Main Street Theater's Education Department to Present THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, 2/21-23

Adventure tale! Fairytale! Wacky tale!! Ten students from Main Street Theater's Education Department dive into the Kingdom of Wisdom in The Phantom Tollbooth, by Susan Nanus, from the classic book by Norton Juster. There are 3 public performances: Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, February 23 at 3:30pm. Performances are at Main Street Theater - Rice Village, located at 2540 Times Boulevard. For tickets, call 713-524-6706 or log on to mainstreettheater.com. All tickets are $5.00.

Throughout Milo's adventures in the Land of Wisdom, he meets fantastical characters like King Azaz and his brother, the Mathemagician, whose disagreement over words and numbers has led to the banishment of Princesses Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. Will Milo rescue the Princesses from the Land of Ignorance? Find out in this theatrical adaptation of the classic book full of fun wordplay and wacky characters.

The Production

The cast is comprised of ten Houston-area students ages 8 - 14 and includes Rahul Agarwal, Varun Agarwal, Layla Crear, Andrew Gauthier, Alice Martirosyan, Ashley Mezyk, Camden Schultz, Ellie Tycer, Marcus Whitley, and Matthew Whitley.

Professional artists direct and design all MST Rehearsal &Performance class productions. John Paul Morales is the Director. Shannon Lowenstein is the Assistant Director. Claire Anderson is the Costume Designer, Zack Varela is the Lighting Designer, and Rodney Walsworth is the Set and Properties designer.

Now in its 26th season, MST's Education Department Main Street Theater offers students a performing arts playground where professional theater artists serve as mentors. With an emphasis on creativity and collaboration, we provide hands-on opportunities for students to make an original contribution in all aspects of play production. In support of Main Street Theater's mission, Main Street's Education Department provides a significant resource in the community for education in theater and classical theater for kids, families and educators. Through year-round classes, outreach programs, and camps both on-site and at satellite locations, students develop their voices, bodies, and imaginations in a challenging and fun curriculum, taught by professional artists and arts educators.

Main Street Theater's education programs offer a wide range of classes for students of all skill levels, including individual audition coaching sessions, movement and dance classes, filmmaking classes, high school workshops, and a Summer Performing Arts Camp. The Rehearsal and Performance system includes classes for students at two levels: those who are ready to audition for plays for the public and those who want to hone their skills by producing a play in a "style and storylab" context for family and friends. Classes range from $175 - $500; camps range from $50 - $560. For more information or to register for classes and camps, please call 713-524-9196 x 104 or 103 or log on to mainstreettheater.com

Jonathan Gonzalez is Director of Education. Lauren Evans is Assistant Director of Education.