A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Phantom Tollbooth

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  19any gender (adult)

By Susan Nanus
Based on the book by Norton Juster

A stage version of the beloved children's book! Discover Milo’s adventures in the Land of Wisdom, where he’s forced to think about many new things.

The Phantom Tollbooth

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    19any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adaptations (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Children (Age 6 - 10), Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13)

Details

Summary
Here are Milo’s adventures in the Land of Wisdom, where he’s forced to think about many new things. Milo learns of the argument between 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. Milo is dispatched to rescue the princesses from the Land of Ignorance. Armed with the knowledge and skills he picks up on his journey, Mile rescues the princesses. When he must return home, Milo bids farewell to his new friends, knowing his attitude toward learning will never be the same.

THE CLOCK
MILO – a boy
THE WHETHER MAN
SIX LETHARGARIANS
TOCK – the watchdog
AZAZ THE UNABRIDGED – King of Dictionopolis
THE MATHEMAGICIAN – King of Digitopolis
PRINCESS SWEET RHYME
PRINCESS PURE REASON
GATEKEEPER OF DICTIONOPOLIS
THREE WORD MERCHANTS
THE LETTERMAN – the fourth word merchant
SPELLING BEE
THE HUMBUG
THE DUKE OF DEFINITION
THE MINISTER OF MEANING
THE EARL OF ESSENCE
THE COUNT OF CONNOTATION
THE UNDERSECRETARY OF UNDERSTANDING
A PAGE
KAKAFONOUS A. DISCHORD, DOCTOR OF DISSONANCE
THE AWFUL DYNNE
THE DODECAHEDRON
MINERS OF THE NUMBERS MINE
THE EVERPRESENT WORDSNATCHER
THE TERRIBLE TRIVIUM
THE DEMON OF INSINCERITY
SENSES TAKER

Author's Casting Notes: Maximum of 37 roles for 19 performers. The six Lethargarians may serve as a chorus that plays all the smaller roles throughout the play. I would suggest that the Ministers of King Azaz’s Cabinet be played by separate actors, but they also, may be played by the Lethargarian chorus. Several other small parts may be played by the same actor as well.

See script sample for suggested doubling.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Duration 105 Minutes

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Norton Juster

Author

Susan Nanus

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