'Sheer' Khan — It's a jungle out there

MOSES LAKE — Somewhere in the Big Bend Community College auditorium lurked the future Bagheera, Mowgli, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and Shere Khan.

Those and other parts for Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" were the highly sought-after commodities Monday afternoon, as 182 hopeful thespians turned out to audition for 50 to 60 parts.

"Jungle" is the latest production from the Missoula Children's Theatre. Those selected from the day's auditions rehearse all this week in preparation for a production of the musical adaptation, performed Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Wallenstien Theater.

Tour actor-directors Beth Bronner and Jennifer Wills explained to the students about the show and the level of commitment they wanted for the week. As a warm-up, they line up the potential performers and have them say their names and ages.

"After that, we start to look at specific characters," Bronner said. "We don't tell them who we're looking for. We have them say certain lines that help us decide who can possibly be in which role. From there, we just kind of start casting the show. It's really neat. We do it all in our head, and by the end of the two hours, we've cast the show, announced the parts and gotten everyone started."

Bronner and Wills watch for expressive faces and bodies and volume of voices and the ability to carry a tune. They seek enthusiasm, expression and good behavior.

"For our show, we're looking for very, very outgoing, very outstanding kids that aren't hindered so much in their bodies," Bronner said.

Such qualities are necessary for the animal-heavy production, as opposed to acting like a human.

"In the animal world, it's totally different, so we want to know the kid can move around and isn't afraid to show us they can use their body," Bronner added.

"It's hard to narrow it down," Wills said. "But we have to be confident in our choices, otherwise we'd cast all 120 that showed up, but we can't handle that many kids on our own."

The idea behind the play is having fun, Bronner said, as Mowgli goes from being a naive child within him or herself — gender roles are wiped out in the production — until he or she finally faces his or her fears.

"These kids can do in a week what adult actors can't," Bronner said. "It's hard to put into words the feeling you get inside watching the kids work."

"They're little sponges," Wills said. "They just soak up so much, and it's inspiring."

Wills' favorite part of the process is actually the audition itself.

"Every Monday when we have auditions is like Christmas," she said with a laugh. "It's like, 'What are we going to get this week?' Getting to know a brand-new group of kids is really exciting. They're all so unique."

Bronner encourages those children not cast to keep coming back for auditions and try out again. She urged them not to give up hope.

"It's not that they weren't good enough, it's not that they didn't try hard enough," she said. "It's just that we didn't have the right part for them for this show."

Wills hopes students leave the play with the sense that it's OK to be bigger than life.

"It's OK to be big, it's OK to be expressive and loud, it's OK to be wacko," she said. "It's OK to be crazy, it's OK to be goofy, it's OK to be serious. That's what acting, I think, teaches children, that they can explore all these different emotions and aspects."

Feeling inhibited is a problem many children face from a constant stream of being told no, Wills added, or told to stay still and be quiet.

"We're encouraging them to be the complete opposite," she said. "You don't want to lose that sense of self. That's so admirable in children, that they have no inhibitions, and they shouldn't let societal pressure put that upon them."

Wilson Creek resident Patti Bunnell brought her daughter because there aren't many avenues like the ones the play offers.

"She's a ham," she said with a chuckle. "It looks like it's a good experience for the kids, just getting out there and speaking out in front of people."

Moses Lake resident Clint Scriven brought his daughter back for an encore production after she landed the part of a jumping bean last year.

"She was really excited and liked it, so she wanted to try again this year," he said. "It's a good production for her, it allows her to get interaction with other kids, be out in front of an audience and to follow direction. It's nice she's following directions and learning how in a different capacity than in a classroom or something."

Moses Lake resident Ronni Roylance anticipated a wait for the two-hour auditions, so she came prepared with a pack of snacks and activities.

"She wanted to come," Roylance said of her daughter. "So it was her decision. It's a good experience for them. I think they're enjoying themselves, if nothing else."

For more information, call Columbia Basin Allied Arts at 509-793-2059.