The task posed to freelance composer Cathy Neff sounded simple: Create music for a straight play, adapted from Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book.

Yet it proved difficult, requiring Neff to eat, drink and sleep with writer's stories through an entire summer. "I dove into the books, all the Mowgli stories," said Neff, the composer, musical director and pianist for the Youth Theatre at the U's new production. "I put myself into it, so you kind of think 'jungle' " when you hear the play's music.

What resulted from her jungle-theme filled summer was a score filled with songs arranged and adapted directly from Kipling's text, as well as Neff's own lyrics on such original numbers as "Tangle Tango" and "The Lock that Freed Me."

"Music always makes stories come to life for me because that's how I think," said Neff, who also was the musical director for the company's recent production of "Charlotte's Web." "It sets the mood for everything. I can't image it with out the music.

Penelope Caywood, Youth Theatre's artistic director, found the script through the Children Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and took advantage of a rare opportunity to adapt an adaptation by adding music. "It gives the kids in the program a really unique opportunity to work with the people who are writing the show," Caywood said.

The play, which isn't the Disney-fied version, tells a darker story, with stronger scenes and more depth, according to director Michael Burns. Set in India, this "Jungle Book" uses masks, dance and puppets to take the audience along on Mowgli's adventures. To create an authentic flair, the company brought in an Indian dance specialist to work with actors, and commissioned puppets designed by Kelby McIntyre, a puppet master.

With the help of colorful costumes and masks, actors will be transformed into Baloo, Bagheera, Ka and the other animals in the story. Pageantry aside, "this show is about family, all different kinds of family," Caywood said. "How we create bonds with those people around us."

Burns agreed: "It shows the power and strength of family."