Forte Musical Theatre
Show Name
Previous show title - Photographed by Grace Wolff
About the Show
This is a show about singers and dancers, where they sing and dance for about two hours. If you are interested in singing and dancing, you will love this show! Do you want to book tickets? Click the button to learn more. Here is the button. Do you see it?
A Concrete Jungle Book
SHOW DETAILS
A Concrete Jungle Book
The World Premiere of the new, full-length version of this contemporary adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic!
October 2nd to 31st, 2026 at the Beddington Theatre Arts Centre
Book, Music and Lyrics by Joe Slabe
Directed by JP Thibodeau with Choreography by Mpoe Mogale
Presented in partnership with StoryBook Theatre
SHOW SYNOPSIS
Michael is a foster kid with a vivid imagination. Whenever things get to be too much for him, he retreats into the amazing world inside his head, and the people in his life become the characters from his favourite story – The Jungle Book. But when Michael’s father comes back to claim him, his world is turned upside down and he must find the courage to live in the real world and discover the true meaning of family.
The one act version of A Concrete Jungle Book received a Calgary Critics’ Award at the 2018 Betty Mitchell Awards and was shortlisted for the Stage West Pechet Family Musical Award by the Playwrights Guild of Canada as one of three outstanding new Canadian musicals that year.
Suitable for ages 10 and up but sure to delight audiences of all ages, A Concrete Jungle Book is a modern take on the Rudyard Kipling stories and uses pop, rock and rap music to tell them in a way you’ve never heard (or seen) before!
The Creative Team
Director
JP Thibodeau
Choreographer
Mpoe Mogale
Assistant Director
Roberta Mauer Phillips
Lighting Design
Ben Childs
Sound Design
Ross Wilson
Musical Director
Joe Slabe
Stage Manager
Jessica Haggeman
Set Design
JJ Peneranda
Costume Design
Tawni Marie Evans
Hair Design
Cat Bentley
Props Master
Niamh McCallion
The Cast
Michael
Kiran Talavlikar
Chase/Bagheera
Hal Wesley Rogers
Berdine/Baloo
Dallas Hayes-Sparks
Officer Drake/Kaa
Erin Navarro
Lyall/Tabaqui
Charlie Schaffner
Conor/Grey Brother
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Ms. Lowell/Mother Wolf
Michelle Rawlings
Michael's Dad/Shere Khan
Matt Lacas
Elle/Won Tolla
Jo Marillier
Cheyanne/Sahi
Free Bicknell
Abiola Famakinwa
Dana/Chikai
Past Productions
Buy Me a Drink, Joe - photographed by Tim Nguyen
A History of New Canadian Musicals
Since our first show in 2009, Forte has produced 31 new musicals including 21 world premieres which have, collectively, been nominated for 61 Betty Mitchell Awards, including 15 wins, and 26 Calgary Critics' Awards, with 7 wins. We’ve also won two AMPIA Alberta Film and Television Awards for our online programming during Covid and won five awards and three honorable mentions at the New York Musical Theatre Festival!
Funny, cheeky and sometime subversive, Forte’s shows leave you with a tune in your heart and a smile on your face.
Previous show title - Photographed by Grace Wolff