Huntingburg Elementary presents The Jungle Book Kids

Though the fifth-grade students at Huntingburg Elementary chose The Jungle Book Kids as their class musical, music teacher Kim Wirthwein made it her goal to be sure every student had their moment in front of the audience.

“It really is all about the students,” Wirthwein said.

Every one of the 123 students plays a key role, whether they are one of the main characters in the kid-friendly adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling story, or a dancing-and-singing tree or a boulder.

Since sets don’t change — the kids are the sets — there isn’t any backstage crew; the lone technical position, sound, is filled by Liam Blackgrove in the orchestra pit with Wirthwein.

It is a fantastic show with amazing costumes, the beloved songs from the Disney classic, and fast action featuring the fearless boy Mowgli, the lovable bear Baloo, the wise black panther Bagheera, and the sly orangutan King Louie, while facing the threat of the fearsome tiger Shere Khan.

After two “dress rehearsals” for the local elementary school students, the show opens to the public on Thursday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Southridge High School auditorium, with doors opening an hour earlier for a community event featuring local businesses and community groups, with fun jungle-themed activities and games.

If you miss it on Thursday, your next chance is Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m., but the door opens an hour early for the community event that day as well

Tickets are available at this link https://our.show/hbejunglebookkids

Here are some photos from today’s show at Southridge. A cast list is included at the end of the photos.

Kaa makes his hypnotizing entrance. Played by Sky Perez, Kenia Melara, Helena Luebbehusen, Brelyn Bredemeier, Heidy Alvarenga, and Aniston Hemmer, the crew snaked through the audience of children before meeting up with Mowgli on the stage.

*Colonel Hathi, Knox Gogel, leads his troop of elephants in a most military style.*

*King Louie, played by Chloe O’Brien, meets with Mowgli for the first time.*

*Baloo dances with King Louie and his entourage.*

*Shere Khan, played by Henley Hemmer, makes his ferocious affirmation that he is the king of the jungle.*

*Shanti, played by Isabella Hernandez (center), is joined by the jungle for her song*.

*Shere Khan is defeated by the jungle working together.*

Huntingburg Elementary 5th Grade production of Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids

Music & Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman and Terry Gilkyson
Book Adapted and Additional Lyrics by Marcy Heisler
Music Adapted and Arranged by Bryan Louiselle
Based on the Rudyard Kipling novel and the Disney film

CAST
Bagheera Aiden Hochgesang …………………………………………………………….
Baloo Claire Obermeier ………………………………………………………………………
Mowgli Cooper Denu …………………………………………………………………………..
Shere Khan Henley Hemmer …………………………………………………………….
Shanti Isabella Hernandez …………………………………………………………………
Wolves ……….Jayden Abrego, Justin Calderon, Case Krieg, …………
Luka Nasti, Mario Ramos, Javier Sandoval
Kaa 1 Sky Perez …………………………………………………………………………………….
Kaa 2 Kenia Melara ……………………………………………………………………………..
Kaa 3…………………………………………………..Helena Luebbehusen
Kaa 4……………………………………………………….Brelyn Bredemeier
Kaa 5…………………………………………………………..Heidy Alvarenga
Kaa Tail ……………………………………………………..Aniston Hemmer
Colonel Hathi Knox Gogel …………………………………………………………………
Elephants…………….Olivia Frick, Jace Hernandez, Sophia
Hinton, Henry Humbert,, Shane Hupp, Braelyn James, Evan
Mathies, Mason Spaulding, Lesly Tobar,
Baby Elephant Lexi Mathies ……………………………………………………………..
Grumpy Monkey Annason Mills ………………………………………………………
Silly Monkey Chad Atkins ………………………………………………………………….
Sassy Monkey Lexi Long ……………………………………………………………………
Old Monkey Daniel Herrera ………………………………………………………………
King Louie Chloe O’Brien …………………………………………………………………..
Monkeys ………. Marlon Barahona, Amos, Betz, Tate Blessinger,
Aranza Brancho, Landon Byrd, Santiago Calderon, Mekayla
Chancho, Kimberly Cornejo, Isaiah Cox, Alexia Cruz, Easton
Hancock, Kyra Head, Yahir Hernandez Polanco, Alexander
Luker, Max Marshall, Mateo Miranda, Rhys Rauscher, Sofia
Sifontes, Nathaniel Velasquez, Webb Willis,
Vultures……….Liam Brumley, Evalyn Johnson, Kaydence Zink
Dizzy Vulture Annabelle Blount ………………………………………………………
Ziggy Vulture Alexander Zink …………………………………………………………..
Jungle Thistle ……Sofia Dubon, Taylor Haywood, Nala Howard,
Milieus Martinez, Kalani Moore, Ila Mae Oeding, Marley
Putnam, Makayla Ridenour
Jungle Lotus…..Ella Arehart, Jaylah Dubon, Londyn Flores,
Carolyn Galdamez, Chantal Gonzales, Jovi Kirk, Julia Ortiz,
Alexis Russelburg
Jungle Banyan………………………………Camila Dubon, Marelyn
Dubon, Glenda Garcia, Azura McPherson
Jungle Ferns……………………….Weston Bolling, Matthew Gomez
Jungle Peacock…………………………………………..Kate Rugamos
Jungle Boulders……………………………………….Weston Cooper,
Jesus Garcia, Callan Kramer, Isaac Lee, Mikah Nasti, Willie Ruiz
Jungle River…..Emily Alegria, Anastasia Bates, Scarlett
Calderon, Alisson Cortez, Alayna Dearing, Evalyse Diaz, Emma
Ditmore, Leah Lamb, Nia Lemmer, Valeria Serrano
Shanti’s Family….Alexa Arrendondo, Carolina Dilly, Robyn
Mendel, Hendrix Ransom

Jungle Bumble Bees………Alexa Acosta, Nazareth Alvarez
Perez, Aubrie Andry, Mailyn Cook, Kamila Cruz, Helen
Domingo, Kaylee Faulkenburg, Claire Frick, Eve Kiefer, Laney
Langebrake, Bralynn Mathies, Leah Merter, Mikaela Mendoza,
Ainsley Rager, Katy Rugamos Calderon, Kaithyn Serrano,
Alison Suriano, Camilia Villalta, Kylie Zink

PRODUCTION TEAM
Music Director Kimberly Wirthwein …………………………………….
Choreographer Kimberly Wirthwein ……………………………………
Set Designer ……………..Bartelt/Wirthwein/Hochgesang/Ferguson
Costume Designer Bartelt/Wirthwein ………………………………….
Kaa………………………………………………………….Emily Bartelt
Lighting Designer Eli Englert and Emily Bartelt …………………
Sound Technician Liam Blackgrove ………………………………………
Rehearsal Managers Bardwell, Bartelt, Mattingly, Metz

Special thanks to all of the parents and teachers
who have made this production possible!
Southridge High School for the use of the facilities
Greg Buening for the help with Kaa
Branded by Woods for costume donations
Steinkamps for costume/set donations
OFS for chair, foam, and material donations
Bezos Family Foundation for costume donations

Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by
Music Theatre International.
421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
Script, music, and all other material © 2015 Disney
Broadway Junior and MTI’s Broadway Junior Collection are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Music Theatre International. All rights reserved.