The Phantom Tollbooth, Jr.
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September 16-25 , Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm, Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
The City of Pleasanton Civic Arts Stage Company in partnership with Bay Area Children's Theatre presents a beloved classic book-turned-musical for the opening show in their 2016-2017 season.
The Phantom Tollbooth, Jr. is based on the award-winning children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster with the famous illustrations by Jules Feiffer, published in 1961. This youth theater production has music by Arnold Black and witty lyrics full of wordplay by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award winner, Sheldon Harnick.
The story spins the tale of a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollbooth one afternoon. Having nothing better to do, Milo drives through it in his toy car, and is transported to the Kingdom of Wisdom, once prosperous but now troubled. There, he acquires two faithful companions and goes on a quest to restore to the kingdom its exiled princesses-named Rhyme and Reason-from the Castle in the Air. In the process, he learns valuable lessons, and discovers a love of learning.
Milo begins in Expectations, a pleasant place where he starts on Wisdom's road. As Milo drives on, he daydreams and soon is paying no attention at all, which gets him lost in The Doldrums, a colorless place where nothing ever happens. He is joined by Tock, a very oversized talking dog with an alarm clock on each side (a "watchdog"). Tock tells Milo that the only way out of the Doldrums is by thinking... and then joins Milo on his journey through all the lands of Wisdom.
Returning Director Amber Dyson is celebrating six years of directing for BACT, and notes that the two casts combine for a merry group of 48 young actors, ranging in age from 8 to 14 years of age.
So slow down, have your "change" ready, and see what lies beyond The Phantom Tollbooth!
$7-$18; youth, senior discounts.
Presented by City of Pleasanton Firehouse Arts Center.