Wheeling Middle School returns to the stage with Disney's Jungle Book, Kids on Wednesday, March 29th and Thursday, March 30th at Wheeling Park High School's JB Chambers Performing Arts Center. The show will begin each night at 7 pm; tickets will be sold at the door and are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Wheeling Middle's show features 17 dedicated student actors and 10 student crew members. The actors have been working together since January to rehearse, and the student crew joined them a few weeks ago. "We are excited to bring a show back to our students and Wheeling," said Adrianne Manning, musical director. "We had to take a few years off because of the pandemic and some staffing changes, but we're back, and the kids are very excited to add this activity to the many things we do at Wheeling Middle." Mrs. Manning is joined by Wendy Seidewitz, music director and Megan Wise, assistant director and choreographer in leading the students through this experience. Together, along with the help of countless other WMS Staff Members, they have presented 12 musicals to the students of Wheeling Middle. "I'd like to thank our staff and parents who jumped in to help return the WMS musicals to the stage this year. We couldn't have done it without your support," said Manning.
Disney's Jungle Book, Kids is based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling and the Disney film by the same name. In the story, the "man-cub" Mowgli must escape the Indian Jungle because the tiger, Shere Khan fears man. Mowgli is escorted through the jungle by the protective panther, Bagheera. Along the way, the two meet many memorable characters including the bear, Baloo and the orangutang, King Louie. It features several memorable songs including "The Bear Necessities" and "I Wan'na Be Like You." The show is presented through special arrangements with MTI Shows.