Opening night for Tahoe Valley production of The Jungle Book

This isn't your mother's school play. Tahoe Valley Elementary Performing Arts is presenting The Jungle Book to local schools, parents and the community this week, and the production shouldn't be missed.

Under the direction of Jack Suglian, a Tahoe Valley Elementary and South Tahoe High graduate and stage veteran, the 55 students have been in rehearsal since January, not only working on lines but also on 15 musical numbers.

The play is inside the schools "Thunderbird Theater."

The performers include Zoe Brown as Bagheera, Tyler Sills as Baloo, Allysen Perrah as Mowgli, Arial Carreau-Schultz as Shere Khan, Aislin Self as Shanti, Sasha Maldonado as Jungle Lotus, Lilly Alexander as Jungle Thistle, Jennifer Valdez and Jungle Banyan, Lucia Solorzano as Kaa, Mariiah Jerozal, Peyton Newell and Arely Ibarra as the coiled snake, Freedom Ensign as Colonel Hathi, Jack Alexander as Baby Elephant, Riley Wallace as Captain Elephant, Agenhu Wonnawtt as Lieutenant Elephant, Max Trader as Sergeant Elephant, Isabelle Reid as King Louis, Rhys Hill as Silly Monkey, Hailey Jimenez as Sassy Monkey, Markus Payne as Grumpy Monkey, Isabella Zepeda and Happy Monkey, Natalia O'Connor as Clumsy Monkey, Kevin McAvoy as Old Monkey, Cameron Bridges as Dizzy Vulture and Reg Grijalva as Ziggy Vulture.

Wolves are played by Curz Viayra, Lela Hill, Daniela Flores-Madrigal, Jack Fox, Rocco Hamilton, Dakota Rhodes and Lauren Auld.

Birds are Camila Valdez, Mackenzie Payne, Ashleigh Perrah, Makenzie Black, Rylee Mckinney, Natalie Hixenbaugh, Samantha Ebright, Serenity Gonzalez Weldy, Teresita Maldonado and Zoe Jayne Hashagen.

Bees are Autumn Ives, Emma Morse, Deirdre Brinkmeyer, Ailanny Vivas, Belia Morse, Marissa Erickson and Mia Ingersoll.

It has been team effort to put the musical on the stage. Kindergarten teacher Nicole Mora is the choreographer and costumer, Allyssa Little is the music director, and they are joined by Sound Director Courtney Cromwell, Jim Grubbs with lighting, Maelyn Rios the stage manager and assistant director, set designer Keanu Valencia, make up artists Sharyn Abelow, Emily Shanks, Aimee Greear, Ana Corea and Valencia. Shanks wans joined by Mora and Rios as the tech crew. Marcia Sarosik has been the production's executive consultant.

This "star studded" performance can be seen Wednesday and Thursday nights at Tahoe Valley Elementary, April 4 and 5 at 6:00 p.m. with food and other sales at 5:00 p.m. The performing arts department at the school received grants and donations from the Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, El Dorado Community Foundation, Redwood Printing and Marcia Sarosik Dance Studio. They will also be fundraising at both performances with food and raffle sales.

Cost is $5 for children and $7 for adults.