A world premiere of a new version of Rudyard Kipling’s story runs through June 24

Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” gets a fun and spirited modern makeover in the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s world premiere of a new version of the familiar story that should delight children and the adults lucky enough to join them.

Asolo Rep commissioned this multimedia show with original music from Craig Francis and Rick Miller, the Canadian theater and television team that brought their version of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” to Sarasota last season.

Forget what you’ve seen in any Disney version. This “Jungle Book” is an inventive and colorful telling of the story of a young boy named Mowgli who is left behind in the jungles of India to be raised by the wolves and navigate the dangers posed by other animals who eye this human “man cub” with great suspicion. Mowgli is first seen as a disappointed adult, an architect who realizes that he is contributing to the destruction of green spaces by designing suburban strip malls. He feels like an outsider in the big city because he has lost his connection to nature. It’s a split reminiscent of his feelings in the jungle as a human in an animal world.

So he opens what his sister, Maya, came to call his “jungle book” of sketches, phrases and poems about his life in the wild, his adventures, misadventures and lessons learned from his animal protectors. And we join him through his story as the pages come to life on screens and scrims through the imaginative projections by Irina Litvinenko, which are set off by impactful lighting by Rebecca Picherback and a constantly surprising array of scenic, prop and costume design by Astrid Janson and Melanie McNeill.

There are only four actors visible on stage, but the designs make the stage seem more crowded in this fast-moving, 70-minute show, which features several songs with an Indian flair by Suba Sankaran. Shadow puppets mix with the human performers to create a wild but inviting jungle world.

Levin Valayil, who was seen in Sarasota in Florida Studio Theatre’s production of “The Fabulous Lipitones” is a charming Mowgli (the name means “little frog”), kid-like and purposeful as the youngster grows up and tries to fit in with his animal family and friends. His broad smile helps to engage even the most reluctant audience members to get involved in the show. At one point, we’re asked to how like wolves and at another, audience clapping can help to create rain on stage to stop a lightning fire.

The other three actors — Matt Lacas, Anita Majumadar and Miriam Fernandes — play multiple human and animal characters, either creating shadow puppets or wearing furry costumes that are cute but not cloying. Lacas is stern as Mowgli’s wolf father, Akela; playful as the slow-moving but supportive bear, Baloo, and menacing as a human hunter out to add to his trophy case. Majumdar conveys warmth and concern as both Mowgli’s wolf and human mothers, and she’s sleek and observant as the panther Bagheera. In addition to manipulating the movements of a large python who helps save Mowgli from trouble, Fernandes is delightful as his younger sister, Maya, who tells a favorite childhood story with lots of dramatic flair.

The script is smart enough to appeal to adults while not talking down to kids. It includes some dark moments that are believable without being haunting.

“Jungle Book” continues Asolo Rep’s recent season-closing series of family friendly shows which have helped to alter our sense of what children’s theater can or should be. This production, which conveys a strong message about the environment, speaks to young audiences and the kid inside the adults in equal and joyous measure.