The East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA) Drama Club presented Pantochino Productions’ Jungle Book Abridged on Nov. 15 to fellow students, and later that evening to parents and friends. The musical began with Mr. Kipling and his kid sister skimming through the pages telling (and singing) the story of Mowgli in a frantic, fast-paced and funny new way. ESCA kindergarteners and 1st graders enjoyed their role as monkeys as they performed with the rest of the cast.

Pantochino Productions is a professional, not-for-profit, tax-exempt theater company for family audiences based in Milford. Now in its ninth season, the company presents original musicals, theater camps for kids, classes, a teen theater program, and touring productions. Pantochino’s after school drama club seeks to help develop skills like reading, listening, public speaking, physical coordination, and following directions. Pantochino’s Bert Bernardi, Jimmy Johansmeyer, and Justin Rugg handled the casting, rehearsals, and performance. They began working with ESCA students in September.