COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary Chorus will present its sixth musical, "The Jungle Book Kids," at 7 p.m. Friday, April 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the school gymnatorium. More than 60 students in fourth through sixth grades are involved in the production as cast and crew.
Deep in the heart of the jungle, Mowgli (Giavanni Picarelli), the man-cub, is raised by wolves. When Shere Khan the tiger (Charles Keer) decides that Mowgli is no longer welcome in the jungle, Bagheera the panther (Jenna Jerdon) plans to guide him to safety of the man village. Mowgli refuses to leave his home, so the two settle down for the night under a coconut tree (Channing Maneval).
Their peaceful night is interrupted when Kaa the snake (Lillyauna Bickel, Giavanna Candelora, Mackenzie Catino, Emily deManincor, Anna Gownley, Maria Maresca, Gianna Picarelli and Mary Richardson) lulls Mowgli into a deep sleep. Bagheera chases off the snake just in time for an elephant stampede (Frances Czeponis, Bella Bach, Hannah Bozza, Abigail Doss, Julianna Picarelli, Aaryanna Rodriquez, Caitlin Shulski, Gabrielle Venna and Gianna Venna). While the elephants march off, Bagheera commands Mowgli to follow him without any more argument.
Mowgli pouts by a large boulder only to discover that it is the giant bear Baloo (Nathan Grimes), who offers his philosophy on life with some help from the bees (Alessandra Albert, Ashley Albert, Meryl Czeponis, Caroline Feese, Monica Maresca, Emily Shaffer and Gianna Sinopoli). During his "lesson," Mowgli is kidnapped by monkeys (Cydney Crissman, Caycee Kalinoski, Margaret Karpinski, Madison Munson, Elizabeth Nguyen, Regan Scandle, Cassidy Shovlin, Behret Steinbauer, Garrett Timco, Connor Weaver and Lilian Yuschock) and taken to their leader, King Louie (PJ Long), who wants to learn how to be a man. Bagheera rescues Mowgli while the disguised Baloo distracts King Louis. When the monkeys try to follow in pursuit, Shere Khan, scares them away.
Baloo realizes the jungle is not safe for Mowgli, who overhears him and runs away, dejected. Two vultures (Chris and Jared Stewart), some prickly pears (Brianna Barwick, Katelyn Deitz, Gabrielle Doss, Nina Ginitz, Morgan Munson, Sarah Strouse and Kelsey Wheary) and rocks (Jordan Deibler, Kylie Dobryzn, Jesse James, Krystof Lapotsky, Olivia Nguyen and Mikayla Showver) find him and promise to protect him. But Shere Kahn finds him anyway. Baloo, Mowgli and the jungle work together to tie up the tiger. The coconut tree, revealed to be the young girl, Shanti, in disguise, blindfolds Shere Kahn, who exits in shame. Even though he is now safe, Mowgli decides to go the man village with Shanti, but will always consider the jungle his home.
The technical crew includes Anthony Getchey, Emma Gownley, Peyton Kehler, Ty Klembara, Jacob Mestlin, Ryan Mirarchi, Eric Shoch and Zack Smith.
Tickets are not being sold, but donations will be accepted at the door, which opens 45 minutes before each show.
Sister Margaret Ann Quinn is the elementary principal. Bonny Klinger is the musical director, Lee Ann Smith is the assistant to the director and Victor Ginitz is the art director. The public is invited.