Children's Theatre of Elgin goes wild with 'The Jungle Book'

Back for its 115th production on April 8-10, Children's Theatre of Elgin (CTE) will present an exciting musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic, "The Jungle Book" at the Hemmens Cultural Center in downtown Elgin.

Performed by a talented cast of second- through ninth-graders from the Fox Valley area, this musical brings to life the beloved story of Mowgli the man-cub, a boy raised by wolves, befriended by bears and panthers, and pursued by a relentless and menacing tiger in the deep jungles of India.

Not the Disney version, this lively musical from Australia is a classic tale, filled with great songs, adventure and fun.

For decades, Children's Theatre of Elgin has welcomed hundreds of Fox Valley's young performers to the stage.

"We have 94 wonderfully talented and extremely hardworking kids as cast members," director Catie Early said.

Performers' families aren't left out of the fun either.

"Parents of the kids are our set builders, costume crew, props committee and all of our backstage help," she said. "All of our productions are truly a group effort, and particularly for this show, I love the Kipling quote: 'The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.' Every performer is integral to the show's success, and behind every great performer, is a great crew."

Cast members have risen to the challenge of portraying animal characters, according to Early.

"This has been a fantastic experience for our students because it asked them think outside the box, to take on the role of animals, and to discover how to use their bodies to show how they're feeling, sometimes without using any words at all," Early said.

The Children's Theatre of Elgin experience comes full circle for some members of "The Jungle Book" artistic team.

"This show's staff is full of CTE alumni," says producer Jess Yeska, "including myself, Catie Early (director), Allison Cherry (assistant director) and Sarah Robertson (choreographer) - all CTE graduates."

"The Jungle Book" features catchy songs, audience participation and the timeless theme of the power of family and friendship. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 9, and at 2 p.m. April 10 at the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Seats are self-selected and no additional fees are charged.

For tickets and information, visit the Children's Theatre of Elgin website at CTEelgin.com or call (847) 214-7550.