On Saturday, March 18, 2017, Owensboro Dance Theatre will bring a lively and wild concert to the downtown RiverPark Center Stage with “In Concert featuring The Jungle Book.” In the show’s first act you will see a professional performance by Owensboro Dance Theatre’s Company. The second act will amaze with birds that fly across the stage, dancers performing on aerial silks, and snakes that rise from the ground! Prepare to be astounded by all the technical elements and hard work of all who those bringing this production to the big stage. This is a concert you do not want to miss!
In the show’s first act you will see a professional performance by Owensboro Dance Theatre’s Company. The second act will amaze with birds that fly across the stage, dancers performing on aerial silks, and snakes that rise from the ground! Prepare to be astounded by all the technical elements and hard work of all who those bringing this production to the big stage. This is a concert you do not want to miss!
This is a concert you do not want to miss!
Act One
Act I of “In Concert featuring The Jungle Book” will open with a collection of Owensboro Dance Theatre repertoire from the last 35 years. Act I will begin with a comedic dance piece choreographed by Joy Johnson, and solos choreographed and performed by ODT’s senior dancers, called The Rehearsal. Jon Lehrer, founder of Lehrer Dance in Buffalo, NY, has choreographed an energetic, yet elegant piece called Fused by 10. This piece consists of 10 dancers and is performed to the classical Brandenburg Concerto. ODT’s Assistant Artistic Director, choreographer of All That Jazz, The Way I Am, and the restaging of Ballet Royale, a regal ballet originally choreographed by Jan Hurst. Owensboro native Ashley Ayer, professional dancer and NYC Rockette for 11 years, along with Debbie Burden have choreographed a spectacular tap piece Tilted, Welcome to My New York. This first act will only leave you on the edge of your seat for what is to come in Act II, The Jungle Book.
Act Two
The Jungle Book opens in the heart of the jungle with animals of all kinds. Birds flying overhead or suspending from silks, tiger cubs roaring, silly monkeys dancing about, water buffalo herding across the stage, along with many other jungle creatures. Video projection backdrops with moving scenery and animated effects, really bring the jungle to life.
Behind the Scenes
However, have you ever wondered what’s taking place off-stage? What goes on behind the scenes is resembled well by a jungle. People running here, there, and back to the dressing rooms because a bird left their feathered headpiece in a garment bag. Someone from the outside looking in could easily say backstage was complete chaos. However, the chaos is completely organized and is the only way to put on a grand production. With all the intricate elements used in The Jungle Book, it takes a village to accomplish each feature. For example, this performance will excite the audience with dancers flying across the stage by ZFX Flying Effects, what the audience does not see is the three to four individuals that are ensuring the safety of each dancer but also giving the audience a thrill!
The Jungle: Behind the Scenes
160 community members
20 technical and backstage members
100 volunteers
5 professional dancers and choreographers
The Jungle Book has over 160 community members that participate in the show, at least 20 technical and backstage members, over 100 volunteers, and five professional dancers and choreographers. The amount of teamwork from everyone to achieve a full ODT production is astonishing! Hours of hard work occur from our costume designer, Anne Welsh, to create such extravagant costumes for each cast member. The Jungle Book will feature costumes of all colors, elaborate headpieces, regal bird wings, furry monkeys, and more! Hours of rehearsals must take place for all involved in the show to be ready to go when show week comes around. Choreography for the Jungle Book takes place months before the show hits the stage.
The upcoming performance of “In Concert featuring The Jungle Book” will take you through a wide range of emotions.
Tickets
For tickets to ODT’s 35th anniversary season production of “In Concert featuring The Jungle Book,” please call the RiverPark Center at 270-687-2770. Visit ODT’s website and social media pages for more information or email [email protected].
