It took every kindergartner through eighth-grade student to bring Disney’s “The Jungle Book Kids” to the Carbonado Historical School District stage.

Every one of the students had a role, either on stage or behind the scenes, in the pair of March 30 performances.

Students auditioned and the cast was set in mid-December. Rehearsal, two days a week for one hour, began in January.

The hour-long performance brought 34 students to the forefront on stage and included 16 songs. Nolan Rose played the man-cub Mowgli. Reagan Ledbetter was the his fun-in-the-forest bear friend Baloo. Bailey Mills tried to keep everyone on track as the panther Bagheera. Monkey King Louie, portrayed by Brock Frame, kidnapped the man-cub. Shere Khan, the menacing tiger played by Cameron Burleigh, stalked the jungle. Ashlea Mills played Shanti, while Tanner Ticehurst and Kelsey Williams rounded out the leads as elephant leader Colonel Hathi and Kaa the snake.

The time serves as an art elective for middle school students, explained teacher Penny Frame, who served as the drama instructor, so two days a week for one trimester, each middle school student studies either drama, sets, props or production. Students take the main roles there too with the help of teachers Paula Visnaw, Karen Leahy and Signe Lukasiak. Cassie Caldwell served as props manager. Whitney Mills was the productions sets manager and 12 students worked under teacher Joe King making sure the filming, sound effects and lighting came together.

Each middle school teacher serves as an adviser of one of the classes. Then the kindergarten through fifth-grade students learn the songs for the chorus.

“It really is exciting to see an entire production come together with 180 students,” Frame said. “What is fun for the middle school, is to show that the spotlight person is just as important as a lead character. Or to show the K-5 students that we couldn’t do the show without their singing to help us tell the story.”

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.