Geordie goes West with The Jungle Book tour!

"A must-see...an endearing story featuring the right mix of humour and suspense." - Kathryn Greenaway, Montreal Gazette

October 7, 2009 (MONTREAL) - Geordie Productions heads out this Friday to tour its 2008 smash hit, The Jungle Book to Western Canada with 39 performances scheduled in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Rudyard Kipling's classic collection of short stories, adapted by Tracey Power and directed by Dean Patrick Fleming, premiered on Geordie's Montreal Mainstage in May 2008. Hailed a success by audiences and critics alike, the production was recognized with 3 MECCA nominations, and was the winner in the category for Best Costume Design. With a series of sold-out shows at the D.B. Clarke Theatre, it played to over 5,500 children, teachers and grown-ups from the Greater Montreal area. Now, with tour dates in Edmonton's The Citadel Theatre (October 17 - November 1) and Winnipeg's Manitoba Theatre for Young Audiences (November 6 - 15), it will have the opportunity to reach nearly 20,000 new audience members.

Although Geordie has a strong history of presenting traveling plays to communities across Quebec and Eastern Canada - for over 28 years the Geordie School Tour travels over 27,000km annually, and has performed in the Far North and the U.S. - this will be the first time the company will tour a Mainstage production that has been designed specifically for a fully-equipped major venue.

"Being able to tour a production of this scale, both in technical set-up and stage requirements, is a tremendous opportunity. We are honored that our colleagues from across Canada have invited us to perform on their stages so that this show can be shared with many more Canadians outside our Montreal community." - Dean Patrick Fleming

Design team include: Lighting Design by Ana Cappelluto; MECCA-nominated Sound by percussionist Kristie Ibrahim; MECCA-nominated Set Design by Amy Keith; MECCA award-winning Costume & Mask Design by Susana Vera. Stage management is provided by Melanie St-Jacques.

The touring cast features many of the same accomplished actors from the original production: Glenda Braganza, Chip Chuipka, Paula Jean Hixson, and Oliver Koomsatira, who received the Elsa Bolam Award for Best Emerging Artist in his portrayal of Mowgli; with new cast members Alain Goulem and Mike Payette.

THE JUNGLE BOOK | Adapted by Tracey Power | Directed by Dean Patrick Fleming
Raised by a pack of wolves and other creatures of the wild, Mowgli is still growing and learning his true nature. When Shere Khan, a Bengal tiger, threatens the way of the jungle, Mowgli must find the courage that sets him apart from his friends and family.

The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton
Box Office: (780) 425-1820
October 17 - November 1, 2009

MTYP, Winnipeg
Box Office: (204) 942-8898
November 6 - 15, 2009

Geordie Productions gratefully acknowledges The Canada Council for the Arts, and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quˆ©bec, for their financial support of this tour.