“The Phantom Toolbooth” is Odyssey for the Young at Art’s summer workshop performance, with showtimes Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m. at Mount Vernon District Auditorium.
Director Karla Steffens said this is the 30th anniversary of her directing the show, and the third time the show will be performed as part of Odyssey. The last production happened at First Street Community Center’s stage.
“It’s just a wonderful show full of terrific wordplay that has something for all audiences,” Steffens said.
As part of Odyssey, the cast has three weeks of intensive practices to learn blocking, lines, lights and other technical cues, and then the production.
Steffens said for her, the best part of the show is working with her crew of seasoned interns who rise to those challenges for the production.
“I could not do a show like this without the assistance of all of my interns who help the practices and shows run,” Steffens said.
Steffens said that the show is also an embrace of going from linear thinking into the world of imagination.
Oscar Kuntz and Elliot Micheel play the role of Milo, the main character in the production.
Kuntz said he has ad to get used to learning so many lines as a lead part in the production.
“It’s a lot of memorization,” Kuntz said.
Micheel said his favorite part of the show is seeing how the show has evolved from their first practice to being off book and the show getting ready to stage in front of the community this week.
“It’s been a lot of effort for everyone,” Micheel said. “We want people to come see this show because we’ve put so much work into it.”
“With all the heat, the storms, everything we’ve been going through, this is just a great way to sit down and relax for a couple hours and enjoy a show,” Steffens said.
Tickets are available at the door both performances.

ODYSSEY THEATRE for the YOUNG of ART

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
 
ENSEMBLE of PLAYERS: Aubree Meester, Elijah Forest, Lydia Dye, Henry Dye, Evie Dye, Zuzu Blacharski, Mae Veeder, Oscar Kuntz,  Scarlett Musser, Ronnie Yeater, Toby Calcara, Yates Yamanishi, Kaedynce Hanson, Marlie Willems, Tori Lamb,  Jo Barnes, Clementine Barnes, Maxine “Mac&Cheese” Biderman, Cecilia Rife, Lucy Wolter, Maya Butz, Elliott Micheel, Lewis Micheel, Bailey Wagner, Lily Olen, Gunnar Nichols, Lyla Nichols, Trulie Breidinger, Cece Jost, Holden Carr, Hadley Selby, Ayven Selby, Felicity Frost, Haylee Hedges, Hayden Hedges, Lucy Gregg, Pearl Gregg, Autumn Campagna, Benjamin Damo, Anaia Disbrow, Reagan Ireland, Ellie Smith, Jack Wright, Fia Moore, Hudson Moore, Chester Rood, Marlena Rodenberg, Penelope Vig, Dashiell Yamanishi, Danny Dye, Briley Sellnau, and Emery Willems
TECH STUDENTS: Sayer Carr and Leo Lombardi
STAFF: 
Stage Manager: Meg Dye
Assistant Stage Managers:  Dashiell Yamanishi (ASM/SL) and Skye Rodman (ASM/SR)
Assistant Director: Luke Moran 
Musical Directors: Marlena Rodenberg and Luke Moran
Guitarist: Luke Moran
Light Design & Board Operator  (LD/LBO): Tommy Ferguson
Light Hang/Focus: Tommy Ferguson, Chester Rood, Danny Dye
Lighting Consultant/Mentor: Simon Crocker
Spotlight Operator: Chester Rood
Sound Board Operator/Foley Table (SBO): Penelope Vig
Costumes/Set Design/Direction: KM Steffens
Specialty Makeup: Kim Benesh
Interns, Acterns, Run Crew, Acting Coaches/ Props Painting/Set Build: Luiza Blacharski, Meg Dye, Danny Dye,  Chester Rood, Briley Sellnau, Emery Willems, Dashiell Yamanishi, Tommy Ferguson, Penelope Vig, Katie Whitehead, Fiona Calcara, Sunny Rian, Skye Rodman, Renee Vig, and “cameo intern appearance” by Isaiah Lewis.