Goodman Theatre and Chicago Public Library Continue 'JUNGLE BOOK Days' with STAGE CHEMISTRY thru Aug 2013

Goodman Theatre continues its partnership with Chicago Public Library by presenting Stage Chemistry lessons at select branches, as part of each location's ongoing programming. These sessions are a part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's "Summer of Learning" (through August 10), which encourages young people to participate in activities focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). The Stage Chemistry lessons focus on the physics of lighting in the Goodman's production of The Jungle Book (now through August 18).

Participating branches-Bezazian (1226 W. Ainslie), Budlong Woods (5630 N. Lincoln), Douglass (3353 W. 13th), Garfield Ridge (6348 W. Archer), Lozano (1805 S. Loomis), Mount Greenwood (11010 S. Kedzie), Richard J. Daley (3400 S. Halsted), Sulzer (4455 N. Lincoln), Thurgood Marshall (7506 S. Racine) and Woodson (9525 S. Halsted)-hold Stage Chemistry July 26 - August 2; contact each branch for more info.

Kicking off "Jungle Book Days," the Goodman recently presented live interactive story sessions at these branches featuring dancers and musicians from the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, where they acted out two timeless jungle-inspired tales: "The Peacock's Pride" by Melissa Kajpust and "The Camel Who Took a Walk" by Jack Tworkov. Participants received tickets to the Goodman's July 23rd Community Day-a free performance of The Jungle Book for underserved youth and family audiences. Other previous involvement in the STEAM initiative includes an ongoing partnership with the Illinois Institute of Technology, through which teachers create lesson plans in conjunction with the annual production of A Christmas Carol. In the upcoming school year, the Goodman's education and community engagement department expands this programming, training teachers at schools across Chicago to integrate technical theater into science and math classrooms. Partner schools attend a stage craft demonstration and complete hands on set-construction activities, culminating in a year-end showcase.

The Jungle Book is a new music- and movement-filled adventure chronicling young Mowgli's coming-of-age in the animal kingdom. Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman's world-premiere 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. With its anthropomorphic cast of singing and dancing jungle animals, The Jungle Book fuses the movie's best-loved songs with original Indian-inspired music. Legendary Academy Award and Grammy winner Richard Sherman-whose numerous songwriting credits with brother Robert B. Sherman include the Walt Disney motion pictures The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Aristocats-collaborates on this production, providing Music Director Doug Peck access and permission to adapt songs that Sherman and his brother wrote for the film, plus never-before-heard material. Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli and Chicago-based Hema Rajagopalan-founder and artistic director of Chicago's Natya Dance Theatre-combine elements of classical Indian dance forms with jazz, tap and more to enhance the storytelling.

About the Goodman's Education and Community Engagement: Goodman Theatre offers a wide variety of programming to enable Chicagoland learners of all ages to experience theater first-hand with working professionals, teachers and artists; Willa Taylor is the director of education and community engagement. Programs are offered to audience members of all ages to engage in deeper explorations of the work on the Goodman's stages. The Student Subscription Series (SSS) works with over 40 Chicago public high schools each year to creatively supplement students' reading, writing, critical thinking and communication skills. Special matinee performances of Goodman productions are supplemented with exclusive teacher training workshops, educational guides and post-show discussions. CONTEXT: Discourse & Discussion is a series designed to engage the community in debate, dialogue and deeper exploration of themes within Goodman productions. Unlike a traditional post-show discussion which centers on the production, CONTEXT events focus on particular issues raised within the plays and explore how they resonate in today's culture. Cindy Bandle Young Critics (CBYC) is a joint venture between Goodman Theatre and the Association for Women Journalists that introduces 11th grade girls to the art of theater criticism and the world of professional writing. Participants see every show in the Goodman's season, interview theater artists and receive one-on-one mentoring from professional journalists. CBYC is named in honor of Goodman Theatre's late, longtime press director, Cindy Bandle. General Theater Studies (GTS) is a six-week summer intensive for 14 -19-year olds with a focus on critical thinking, literacy, oral history and storytelling. Designed to validate student voices, help them examine their creativity and introduce them to the creation of theater, GTS is an ensemble-building program that culminates in an original student performance. The Goodman's Youth Art Council (GYAC) allows past participants in theater programs to stay involved in the institution. Members of this leadership development program are committed to exposing their peers to theatrical productions and act as ambassadors for the Goodman in their communities and schools. GeNarrations is a writing workshop for senior citizens in which participants develop personal narrative performance pieces based on themes raised by Goodman Theatre productions, which they are then invited to perform in a public forum.

Goodman Theatre is world renowned for the quality and scope of its artistic programming and its commitment to improving life in the community. Artistic Director Robert Falls' and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's leadership has earned unparalleled artistic distinction and experienced unprecedented success, staging more than 80 world premieres, earning numerous awards for its productions-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined (2009)-and producing more than 25 new-work commissions. Founded in 1925 and housed in a state-of-the-art two-theater complex in the downtown Chicago Theatre District, the Goodman is Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit producing theater. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Ruth Ann M. Gillis is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sherry John is President of the Women's Board and Lauren Blair is President of the Scenemakers Board, the Goodman's young professionals auxiliary group.

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