Southeastern Theatre Society wins national support to present touring children's show Jungle Book in region
Monday, April 10, 2017
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University chapter of Alpha Psi Omega National
Honor Society is preparing a touring production of “The Jungle Book” to be presented
to children’s audiences next year from Baton Rouge to Bogalusa.
In support of the effort, the university’s chapter of the APO theater organization
has received the first Frankie Day Chapter Advancement Grant in the amount of $1,000
from the national honor society, named after the late APO professor.
“The inaugural award was given to the Alpha Epsilon Psi Chapter at Southeastern
to support taking a production of ‘The Jungle Book’ on tour to schools in small towns
around Louisiana,” said APO national President Richard Jones of Stephen F. Austin
State University in Nagadoches, Tex. “In many cases, the kids exposed to this production
will never have seen live theater before. The national officers are proud to be able
to support this mission and are thrilled to have such a perfect example of what this
grant is intended for as the inaugural grantee.”
“The chapter has a proven record of success in bringing children’s shows to the
area, enriching the lives of many children who might not have this opportunity otherwise,”
said Karen Fontenot, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities. “The shows not only
promote theater, but make story book characters more vivid than they have ever been.”
Associate Professor of Theatre Jim Winter said the current academic year is the
first time in five years that Southeastern’s chapter was unable to produce a touring
show in the region due to many communities still recovering from the fall floods of
2016.
“We’re looking forward to bringing a show to the communities along the I-12 corridor.
It is our way of giving back to those communities for the support they provide to
Southeastern,” said Winter.
He said the grant will be used for construction and acquisition of props, costumes
and set pieces to be used in the 2018 production. A new script for “The Jungle Book”
is being prepared by Tommy Jamerson of New Jersey, an award-winning playwright known
for his adapted children’s plays such as “Choose Your Own Oz,” “Alice the Brave and
Other Tales from Wonderland,” and “Once Upon a Pine: The Adventures of Pinocchio.”
