By Virginia Coleman-Prisco

The Botelle Elementary School Theater Group performed Disney’s “Jungle Book Kids” based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic over three days in April to substantial audiences in the school gymnasium. The 18 students commanded the stage with energy and professionalism, supported by lively musical numbers, ingenious costumes and sets under direction from parents Becky Keyes and Megan Schneider.

The cast included Elana Hunt as Bagheera, Adilyn Keyes as Baloo, Nate Schneider as Mowgli, Abigail Bennett as Shere Khan and Fiona Padua as Shanti. The supporting cast included Landree Sharack, Seth Dubecky, Shelby Kroehle, Ian Weaving, Lyko Whitaker, Moshe Santiesteban, Dalton Jeannin, Gage Padua, Ya’akov Santiesteban, Brayden Schneider, Julianna Brown, Amelia Dubecky and Lilyah Kochman. Elana Hunt reflected on the opportunity to perform in the production. She said, “I had fun, especially with having so many kids involved and engaging songs for us to perform.”

The performance was jam-packed with activity, understandable in a show geared towards younger performers. Keyes said,  “as a result, we ended up with a very song-driven, fast-paced musical with a lot of large, whole cast group dances. While we were a little apprehensive with some of our younger actors (many of them performing for the first time), as usual, all the kids rose to the challenge, and we got nothing but positive feedback on our final product!”  One of the younger first-time performers, Ian Weaving, told Choreographer Michelle Padua, “I am definitely doing the play next year!”

Michelle Padua also gave credit to the “great group of volunteers behind the scenes that keep things running smoothly.” Schneider added, “not only did parents help with various projects, but also grandpas built set pieces, grandmas helped backstage and with sets, while our older Botelle alums helped behind the scenes.” Set Designer Stace Dillard said, “The sets and props turned out amazing. We had to be clever about repurposing previous sets and using non-conventional items like pool noodles and cardboard boxes to make props like trees and King Louie’s throne.”  Sometimes, as Baloo proclaims, the “Bare necessities of life will come to you.”   

Thanks to support from the Battell Arts Foundation and the Norfolk Connecticut Children’s Foundation, admission was free for the audience. Community members are also invited to Botelle’s Celebration of Learning on June 2 from 5-7 p.m. This event showcases the students’ academic work, spring music concert and art show.