IT’S ALL ABOUT FINDING FAMILY
StoryBook Theatre’s new musical takes a journey through The Urban Jungle Book
It’s safe to bet that someone in StoryBook Theatre’s new musical The Urban Jungle Book will be belting out the lyrics, ‘It’s a jungle out there.’
The Urban Jungle Book is the brainchild of Joe Slabe and J.P. Thibodeau, whose work on original Forte Musical Guild musicals have won them a bundle of Betty and Critter ( Calgary theatre) awards.
They are quick to point out their show is not based on the Disney Jungle Book characters.
Tenaj Williams, one of the 11 members of the cast, explains the premise of this musical that runs at the Beddington Arts Centre until March 18.
“It’s the story of a young boy named Michael whose mother is killed in a car accident. Because his father is held responsible, Michael is put into the foster care system,” says Williams, adding that Michael’s favourite book is Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
“For Michael, being placed in a foster home is the equivalent of Mowgli being adopted by the wolves. It’s a family that’s clearly not his by birth.”
His new foster mother is Mrs. Lowell, whose last name means wolf.
In her son Conor, Michael gets a new foster brother named Conno, who becomes Grey Wolf from The Jungle Book.
Williams plays Chase, Michael’s social worker.
“Whenever Michael feels too overwhelmed in the real world, he retreats into his Jungle Book world in his head,” he says.
“My character Chase becomes Bagheera, the black panther who is Michael’s protector, and he begins to see other people in his new community through the eyes of his Jungle Book characters.”
Berdine who owns a corner store becomes the lovable bear Baloo.
Because he is still leery of authority figures, Michael sees the local police woman, Officer Drake, as Kaa the snake.
The bullies in the neighbourhood become the monkeys and the good kids more wolves.
Because of his strained relationship with his father, the man becomes Mowgli’s enemy, the tiger Shere Khan.
In StoryBook’s The Urban Jungle Book, Michael/Mowgli is played by J.J. Penaranda, Conor/ Grey Wolf by Alex Smith, Mother Wolf by Andrea Page, Berdine/ Baloo by Jolene Anderson, Office Drake/Kaa by Laura Solilo, Shere Khan by Jason Lemmon and the monkey leader by Justine Westby.
Evan Forbes, Nina Garcia and Alyshia- Grace Hobday complete the ensemble.
Williams explains that "no actor ever leaves the stage.
“We’re all there to help tell, guide and observe Michael’s story.”
Slabe has written nine new songs for The Urban Jungle Book, which help elaborate the themes of the show.
“Michael and his foster brother Conor have a beautiful duet called We Are One Blood, and that’s what Michael comes to realize.
“He finds a family when he doesn’t have one any more but, more importantly, it’s Michael who creates that family.”
Williams says it’s inspiring that “Michael also learns his father is not his enemy and that he should become part of Michael’s new extended family.”
Williams first worked professionally with Slabe on StoryBook Theatre’s The Paper Bag Princess, a collaboration which earned him a 2016 Calgary Theatre Critics Award for best supporting performance in a musical.
He’s known Slabe much longer. “Joe taught me music at Bishop Carroll High School,” he recalls.
“I took a special jazz choir class with him. I’ve admired his talents for a long time.”
The Urban Jungle Book runs until March 18 with Tuesday and Wednesday performances at 10 a.m., Thursday through Saturday evening performances at 7 p.m. and matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
My character Chase becomes Bagheera … and he begins to see other people in his new community through the eyes of his Jungle Book character.