EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY COLLABORATES WITH AWARD-WINNING LOCAL ARTIST ANDY SACZYNSKI ON HAND PA

The children’s summer musical production will be performed

April 15 at Destin Elementary School at 6:30 p.m.

April 23 at South Walton High School at 6:30 p.m. and

May 9 at Destin Community Center at 11 a.m.

Miramar Beach, Fla. (April 14, 2015) — Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC), is finding out first-hand “that’s what friends are for.” The not-for-profit professional theater company based in Miramar Beach, Florida is collaborating with local mixed media artist Andy Saczynski on the scenery for its spring production of Walt Disney’s 1967 animated kids’ adventure film, “The Jungle Book.”

"Andy Saczynski is an amazing artist with a generous spirit. We are so grateful to him for volunteering his talent to enhance this experience for our young thespians. Collaborating with artists is at the heart of ECTC, and we couldn't be more thankful to be working with such a wonderful person, who is also one of our area’s finest talents," said ECTC producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher.

Andy Saczynski, who designed and painted three large wood backdrop panels in a lush Jungle foliage theme, is a mixed media artist specializing in assemblage art. He's called the Emerald Coast home since childhood, and opened his Grayton Beach studio-gallery in 2012. In addition to being named the 2013 South Walton Artist of the Year, the Emerald Coast magazine readers voted him Best Local Artist for the past three years.

"I've always liked the artistic side of ‘The Jungle Book,’ so I thought it would be fun to be involved with this project," Andy Saczynski said.

Inspired by the Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name, “The Jungle Book” tells the story of Mowgli, a child raised in the Indian jungle by wolves, as his friends Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear try to convince him into leaving the jungle before the evil tiger Shere Khan arrives. Specially adapted from the classic film, this musical includes favorite Disney tunes, such as “The Bare Necessities,” “That’s What Friends Are For” and “I Wan’na Be Like You.”

ECTC’s immersive three-month long program held in three different locations throughout Walton and Okaloosa counties incorporated theater games, learning songs and simple choreography, and, of course, bringing to life the story of Mowgli, Baloo and King Louie.

The program in Destin was open to grades 1-4. A final performance will be staged at Destin Elementary School on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

The program in Santa Rosa Beach was open to children in grades 1-8. A final performance will be staged at South Walton High School on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The program at Destin Community Center will feature children in grades 4-12. A final performance will be staged on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m.

The remaining two workshop performances are open to the public. A suggested $5 donation is requested for adult admission.

Since it formed in 2012, Emerald Coast Theatre Company's educational theater programming has reached more than 650 children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. “Whether it is through an after school program, a summer camp or an educational theater tour, ECTC’s mission is to provide quality theater education experiences,” said producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher.

This past year ECTC produced programming at several locations throughout Northwest Florida including the Emerald Coast Autism Center (sponsored by the MKAF), Destin Elementary School, Butler Elementary School, Seaside Neighborhood School, Destin Community Center and Ruckel Middle School in Niceville.

For more information on Emerald Coast Theatre Company, call (850) 687-1637 emailinfo@emeraldcoasttheatre.org or visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org. Find ECTC on Facebook at ECTheatreCompany.