Lisa Britton/Go! MagazineThe wolf pack in “The Jungle Book” rehearses lines in anticipation of opening night Oct. 14 in Baker City.

By Lisa Britton

Go! Magazine

BAKER CITY — The jungle gang’s all here to entertain audiences with a stage version of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” presented by Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre.

Finally.

This play, like so many other events, has been postponed several times due to the pandemic.

“We auditioned for this show, and as soon as auditions ended we got shut down. We never got a single rehearsal,” Abby Dennis said as she worked on lights and sound for the upcoming production.

Auditions were held again in August 2021, and the show opens Thursday, Oct. 14. Although there are four performances, one is already sold out and the others are low on tickets due to a reduced capacity to keep distance between audience members.

Available shows are 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Oct. 15, and 3 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for EORT members, and $8 for students. Purchase tickets in advance at www.easternoregonregionaltheatre.com or call 541-523-9652.

Cindy Ratterman is directing the cast of 43, who wear masks during rehearsals and stay in small groups to reduce exposure to potential illness. She’s also encouraged the actors to be familiar with other parts within their group just in case someone must miss a show.

Kate Loennig, 9, plays Ikki the porcupine. A familiar face in EORT youth productions, she is happy to be learning lines again and performing for an audience. Although her favorite part, she said, is the feeling of accomplishment.

“The aftermath — knowing all the lines but knowing I’ve done the whole show,” she said.

The cast, in addition to the 40-some jungle animals played by youth, includes Ryker Albert as Mowgli, Mary Collard as Kaa, Elizabeth Ellis as Bagheera, Jonathan Baer as Baloo and Justin Wolfe as Shere Khan.