Skip to main content
Intellect

New musical adaptation of "Jungle Book" to play at BYU Feb. 8-16

A Theatre for Young Audiences production

Brigham Young University’s Theatre for Young Audiences will take a walk on the wild side in a new musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale “The Jungle Book” Friday, Feb. 8, through Saturday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Nelke Theatre.

Tickets are $10 or $6 for weeknights and $7 for weekend shows with a BYU or student ID and for children 2 years and older. No performances will be held on Sunday or Monday. Tickets for the dress rehearsals at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 and 7 and matinees at 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 and 16 will be $5. To purchase tickets, visit the Fine Arts Ticket Office, performances.byu.edu or call (801) 422-4322.

Raised by wolves deep in an Indian jungle, Mowgli leads a life of adventure most boys only dream of. The jungle is full of mysterious creatures — madcap monkeys, seductive snakes and one terrifying tiger who vows to drink Mowgli’s blood.

The terrifying tiger is Shere Kahn, the most powerful animal in the jungle. Rather than use her power for good, Shere Kahn turns her back on the Jungle Law in favor of her own version of justice — revenge.

Allison Belnap, who directs the show, came across some lyrics from the song “Watershed” by the Indigo Girls, which she thinks reflects the main theme of the play: “They say it’s never too late, but you don’t get any younger! Well, I better learn how to starve the emptiness and feed the hunger.”

“Our challenge is to learn how to starve the emptiness of revenge and feed the hunger for forgiveness,” Belnap said. “Starve the emptiness of pride and feed the hunger for humility. Starve the emptiness of covering our sins and feed the hunger for repentance. Shere Kahn continually feeds the emptiness and starves the true hunger. And in the end, she loses everything and gains nothing.”

In the BYU production, Zakary Kirkpatrick will play the part of Mowgli, Ashley Leavitt the part of Baloo, Cherish Caldwell the part of Bagheera and Judy Simmons the part of Shere Kahn.

Joining Belnap on the production staff are Korianne Johnson, music director; Chris Hartman, choreographer; Rebecca Hixson, production stage manager; Ward Wright, scenic designer; Mary Haddock, costume designer; and Heidi Doggett, makeup and hair designer.

For more information, call Allison Belnap at (801) 422-6265.

Writer: Marissa Ballantyne

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Want to thrive in your 30s? BYU study says education and service in your 20s are key

July 16, 2025
New BYU research shows that hitting the books and helping others in your 20s leads to a happier, more regret-free life in your 30s.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildflowers not wildfires: How BYU and Provo City are helping to restore Rock Canyon Trailhead

July 10, 2025
At Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo, Utah, BYU researchers are fighting fires with flowers. By replacing a problematic weed called cheatgrass with wildflowers, students and faculty are working to protect and restore one of Provo’s most popular hiking spots.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildfires in residential areas are on the rise; why hydrants and the water system behind them were never meant to stop those fires

July 01, 2025
BYU professor Rob Sowby teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability. He has particular expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of public water systems. That expertise has been increasingly important (and regularly sought out) in the wake of apocalyptic wildfires that have taxed those public water systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=