Friday, November 21, 2025, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 3:00 pm
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 3:00 pm

Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, Carnegie, PA

“The heart that beats in all of us wants to love without limitation. The heart that beats in all of us shows us who we are.”

Join us the weekend before Thanksgiving for the regional premiere of Kamala Sankaram and Kelley Rourke’s The Jungle Book! This opera for all ages tells the story of Mowgli, an endangered human cub who seeks refuge in the jungle with a pack of wolves. The classic Rudyard Kipling story is reinterpreted by Sankaram and Rourke emphasizing themes of community, empathy, and inclusion, sending a powerful message about embracing those who are different, and recognizing “the heart that beats in all of us.” Sankaram creates a powerful sense of place in the score by weaving elements of classical Indian music including ragas and vocal percussion.

Originally commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival. Extended version commissioned by Washington National Opera

Cast & Creatives

  • Timothi Williams

    RAKSHA

  • Sergio Martinez

    BALOO

  • Samina Aslam

    BAGHEERA

  • Adrianna Cleveland

    HYENA

  • Pittsburgh Youth Chorus

    WOLF PACK

  • Kamala Sankaram

    COMPOSER

  • Kelley Rourke

    LIBRETTIST

  • Eve Summer

    STAGE DIRECTOR

  • Maria Sensi Sellner

    CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER

In our Jungle you will find many familiar ResWorks favorites, including a continued partnership with The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus as the wolf pack, mezzo-soprano Timothi Williams (The Little Prince, La donna del lago) as Raksha, the wolf pack matriarch, bass Sergio Martinez (Rigoletto) as Baloo, the bear and tutor to the young wolves, soprano Samina Aslam as Bagheera, a cosmopolitan panther and friend of the pack, and Adrianna Cleveland as Hyena, sidekick/henchman to Shere Khan, the tiger. Stage director Eve Summer returns to lead us through the Jungle, after great success with La donna del lago last year, and we continue our collaboration with sitarist Michael Griska (This Love Between Us) for this special production.

Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
300 Beechwood Ave.
Carnegie, PA 15106

 

  • There are a limited number of reserved accessible parking spots near the library, but the shuttle from the lower lot is not ADA accessible.  If you have mobility issues, and the library lot is filled, the venue's recommendation is to be dropped off at the Studio entrance (to the left of the Music Hall entrance), go down the ramp to the Studio door, then take the elevator to the first floor.  We recognize this isn't ideal, and we'll be marking additional spots as accessible beyond the permanent ones. 

    Once inside the building, the interior of the main floor of the theater is at a slight incline.  Primary access to the balcony is via a staircase, but there is a somewhat circuitous route that will get you to the top level of the balcony via the elevator.  There are steps down to the seats from there, however (with the exception of row F).  Ask at the box office for directions if you need elevator access to the balcony.