Theater News

How Does Disney Do It?: The Making of The Jungle Book

Disney’s newest musical hit, The Jungle Book, melds well-known tunes with authentic Indian flair.

Boston Chicago

August 6, 2013

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Akash Chopra (Mowgli) gets a piggyback ride from Kevin Carolan (Baloo).<br />(© Liz Lauren)” title=”Akash Chopra (Mowgli) gets a piggyback ride from Kevin Carolan (Baloo).<br />(© Liz Lauren)”/>
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Akash Chopra (Mowgli) gets a piggyback ride from Kevin Carolan (Baloo).
(© Liz Lauren)

(L to R): Timothy Wilson (Wolf), Monique Haley (Insect), and Jeremy Duvall (Insect). <br />(© Liz Lauren)” title=”(L to R): Timothy Wilson (Wolf), Monique Haley (Insect), and Jeremy Duvall (Insect). <br />(© Liz Lauren)”/>
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(L to R): Timothy Wilson (Wolf), Monique Haley (Insect), and Jeremy Duvall (Insect).
(© Liz Lauren)

(Front row, from L to R): Monique Haley (Elephant), Akash Chopra (Mowgli), Ed Kross (Colonel Hathi), and Anjali Bhimani (Baby Elephant) with the rest of Colonel Hathi’s elephant army.
(© Liz Lauren)

Nikka Graff Lanzarone struts her feathers as Ms. Peacock.<br />(© Liz Lauren)” title=”Nikka Graff Lanzarone struts her feathers as Ms. Peacock.<br />(© Liz Lauren)”/>
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Nikka Graff Lanzarone struts her feathers as Ms. Peacock.
(© Liz Lauren)

André de Shields (King Louie) shares the stage with Akash Chopra (Mowgli).<br />(© Liz Lauren)” title=”André de Shields (King Louie) shares the stage with Akash Chopra (Mowgli).<br />(© Liz Lauren)”/>
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André de Shields (King Louie) shares the stage with Akash Chopra (Mowgli).
(© Liz Lauren)

(L to R): Timothy Wilson (ensemble), Thomas Derrah (Kaa), and Akash Chopra (Mowgli). <br />(© Liz Lauren)” title=”(L to R): Timothy Wilson (ensemble), Thomas Derrah (Kaa), and Akash Chopra (Mowgli). <br />(© Liz Lauren)”/>
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(L to R): Timothy Wilson (ensemble), Thomas Derrah (Kaa), and Akash Chopra (Mowgli).
(© Liz Lauren)

Following a successful run and an unprecedented three extensions at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, The Jungle Book is heading to Boston to prepare for a second run at Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company‘s Boston University Theatre. Performances are scheduled to run from September 7-October 13 with an official opening set for September 18.

Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses), with creative and financial support from Disney Theatrical Productions, has molded a stage musical from Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 collection of short stories as well as Walt Disney’s 1967 animated film. Chronicling the young Mowgli’s coming-of-age in the animal kingdom, the production includes tunes from the beloved film written by Grammy Award winner Richard M. Sherman and his brother Robert B. Sherman as well as new Indian-inspired arrangements by music director Doug Peck. Christopher Gattelli (Newsies) also lends his Tony Award-winning choreography to the production, with assistance from Indian dance consultant Hema Rajagopalan.

Take a look at the video below to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this new up-and-coming musical.