Jungle Book Tour- Kids Say the Darndest Things!

While on tour we have performed for over 20,000 kids and adults and each audience has had its own personality and quirks. We have performed to inner city NYC high school students, to senior citizen groups, to families and to an entire audience of 1,000 first graders. We have had audiences that laughed out loud throughout the ENTIRE show, we have had audiences that showed their appreciation with only a few claps but raved about the performance in the lobby afterwards and we have had audiences that talked back to the stage on a consistent basis throughout the show.

We probably have to say we like the talkers the best. Mostly because kids say the DARNEST things and possibly because the talkers give us something new to talk about in the car for the next 10 hour drive day.

A few of our favorites-

At the top of the show, Akela asks his wolf brothers to accept Mowgli into the family. He instructs them to show their support by howling. The kids usually will howl their support during this scene. Sometimes we then get howling whenever Mowgli is threatened or whenever the kids want to show that they are behind Mowgli and against Shere Kahn. During one show we even got howling when Mowgli chases off the bad guys at the end of the show.

Towards the end of the show Mowgli is given the fire by the Village Woman and spends some time inspecting it. He touches the fire with his fingers and then with his tongue. At one performance, just as he was putting his tongue to the fire a kid yelled, "It's hot dude!"

This moment often invokes some advice such as "Don't touch it!", "NO" or during one show kids just started yelling "Fire!" in the crowded theatre. (Sorry, I had to go there)

During a scene between Shere Khan and Akela, Shere Khan says that Akela's pack will not protect him forever. We have had a couple kids respond to that line with howling or with supportive yells but during one show a kid yelled "Oh yes we will!"

And just the other day when Mowgli fights off the bad guys and falls into tears we had a young man yell "Be a man!"

These little nuggets of truth and support are just some of the amazing feedback we have been getting on this tour. No matter how long we drive, how exhausted we are, or how much fast food we are eating, seeing the kids faces and excitement can always create the energy needed to perform extra hard just for them. Because even if it is the umpteenth time WE have done the show, it's the first time for them and the children deserve all that we can give.