Emerald Coast Theatre Company will focus on the ‘simple bare necessities’ this spring with the launch of three children’s musical theater programs centered around Walt Disney’s 1967 animated kids’ adventure film, ‘The Jungle Book’.

Specially adapted from the classic film, this musical includes favorite Disney tunes, such as ‘The Bare Necessities,’ ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ and ‘I Wan’na Be Like You’.

ECTC’s immersive three-month long program incorporates theater games, learning songs and simple choreography, and, of course, bringing to life the story of Mowgli, Baloo and King Louie. Inspired by the Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name, The Jungle Book tells the story of Mowgli, achild raised in the Indian jungle by wolves, as his friends Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear try to convince him into leaving the jungle before the evil tiger Shere Khan arrives.

Details of ECTC’s workshop of “The Jungle Book” are as follows:

The ECTC program in Santa Rosa Beach will be held at the South Walton campus of Northwest Florida State College. It is open to grades 1-8. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. beginning on Jan 22 through April 23 (skipping March 26). A final performance will be staged on April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Tuition is $180 per child. A 20% discount is offered for sibling and a 10% discount is offered for children with parents in active duty military with proper ID. Space is limited and advance reservations are required.

Since it formed two years ago, Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s educational theater programming has reached more than 650 children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. “Whether it is through an after school program, a summer camp or an educational theater tour, ECTC’s mission is to provide quality theater education experiences,” said producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher.

This past year ECTC offered programming at several locations throughout Northwest Florida including the Emerald Coast Autism Center (sponsored by the MKAF), Destin Elementary School, Butler Elementary School, Seaside Neighborhood School, Destin Community Center and Ruckel Middle School in Niceville.

For more info, visit the Emerald Coast Theatre Company or call 850-687-1637.