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Tate Smith (right) as Akele and Aspen Mayhew as Shere Khan face off. -
Zeek Deterding monkeys around. -
Danielle Verlander (right) and Macy McDowell are up to monkey business. -
Nathan Bilyeu (right) as Mowgli and Ben Braddy as Baloo perform a jig. -
Aspen Mayhew as Shere Khan shows her eye of the tiger. -
Caleb Talmage as Chief Monkey leads his monkey crew in a dance. -
Kiara Stowater as Bagheera lounges in the vines. Staff photos by Taylor Nye
Children’s summer workshop production opens
The Arts
Six weeks of hard work went on display Friday as the 2019 Children’s Theatre Workshop production of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” opened.
This year’s musical production boasts a group of 32 crew and cast members. The show includes 22 speaking roles and a chorus. Participants, ages 6-17, have been working on the production for around six weeks, beginning in early June. There are two different casts, although some actors will be doing double duty, appearing both weekends.
“We have some amazingly talented kids,” said director David Woody. “It’s been fun watching them come out of their shells. They’ve learned quickly, and hopefully, they’ll go with tools they can use. One thing they’ve learned is they can go three hours without a cell phone and not die.”
Woody’s co-director, Kelsey Horton, is a Children’s Theatre Workshop alum herself. She participated for six years before aging out of the program two years ago. Horton will be heading to Denton this fall as she begins working on her theater degree. Woody says Horton has been “a tremendous help” putting the production together.
Workshop participants have been exposed to all aspects of a stage production, including tech, makeup, costumes and set construction.
“It’s been a fun show,” Woody said. “The music is simple, but catchy. It’s a great story, and the kids learned quickly.”
Performances are scheduled for Fridays-Sundays, July 26-28 and Aug. 2-4. Show times are 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, and reservations can be made online at www.communityplayersinc.com or by calling the Main Street Theater at 903-885-0107.