THE ROEPER SCHOOL
We empower gifted learners to be active and compassionate citizens of the world.
LAND USE STATEMENT
We acknowledge that The Roeper School rests on the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Anishinaabe, or Three Fires Confederacy. The 1807 Treaty of Detroit recognized these lands as belonging to the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot Nations. We at Roeper affirm the inherent sovereignty of tribal governments and thank them for their stewardship of this land in the past, present, and future. With our Native neighbors, Roeper will work to advance educational equity and promote a better future for the earth and all people.
NOTE TO THE AUDIENCE
Kindly refrain from recording or using any electronic devices during the performance as it is a violation of United States copyright law and an actionable federal offense. Let’s keep the magic alive for everyone!
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
This event is brought to you in part by generous donations to The Roeper School Annual Fund.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I like to find a reoccurring theme that connects each production of every RTC season. This year, with Newsies Jr. and Urinetown, we explored revolutions and people standing up to big corporations when the odds are against them. The Phantom Tollbooth doesn’t seem to fit that mold. Milo isn’t leading a fight against a greedy CEO like Bobby in Urinetown, or forming a union and going on strike like Jack in Newsies Jr. He’s just a kid, and he’s bored, and he can’t seem to find any enjoyment in his day-to-day activities. But maybe the connection isn’t about what our protagonists accomplish, but what inspires them to keep going. Milo desperately wants to be a hero and to do something exciting to escape the banality of his own life. His own inner demons manifest themselves to block him from achieving his goal. Milo’s fight is internal, different from Jack’s or Bobby’s, but they all dream of a better world than the one they’ve been living in. This dream keeps them from giving up when their goal seems unattainable. Before Milo returns home after his heroic adventure, he is reminded of how far he has come. The Princesses Rhyme and Reason tell him, “...you had the courage to try. And what you can do is often just a matter of what you will do.” And Azaz and The Mathemagician sum it up nicely with, “And as you’ve also discovered, many things are possible, as long as you don’t believe they’re impossible.” This is the reoccurring theme for this season and some solid advice for those of us who are struggling with our own demons and impossible battles.
While I believe this story is important and works well for our middle school kiddos, it is an old musical based on an even older book. Some of the dialogue is dated and no longer seen as appropriate, particularly a term that is used to describe someone as short. We are not legally allowed to change anything in the script because of strict rights/licenses that protect authors’ rights under federal copyright law. Because of this we had discussions with our cast about why certain words are no longer appropriate and the context in which they are used in the show. This generated a lot of thoughtful and courageous responses from my cast, and I am so proud of them. We would like to share that The Roeper Theatre Company does not condone the use of such words, and this is not a reflection of anyone involved in the production.
I hope this story can inspire hope and remind us of what we can accomplish as long as we don’t believe anything is impossible.
Alex Pedica (he/him) RTC Artistic Director
CAST
Milo ....................................................................................... Sunny Shanker
Narrator, Tollbooth ............................................................... Reese Pfeffer
Azaz, Boy 1............................................................................ Parker Abrams
Mathemagician, Boy 2 ........................................................ Matilda Stayer
Rhyme, Girl 1 ..................................................... Solana Arellano-Fontaine
Reason, Girl 2 ...................................................................... Amalia Krywolt
The Terrible Trivium, Deci-belle, .......................................... Mara Prentis Vendor
The Demon of Insincerity, .......................................................... Elise Witt
Doctor of Dissonance, Vendor
The Senses Taker, Deci-belle, Vendor .................. Naomi Fears-Williams
The Whether Man, Deci-belle, ....................................... Brooklyn Brown Guard, Miner
Tock ...................................................................................... Leonard Graves
The Spelling Bee, Demon 4, ............................ Norah Shaffer-McIntosh
The Queen
The Man, Demon 5, Vendor ................................................. Jonah Santos
The Humbug, Miner, Prince/King, ................................ Timothy Hoover
The Dodecahedron
Advisor, Vendor, Miner .................................................... Chase Worthem
Advisor, Vendor, Miner ....................................................... Dominic Price
Advisor (The Page), Vendor, Miner ................................... Sofie Parchem
Advisor, Vendor, Miner .........................................................Amza Samgui
RTC MISSION STATEMENT
The Roeper Theatre Company is dedicated to actively promoting the Roeper philosophy by producing diverse, socially-conscious theater that celebrates the indomitable human spirit and encourages peace, justice, courage, and reconciliation.
TECHNICAL CREW
Stage Manager ...................................................................... Clara Brannon
Lighting Crew Head ............................................................... Dash Hunger
Lighting Assistant ........................................................... Bryce Broughton
Prop Coordinator, Stagehand
Audio Crew Head .......................................................... Justice Broughton
Audio Assistant, Stagehand .................................................... David Atley
Audio Assistant, Stagehand .......................................... Connor Kostecke
Stagehand ..................................................................................... Stella Kolk
Stagehand ...................................................................... Maddie Machnacki
Stagehand .......................................................................... Harrison Hunger
Conductor/Piano ............................................................... Steven McGhee
Percussion .............................................................................. Eric Ambrose
PIT PRODUCTION TEAM
Production Manager ........................................................... Gloria Despard
Box Office Managers ....................................... Leisl Must, Rychee Brown
Concessions Manager ........................................................ Michael Prentis
Promotional Design ............................................................... Jack Williams
Costume Designer ............................................................. Rachael Parrott
SPECIAL THANKS
Susannah Nichols Amy Cova Leisl Must with our sincerest thanks for your years of dedicated service to the RTC
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT 1
Milo’s Room
Another Boring Afternoon .......................................................................Milo
Gotcha ............................................................................................... Demons
The Birth of the Booth .......................... Milo & The Voice of the Tollbooth
Expectations
The Whether Man .................................................................... Whether Man
The Doldrums
The Lethargarian Shuffle .......................................................... Lethargarians
On the Road to Dictionopolis
Tock’s Narrative ................................................ Tock, Azaz, Mathemagician Rhyme, Reason
Dictionopolis
At the Market .................................................................................... Vendors
The Spelling Bee ............................................................... Spelling Bee, Milo
Azaz’ Warning .......................................................................................... Azaz
Do I Dare? ........................................................................... Milo, Tock, Azaz
Good Fortune to Milo and Tock ............................ Citizens of Dictionopolis
ACT 2
On the Road to Digitopolis
Gotcha (Reprise) ............................................................................... Demons
Giant/Midget ....................................................................... Man, Milo, Tock
Digitopolis
Hail, Digitopolis ....................................................... Miners, Dodecahedron
Subtraction Stew ................................ Mathemagician, Miners, Milo, Tock
The Mountains of Ignorance
Gotcha (Reprise) ............................................................................... Demons
The Castle in the Air
Milo .................................................................................... Rhyme & Reason
The Battlefield
The Return of Rhyme and Reason .......................... Mathemagician & Azaz
Milo’s Room
Finale .............................................................................................. Company
BEHIND THE SCENES TECH WEEK
BRAVO!
Sunny, you are a marvelous Milo! So proud of you! XO, Mom
Congratulations to the buggiest Humbug ever! ~ Dad & Lisa
We love you Norah and couldn’t BEE more proud! Love J & J
Congratulations, Matilda! ~ Love, Mom, Dan, Elliot & Penny Jonah, we couldn’t be more proud of you! Love, Mom and Dad!
Dominic – Break a leg (not an arm)! Mom, Dad and Sage
Dominic – Have a blast tonight! Gommy and Chuck
Dominic – Have a great time on stage! Grandma Acheypoo and Mark
Dominic – We are so proud of you! Grammy and Grandpa CONGRATULATIONS to the cast and crew! The Shanker Family
Amza – So proud of you stepping outside your comfort zone to try theatre ~ Love, Mom ¡Felicidades, Solana! Eres nuestra estrella, Mom & Dad
We are so proud of you, Soli! Much Love, Grandma & Papa Solana, congratulations! Te quiero, Abuelito Great job, Elise! We are so proud of you! Love, Mom & Dad
Congratulations Chase! We are so proud ~ Love Mom, Dad and Cullen Chase, always reach for the stars! Shine on!
Break a leg Chase! You are a star. Love you, Nana
Congratulations Leonard! We are so proud of you! Continue to Shine! Love Mom, Dad, Gigi and Lexi Sofie ~ Be awesome. Be YOU!!
Hail to the King (or Queen)! We’re so proud of all your hard work and commitment. Love, Mom & Dad
Timothy, I am so proud! Break a leg. ~ Mom Boyu ~ Break a leg and have a blast! Love, Mom & Dad
Cast & Crew ~ Make the most of your time and enjoy the ride! We’ve enjoyed the journey with you! Alex, Steve, Amy, Jake and Gloria
CONGRATULATIONS!
We proudly support our daughter, Reese, and all the talented young performers. Let's celebrate the magic of theater together.
Jaime & Gideon Pfeffer