Disney Working on Live-Action Adaptation of THE JUNGLE BOOK

By: Jul. 09, 2013
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney is currently working on a live-action adaptation of its 1967 classic, THE JUNGLE BOOK. Justin Marks (The Raven) has signed on to write the script. Based on Rudyard Kipling's 1894 short stories, the tale is currently being told on stage at Chicago's Goodman Theatre.

Click here to read the full article.

Goodman Theatre's world premiere of Disney's The Jungle Book began previews on June 21 and runs through August 11. Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman reimagines Walt Disney's 1967 animated hit into a wholly original new work for the stage, drawing from both the film as well as Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and featuring original Indian-inspired music and dance. As previously announced, 10-year-old Akash Chopra makes his Chicago debut as young "man cub" Mowgli, who comes of age with the help of the anthropomorphic singing and dancing jungle animals; joining him in the role at select performances is Roni Akurati, who most recently appeared at the Goodman as Tiny Tim in the 2011 production of A Christmas Carol.

Zimmerman's new book for the Goodman premiere blends the humor and spirit of Disney's iconic film with Kipling's poetry, balancing the jubilant songs from the film with the universal themes about the loss of childhood innocence. The score contains seven songs from the film, plus never-before-heard pieces from the Academy and Grammy Award winners Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. Richard Sherman collaborates with Music Director Doug Peck, who arranges and orchestrates the music, adding underscoring based both on themes from the film and Indian ragas and dance music. Peck's instrumentation includes piano/harmonium, bass, drum set, clarinet, saxophones, flute, trumpet, trombone, tuba, Indian snake trumpets, Carnatic (South Indian) violin, sitar, veena, tablas, ghattam, dholak and dhol.

Tickets to The Jungle Book are now on sale: visit GoodmanTheatre.org


Play Broadway Games

The Broadway Match-UpTest and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia? The Broadway ScramblePlay the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
Tony Awards TriviaHow well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends. Broadway World GameCan you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!

 



Videos