Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK Opens Today at Valley Youth Theatre

Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) opens The Jungle Book today, February 7 - the midway point in the non-profit theatre's 25th Anniversary season.

This adventure-comedy is based on Rudyard Kipling's short stories about a boy named Mowgli who raised by wolves, befriended by a bear and hunted by a tiger. It was inspired in part by ancient rules for the division of spoils and first published as a compilation in 1894.

"The theme of this story runs deeper than 'a boy and a bear'," said Producing Artistic Director Bobb Cooper. "It deals with some complex issues like adoption, prejudice and finding one's own identity."

The show's geographically-diverse cast, ages 9 to 18, include Vincent Jacovo (Mowgli) from Surprise, siblings Sophia and Erick Deyden (Mother Wolf, Father Wolf) from Mesa, as well as Tim Oakes (Baloo) and Destiny Walsh (Bagheera) from Gilbert, bot and attend Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Several of the cast have been in previous VYT productions. For example, Jacovo was Jojo in Seussical, Sophia Deyden played the lead in Dora The Explorer LIVE!, and Oakes is making sixth appearance.

Remaining cast members include Constantino DeAngelis (Cub) from Anthem, Kaila Inman (Funky) from Scottsdale, Alexandra Kirby (Black Kite #2) from Paradise Valley, Josh Pike (Tabaqui) from Peoria, Katy Sprowls (Kaa) from Tempe, and Eli West (Wolf #1) from Goodyear.

The rest of the cast from Phoenix are Sophia Drapeau (Black Kite #1), Cole Flowers (Wolf #2), William Harris (Shere Khan), Anand Khalsa (Akela), Zane Niezgodzki (Cheeky), Ethan Shanker (Trout), and Hayley Trueman (Black Kite #3).

Tickets to The Jungle Book are only $18.00 each, plus service fees, and available online at VYT.com or by calling the box office at 602.253.8188 x2.

The Jungle Book is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. | New York, NY

About Valley Youth Theatre: Established in 1989, Valley Youth Theatre is a professional quality, 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential through meaningful engagement, education and excellence in the performing arts. Winner of more than four dozen National Youth Arts awards, voted "Best Live Theater" on azcentral.com, heralded as "Best Place to Take a Bow" by Phoenix Magazine and rated one of the "Top Ten Places to Become a Future Star" by The Arizona Republic, VYT produces six mainstage shows each season including two at the Herberger Theater Center.

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