Say Hello to the Associate Director for The Jungle Book at Alberta Theatre Projects!

I'm so pleased to announce that I am going to be taking on the role of Associate Director for The Jungle Book, Alberta Theatre Projects' big holiday show for the 2022/2023 season! The production is being directed and adapted by Rohit Chokhani, the new Artistic & Executive Director of the company, and I'm so excited to get a chance to work with him on his first season in Calgary.

I've been a big fan of Alberta Theatre Projects for many years. It was one of the contributing factors to why I chose to move to Calgary in the first place. (Four years ago! I can't believe it's been four years!) If you're familiar with my theatre work, you'll know that I've made a career out of specializing in new play development, so I love that Alberta has a major theatre company that focuses on producing new Canadian theatre. Plus, it made it onto my top 10 list of favourite shows the year I moved to town in 2018 .

Here's what the show's all about, from ATP's website:

This holiday season, escape into the jungles of India with this vibrant reimagining of the legend of the boy raised by wild animals. Mowgli lives by the law of the jungle, where survival depends not only on strength and courage but on wisdom and reliance on the wolf pack for survival. When a confrontation with a dangerous tiger isolates Mowgli, he is forced to confront the truth: is he a man-cub or a human? Caught between two worlds, with the support of his friends, Mowgli must search for his sense of self in a quest to discover where he truly belongs. Experience this timeless fable where a cast of familiar characters come to life through puppetry, stylized props, masks and movement. People of all ages will delight in this colourful and dynamic adventure that explores the true meaning of family.

Exploring themes of courage, identity, and seeking to understand our place in the world – The Jungle Book’s coming-of-age story is as relevant today as it was when the stories were originally written.

The Jungle Book also has a special place in my heart. Not only do I love Rudyard Kipling's work (I also loved his poem If), I've performed in a production of The Jungle Book before! In 2017, I played Bagheera (and a fun handful of other roles) in the Project X Theatre production of the show. It was a lot of fun and remains one of my favourite shows that I've performed in to date. Who wouldn't enjoy monkeying around in the jungle all summer long?

Alberta Theatre Projects' production of The Jungle Book is running November 29 - December 31, 2022 at the Martha Cohen Theatre in downtown Calgary and tickets are on sale now. See you in the jungle this winter!

The Jungle Book by Greg Banks. Project X Theatre Productions. Set by Jared Raschke. Costumes by Susan Dixon. Puppets by Randi Edmundson.