Media Theatre Stages New JUNGLE BOOK This Summer

Mowgli, Baloo, and the gang are ready to entertain this summer each weekend at The Media Theatre in "The Jungle Book". In this new live-action version written by Tim Haney with music by Ben Kapilow, audiences will find humor and heart as Mowgli grows up with the assistance of animal friends.

Based on Rudyard Kipling's stories, "The Jungle Book" starts out with Mowgli as a small child and ends with him as a pre-teen. All of the recognizable characters are in the show, including Bagheera the panther, Shere Khan the tiger, and Kaa the snake. The musical is a perfect introduction to theatre for ages 4 and up.

Adult actors join students of the theatre's classes and camps to present the story. Tim Haney reprises his role as Baloo, played five years ago to great acclaim. Mark Marano, recently seen as Samuel Chases in "1776", leaps into the role of King Louis the Orangutan and Henry O' Neill, a policeman from Prospect Park, lends his talent to the role of Father Wolf. The role of Mowgli is shared by Zachary Divito and Ben Pedersen, but audiences do meet Mowgli as a very young boy first. Young Mowgli is played by Aidan Fox and Danny Pedersen.

Some other roles are also double cast to allow plenty of opportunity for young student actors and to present a fresh take to each performance in this new scripted production, based on the show produced at The Media Theatre five years ago.

New music has been written by Kapilow with revised lyrics by Kapilow and Haney. Ben Kapilow is now in his second summer at The Media Theatre as music director for the youth programs. The recent world premiere at Media, "Peter Pan And Wendy", highlighted
Kapilow's original music this past February. He has an extensive list of credits of original music from everything to school productions to stage shows for youth.

"The Jungle Book" is directed by Roger Ricker, who directed the popular holiday children's production "Jack Frost". The hour long adventurous and humorous musical has an opportunity for young Audience members to join the actors on the stage during the song "Laws of The Jungle".

It's on now through August, each weekend (Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at Noon). Call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org for tickets, which are $12 for children and $15 for adults.

Pictured: Mark Marano as King Louis

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