Electronic Press Kit last updated: July 15, 2020 “Jungle Book is A MUST SEE, especially “CHARMING!...an imaginative blend of for multi-generational families where this living, breathing, onstage actors, stage- can open the door for dialogue on bullying, filling projections both still and animated, respect, temperance and so much more.” and shadow puppets operated by - Broadway World shadow people.” (June 2018 Florida review) - Creative Loafing “JOYOUS! A new version of the familiar “EXCITING... I was taken on a wild story that should delight children and the adventure ride through an immersive adults lucky enough to join them.” technology and multimedia to the urban - Sarasota Herald-Tribune jungle of Mowgli’s childhood in the forests of India. I loved every minute of it” “Like stepping inside a beautifully - OnStage Blog illustrated children’s storybook. It’s a MAGICAL experience!” “BREATHTAKING... As co-creators/ - The Observer directors Rick Miller and Craig Francis showed with their immersive and “Jungle Book is a great place to introduce spectacular Twenty Thousand Leagues young people to the wonderful world Under the Sea, they are geniuses at of theatrical storytelling.” melding technology with raw art forms to - Talkin’ Broadway create a theatre of illusions and magic.” - Drew Rowsome Theatre Blog “The cast and crew bring a classic to life with modern-day techniques and takes.” “An Imaginative, Beautiful Production... - Sarasota Magazine age-appropriate, stunningly designed, and immensely fun.” “INCREDIBLE... Even the “Imagineers” - Broadway World at Disney could learn from this production (February 2020 Toronto review) — it is that good.” - Venice Gondolier Sun By Hallie Peilet June 7, 2018 “I think that’s always relatable, and that’s why ‘Jungle Book’ to world premiere at there’s so many stories about what it means to Asolo Rep go from being a kid to growing up,” Valayil said. “There’s loss there and there’s a gain, and that sto- Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” gets a fun and ry’s really important no matter what. I think all the “I’m in love with the show in this theater; I mean if kids that come are gonna appreciate that.” anyone doesn’t know how lucky they are to have a theater like Asolo Repertory in Sarasota they are lucky,” Co-Director & Co-Creator Craig Francis said. He calls the Asolo a “jewel box theatre.” “It’s also a very tall theater, and the multimedia and the immersive effects we’ve created for this show really fi ll it,” Francis said. From puppets to shadow theater to sound design, the show takes the audience on an adventure. “Make people feel like, for a moment at least, they’re in the jungle,” Francis said. “They’re some- where else.” Source: http://www.snntv.com/2018/06/07/jungle- book-world-premiere-asolo-rep/ Dozens of animal and human characters are all portrayed by just four actors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMJ0SBYkVM Levin Valayil, who plays Mowgli, says he’s always dreamed of being on the Asolo stage. “Now I’m here, and it’s pretty awesome to see it come to fruition,” Valayil said. Miriam Fernandes plays Mowgli’s little sister, Maya. The role of Maya was created specifi cally for this show. “..because Jungle Book tends to be a very male story about Mowgli,” Fernandes said. This version is different. “You have Mowgli’s mother, who’s a single mother raising Maya and Mowgli, so I think it’s important to see women and keep hearing their voices on stage,” Fernandes said. Valayil calls Mowgli’s role a “coming of age” story. By Jay Handelman, Arts Editor June 10, 2018 formers to create a wild but inviting jungle world. Theater Review: Inventive ‘Jungle Levin Valayil, who was seen in Sarasota in Florida Book’ charms kids and adults at Studio Theatre’s production of “The Fabulous Lipi- tones” is a charming Mowgli (the name means “lit- Asolo Rep tle frog”), kid-like and purposeful as the youngster grows up and tries to fi t in with his animal family Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” gets a fun and and friends. His broad smile helps to engage even spirited modern makeover in the Asolo Repertory the most reluctant audience members to get in- Theatre’s world premiere of a new version of the volved in the show. At one point, we’re asked to familiar story that should delight children and the how like wolves and at another, audience clapping adults lucky enough to join them. can help to create rain on stage to stop a lightning fi r e . Asolo Rep commissioned this multimedia show with original music from Craig Francis and Rick The other three actors — Matt Lacas, Anita Maju- Miller, the Canadian theater and television team madar and Miriam Fernandes — play multiple hu- that brought their version of “20,000 Leagues Un- man and animal characters, either creating shad- der the Sea” to Sarasota last season. ow puppets or wearing furry costumes that are cute but not cloying. Lacas is stern as Mowgli’s Forget what you’ve seen in any Disney version. wolf father, Akela; playful as the slow-moving but This “Jungle Book” is an inventive and colorful tell- supportive bear, Baloo, and menacing as a human ing of the story of a young boy named Mowgli who hunter out to add to his trophy case. Majumdar is left behind in the jungles of India to be raised conveys warmth and concern as both Mowgli’s by the wolves and navigate the dangers posed by wolf and human mothers, and she’s sleek and ob- other animals who eye this human “man cub” with servant as the panther Bagheera. In addition to great suspicion. Mowgli is fi rst seen as a disap- manipulating the movements of a large python pointed adult, an architect who realizes that he is who helps save Mowgli from trouble, Fernandes is contributing to the destruction of green spaces by delightful as his younger sister, Maya, who tells a designing suburban strip malls. He feels like an favorite childhood story with lots of dramatic fl air. outsider in the big city because he has lost his connection to nature. It’s a split reminiscent of The script is smart enough to appeal to adults his feelings in the jungle as a human in an animal while not talking down to kids. It includes some world. dark moments that are believable without being haunting. So he opens what his sister, Maya, came to call his “jungle book” of sketches, phrases and poems “Jungle Book” continues Asolo Rep’s recent sea- about his life in the wild, his adventures, misad- son-closing series of family friendly shows which ventures and lessons learned from his animal pro- have helped to alter our sense of what children’s tectors. And we join him through his story as the theater can or should be. This production, which pages come to life on screens and scrims through conveys a strong message about the environment, the imaginative projections by Irina Litvinenko, speaks to young audiences and the kid inside the which are set off by impactful lighting by Rebec- adults in equal and joyous measure. ca Picherback and a constantly surprising array of scenic, prop and costume design by Astrid Jan- son and Melanie McNeill. Source: http://www.heraldtribune.com/ There are only four actors visible on stage, but the entertainmentlife/20180610/theater-review-inventive- designs make the stage seem more crowded in jungle-book-charms-kids-and-adults-at-asolo-rep this fast-moving, 70-minute show, which features several songs with an Indian fl air by Suba San- karan. Shadow puppets mix with the human per- By Kay Kipling June 10, 2018 REVIEW: Asolo Rep Engages Besides the familiar characters of Baloo the sloth bear, Bagheera the panther, Kaa the python, and Audiences with a New Jungle Book those dangerous but sort of fun monkeys (Bandar- Log), in this version of the story, we meet Mowgli’s The cast and crew bring a classic to life with human family: his sister Maya (Miriam Fernandes) modern-day techniques and takes. and mother Messua (Anita Majumdar). And there’s Rudyard Kipling’s children’s classic The Jungle also Buldeo (Matt Lacas), representing the worst Book has certainly proved fertile ground for of mankind as he wields a cruel elephant prod. adaptation over the years, whether it be for Disney movie megahits or onstage, as is the case with While I’m never sure that the contemporary the world premiere version of the story of the boy framework of the urban jungle of New York, Mowgli now playing at Asolo Rep. complete with Mowgli texting on his cell phone, is really necessary (I know, it’s supposed to help Brought to life by the same team (writers-directors today’s kids relate), the production overall does Craig Francis and Rick Miller) who conceived last year’s family-friendly season closer, Twenty succeed in translating Kipling’s original to a Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, this Jungle more modern sensibility. Valayil is an engaging, Book employs some of the same techniques as appropriately physical Mowgli who interacts that earlier production. A small cast of four actors convincingly with the animals of his world (who are ranges across the stage in a number of roles, so in turn portrayed skillfully by Lacas, Majumdar and swiftly and smoothly that you sometimes can’t Fernandes, aided by props, costumes and shadow remember who’s playing what. A few original puppetry), as well as with his audience. And yes, songs (by Suba Sankaran) enhance the action.