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THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH Musical in 2 Acts. Book by: Norton Juster and Sheldon Harnick; Lyrics by: Sheldon Harnick; Music by: Arnold Black Based on the novel by Norton Juster Premiere - The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC - Nov 16 - Dec 16, 2007 (season) SYNOPSIS Even surrounded by dozens of toys, Milo is bored. Nothing interests him at all. The Demons of Ignorance are certain he will be their next victim, telling him “If you get the urge to do anything - don’t. It could be dangerous.” To the rescue comes The Phantom Tollbooth! Norton Juster’s beloved children’s book is given full musical treatment in this stage version of the modern tale of a boy who must save the princesses Rhyme and Reason and reunite the brother Kings who rule over the cities of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Aided by a trusty time-keeping dog, Tock, Milo successfully brings harmony to the Land of Wisdom and learns many things about words and numbers along his journey. Perhaps the most important lesson he takes with him, however, is that everything we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone. When he returns home, he realises there is never a reason to be bored in a world full of so many things to discover. STORY ACT ONE Milo lays in his room, alone. Some school mates of his come to his house and ask him to go to the park with him. He turns them down and they complain that he never wants to do anything. Milo is never interested by anything at all. He hates and is bored by everything, especially school. (“Another Boring Afternoon”) Three demons appear in Milo’s room, though Milo does not know they are there. They are pleased that Milo wants to do nothing and is bored with everything. They are doing their job in making sure of that. As the Demons disappear, the handles on Milo’s dresser light up and the front of the dresser opens to reveal the Phantom Tollbooth. There are two buttons, continue and cancel. Milo approaches and figures there is nothing to lose. He presses continue. His room disappears and the tollbooth comes to life. Milo is given all the instructions he needs. He pushes a button and receives a coin and another button and receives a map, then his car arrives! He looks at the map and decides to go to the Castle in the Air. He deposits the coin, passes the tollbooth and is on his way. Milo drives down an unfamiliar country road and neither his room nor the tollbooth are in sight. Everything seems brighter than Milo had ever seen before. Milo sees a man holding a sign on the side of the road and pulls up to him. The man welcomes Milo to the Land of Expectations. He explains this is the place where everyone must stop before they get where they are going. Many people never make it beyond this place, and this man’s job is to rush them along. He is the Whether Man. Milo asks if this is the right road to Dictionopolis. The Whether Man says there are no wrong roads there so this must be the right one. However, Milo begins to daydream and takes a wrong turn. Milo stops and falls asleep behind the wheel of his car. The Lathargarians approach and inspect Milo. Milo awakes but realises the Lethargarians are harmless. He asks where he is and they explain he is in the Doldrums, which is where nothing ever happens or ever changes. Thinking and laughing are illegal here. They explain to Milo what their days are like here in the Dolodroms, nothing but eating, napping, and procrastinating which keeps them very busy. The only person in the Doldrums who ever does anything is the watchdog. He approaches and the Lethargarians

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