Young Entertainers on Stage series debuts with Disney’s The Jungle Book April 29-30

Release Date: 4/20/2006. Expired: 4/30/2006

The jungle is jumpin’ with jazz as the new Young Entertainers on Stage (YES) series at The Renaissance Center presents Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids in two special performances April 29 and 30.

Tickets for the 2 p.m. shows are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children under 13.

The YES series is a new program from The Renaissance Center’s Theatre Arts Department that features plays selected specifically for and cast totally with students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. From the audition process through rehearsals to the culminating performances, the students work with the professional directors, technicians and actors at The Renaissance Center to present a production that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids is adapted from the classic Disney animated feature film based on the Rudyard Kipling novel about a young human child raised by wolves and befriended by animals in the jungle.

But the presence of Mowgli, the human child, in the jungle is discomforting to some animals and Shere Khan, the powerful tiger, decides that Mowgli is not welcome. Bagheera, the panther, wants to return Mowgli to the safety of the human village, but Mowgli is reluctant to go.

The jungle swings with familiar songs like The Bare Necessities, I Wan’na Be Like You and Trust in Me.

More than 25 children from across Middle Tennessee have been cast in the production.

Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids cast members:

Dickson County:

Nikita Ester Pankratz of Dickson plays King Louie and is a member of the jungle chorus. A fourth grader at The Discovery School, he has previously appeared in the Youth Theatrical Outreach Program productions of Under the Western Sky and Why the Rain Falls in the Jungle. He enjoys Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and fascinating rocks and minerals.

Bethany Hampton of Burns is a member of the jungle chorus. The third grader at Stuart-Burns Elementary School is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She enjoys basketball, art and singing.

Paige Bogard of Dickson is a member of the elephant troupe. A kindergartener at St. Henry School, Paige is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She enjoys soccer, Irish step dancing and cross country running.

Sydney Bogard of Dickson is a member of the jungle chorus. A student at St. Henry School, she previously appeared in the Renaissance Players production of The Wizard of Oz and the Youth Theatrical Outreach Program production of Why the Rain Falls in the Jungle. She enjoys drawing, dancing, soccer, singing and knitting.

Haley DeLoach of Dickson is playing Baby Elephant. A primer student at Centennial Elementary School, she is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center and has participated in choral programs at school. She enjoys piano and Spanish classes, swimming, roller-skating, riding, gymnastics and attending Camp Renaissance.

Al Gunn of Dickson is a member of the elephant troupe. The home-schooled second grader has previously appeared in the Renaissance Players productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, A Christmas Story and A Christmas Carol, for which he won a 2005 Jimmy Award for his portrayal of Tiny Tim Cratchit. He also has appeared in home-school association plays and a production in Houston County. He enjoys soccer and running, completing his first 5K race in March.

Andy Gunn of Dickson is one of the coils of Kaa, a member of the jungle chorus and the elephant troupe. The home-schooled fourth grader has previously appeared in the Renaissance Players productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, A Christmas Story, Cinderella and A Christmas Carol, as well as two home-school association plays and a play in Houston County. He enjoys soccer and running, completing his first 5K race in March.

Caleb L. Hayes of Dickson is one of the coils of Kaa and a member of the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The home-schooled sixth grader is appearing in his first production at The Renaissance Center. He enjoys coin collecting and can sound like a cartoon as well as speak some Spanish.

Josh Fussell of Burns is a member of the elephant troupe. A first grader at Stuart-Burns Elementary School, he has previously appeared in two church choir performances. He enjoys playing with his dog Pickle, watching television, playing videogames, swimming, adventures, music, dancing, riding rides at Disneyland, watching plays and his Skit-A-Week theatre class with Olive Mayger at The Renaissance Center.

Emma Jordan of Charlotte is playing Kaa and is in the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The home-schooled seventh grader has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Wizard of Oz, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Carol and was on the stage crew for Little Shop of Horrors. She won the Renaissance Players Spirit Award in 2005. She also has appeared in the Mind Enriching Theatre series production of HONK! and a production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She enjoys singing and acting.

Michael Richardson of Burns is playing Baloo. An eighth grader at Dickson Middle School, he has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of Cinderella, A Christmas Carol and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He also has appeared in school productions of Lagooned, Abracadabra Aladdin and worked on the technical crews for The Nerd and Grease. He is a trombone player with the Dickson Middle and Dickson County High School bands and enjoys theatre and surfing the Internet.

Austin Fussell of Burns is a member of the jungle chorus. The third grader takes theatre and piano classes at The Renaissance Center and has performed as a member of his church choir. He enjoys roller coasters, playing instruments and going to Disneyland.

Tory Gunn of Dickson is playing Bagheera. The home-schooled ninth grader has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and two productions of A Christmas Carol, She received a 2005 Jimmy Award for Best Actress Under 16 in a play. As a member of the Young Actors Studio, she appeared in productions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Young Cherokee, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and A Christmas Carol. She also appeared in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with the Houston County Community Theatre. She enjoys singing, acting and spoiling her baby brother.

Christian Redden of Cumberland Furnace is playing Mowgli. The home-schooled sixth grader has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Who’s Tommy, The Wizard of Oz and Jesus Christ Superstar. He has appeared in home-school productions and takes drama classes at The Renaissance Center. He enjoys theatre, piano, children’s choir, dance class, soccer, baseball, gymnastics, Boy Scouts, fishing and reading.

Rachel Lee Tidwell of Burns is a member of the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The ninth grader appeared in the Renaissance Players production of Fiddler on the Roof, for which she won the Jimmy Award as Best Actress Under 16 in a Musical. She has appeared in school productions of The Diary of Anne Frank, Abracadabra Aladdin, Go Go Jonah, Bartholomew Cubbins and the Oobleck, Giddy-up, Get Along Gideon and was on the technical crew for The Nerd. She enjoys swimming, writing, singing, laughing, playing sports, canoeing, flirting, acting, playing cards and loving life.

Cheatham County

Megan McNeal of Kingston Springs is one of Kaa’s coils and a member of the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The home-schooled seventh grader is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center where she participates in choir, drama, art and dance classes. She enjoys drawing, horseback riding and dog training.

Shonnah McNeal of Kingston Springs is a member of the jungle chorus. The home-schooled fourth grader is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center, where she participates in choir, dance, art and drama classes. She enjoys dancing and playing outside.

Mallory Eason of Ashland City is one of Kaa’s coils and a member of the jungle chorus. The seventh grader has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of A Christmas Carol and The Wizard of Oz. For the Cheatham County Community Theatre she appeared in James and the Giant Peach and the current production of The Miracle Worker. She enjoys ice skating, reading, singing, dancing, acting and writing her own plays to perform at home.

Chandler Nichols of Ashland City is playing Old Monkey and is a member of the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. A home-schooled sophomore, she previously served as fly rail operator for the Renaissance Players production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. She appeared in Austin Peay State University productions of The Caucasian Chalk Circle and As You Like It, and a production of Everyman at Trinity Episcopal Church. She has appeared in commercials for Cochran Advertising and had various roles in church dramas. She enjoys cheerleading, gymnastics, ballet and spending time with friends. She is a delegate to the 2006 Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference and has been selected for Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Maury County

A.J. Rankin of Columbia is a member of the jungle chorus. A second grader at Zion Christian Academy, he is appearing in his first production at The Renaissance Center. He has participated in school programs and takes acting class. He enjoys Pokemon, playing Game Boy, guitar, acting, singing and the Harry Potter Club.

Hickman County

Hannah Durgin of Bon Aqua is playing Shere Khan and is a member of the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The Hickman County High School senior appeared in Renaissance Players productions of Cinderella, Fiddler on the Roof and The Wizard of Oz and worked backstage on The Miracle Worker, A Christmas Carol, Faith County and was stage manager for Faith County II. She began performing in community theatre at age 12 in Wichita, Kan., and has performed in Schoolhouse Rock Live, Annie, The Velveteen Rabbit and Alice in Wonderland, a dance recital in which she was lead tap and jazz dancer. Hannah has played piano for nine years, the xylophone for three years and has recently taken an interest in drumming and percussion instruments and has auditioned for the American Musical Dramatic Academy in New York. She enjoys spending her time with her family and helping at her church.

Maclain Proctor of Lyles is playing one of Kaa’s coils and is a member of the jungle chorus and the elephant troupe. The first grader at Centerville Elementary School previously appeared in the Renaissance Players production of The Wizard of Oz. She enjoys singing, drawing, acting and spending time with friends.

Ariel McGahey of Bon Aqua is a member of the jungle chorus. The home-schooled student appeared in the Youth Theatrical Outreach Program production of Under the Western Sky. She also appeared in a camp production of Backyard Bunch. She enjoys acting, cooking, singing and hanging out.

Davidson County

Trinity Flippen of Nashville is a member of the elephant troupe. A student at Hull Jackson Montessori, she is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She has performed in church programs for Black History Month. She enjoys tap and ballet dancing, acrobatics, singing and coloring.

Savannah Kee of Nashville is playing Shanti. A sixth grader at Christ the King, she is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She has appeared in plays at school and camp, in two episodes of NBC’s American Dreams, a video for the Adventure Science Center and commercials for the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere and Hiller Plumbing. She enjoys acting, singing, dancing, art and soccer.

Meigan Ross of Hermitage is playing Colonel Hathi and is a member of the jungle chorus. The home-schooled fourth grader is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She enjoys swimming, gymnastics, biking, video games and sports.

Misty Ross of Hermitage is in the jungle chorus and the monkey chorus. The home-schooled eighth grader is appearing in her first production at The Renaissance Center. She enjoys biking, swimming, in-line skating, video games, gymnastics and sports.

YES Series

The YES series production of Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids is directed by Amy Scott, managing director of the Renaissance Players, with musical direction by Nathan W. Brown and choreography by Bryan J. Wlas.

“The YES series provides an opportunity for students of all ages and experience levels to participate in a professionally directed theatre production,” said Scott. “Whether it’s their first time on stage or they are performance veterans, the students will gain insight into the world of theatre in a fun and enlightening atmosphere.”

For more information on the YES series production of Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids, call (615)740-5600. To purchase tickets for the April 29 and 30 performances, call (615)740-5570.

To learn more about the YES series, contact Scott at (615)740-5551 or .

The Renaissance Center is a fine arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Theatre page for more about community and professional theatre.

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