Press Pass" Series: Breakfast with Richard M. Sherman & Chicago Tribune Chief Theater Critic Chris Jones
June 29, 10am breakfast, 11am conversation
$25 general public; $15 discounted
A once-in-a-lifetime event featuring the legendary Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer Richard M. Sherman, who co-wrote (with brother Robert B. Sherman) the famed music of the films The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and much more. Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones joins for conversation and a look back at Sherman's astonishing career and achievements-including an exclusive sampling of his classic, unforgettable songs. Sherman is collaborating with Mary Zimmerman and Music Director Doug Peck on the Goodman's production of The Jungle Book, providing access and permission to adapt his songs from the film, plus new lyrics written for this production. The Chicago Tribune's Press Pass series is presented by Nielsen.

Jungle Brunch
June 30; 12 Noon brunch, 2pm show | $200 adults, $150 children under 12
An afternoon of games, food, fun and a performance of The Jungle Book. Proceeds from Jungle Brunch help underwrite The Jungle Book Community Day on July 23, a free performance for underserved youth and families.

Artist Encounter with Mary Zimmerman
June 30 at 5pm | $10 general public, $5 Subscribers, Donors, students
Artist Encounters bring together audiences and Goodman artists in an intimate environment for a behind-the-scenes look at the plays and the playmaking process. Zimmerman discusses The Jungle Book with Steve Edwards, most recently of WBEZ, where he served as host of the acclaimed daily shows The Afternoon Shift and Eight Forty-Eight and covered everything from public policy to pop culture. Edwards is currently the Deputy Director of the University of Chicago's newly created Institute of Politics, founded and led by former White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod.

To post a comment, you must register and login.