NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Children's Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of "The Jungle Book" on Thursday, May 16, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Virginia Repertory Theatre’s production of “The Jungle Book” is based on the classic tales by Rudyard Kipling. The book and lyrics are by Scott Wichmann, and music is by Julie Fulcher-Davis. Kipling wrote The Jungle Books collection of stories more than 100 years ago, but his classic tales are still being reproduced on the stage and in the cinema.

The story is set in the jungles of southern India, where a baby is discovered and raised by a pack of wolves. Mowgli, the boy, has a life full of adventure and conflict. Mowgli’s best friends are a bear named Baloo and a black panther named Bagheera. The notorious tiger, Shere Khan, is a force to be reckoned with in the jungle.

“Kipling’s story of Mowgli’s childhood adventures in the jungle reinforce respect for life, both animal and human, and the idea of harmony among all living things,” said Diane Peterson, manager of the SFA Fine Arts Box Office and director of the children’s series.

The show targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post¬-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for "The Jungle Book" may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.

Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.