The Phantom Tollbooth Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Linda Flores
Phone: 802-246-6398 ext. 113
Email: marketing@neyt.org
Website: neyt.org/the-phantom-tollbooth
NEYT’s Junior Company Embarks on a Wonderfully Witty Adventure in The Phantom Tollbooth
Four performances of the beloved literary classic come to New England Youth Theatre October 23–25
BRATTLEBORO, VT — New England Youth Theatre’s Junior Company invites audiences to journey beyond the ordinary in The Phantom Tollbooth, performing October 23–25, 2026, at NEYT in Brattleboro.
Directed by the dynamic Mikey Pion. This is their first production with NEYT and you may have seen their work at Hinsdale Middle/High School Drama or at Moco Arts in Keene. The Phantom Tollbooth is based on Norton Juster’s treasured 1961 novel which follows Milo, a young person convinced that everything is boring and nothing is worth doing. That changes when a mysterious tollbooth unexpectedly appears and transports Milo into the fractured Land of Wisdom. A world where words come alive, numbers rule a city, conclusions can literally be jumped to, and even time has a watchdog.
Joined by Tock the Watchdog and the ever-confident Humbug, Milo travels through the rival cities of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis on a quest to rescue the imprisoned princesses Rhyme and Reason. Along the way, the travelers encounter a colorful collection of friends, foes, and fantastical obstacles that challenge what they think they know.
Filled with clever wordplay, imaginative characters, and delightfully literal interpretations of familiar expressions, The Phantom Tollbooth is an adventure for curious minds of every age. Beneath its humor and whimsy is an enduring celebration of learning, discovery, and the possibilities waiting for anyone willing to look at the world differently.
NEYT’s Junior Company opens the tollbooth and invites audiences into a world where logic takes delightfully unexpected turns, guided by the bold characters, creative ensemble work, and theatrical imagination that are hallmarks of NEYT productions. Constructing a world where words run wild and numbers reign supreme is an exceptional creative team: Assistant Director Cassidy Majer, Lighting and Sound Director Francesca Bourgault, Costume Director Sandy Klein, and Scenic Director Dave Regan. Audiences of every age can expect a colorful trip through a world where nonsense makes perfect sense and curiosity is always rewarded.
Performance Details
The Phantom Tollbooth
Presented by the New England Youth Theatre Junior Company
Directed by Mikey Pion
Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m.
New England Youth Theatre
100 Flat Street
Brattleboro, Vermont
For tickets and additional information, visit https://www.neyt.org/the-phantom-tollbooth.
About New England Youth Theatre
New England Youth Theatre provides innovative, accessible, and high-quality theater education and performance opportunities for young people. Through classes, workshops, technical theater training, and fully produced performances, NEYT empowers young artists to take creative risks, build lasting skills, and experience the transformative power of collaborative theater-making. Financial assistance is available, and NEYT is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation.
Media Note on Spelling: While we recognize standard AP Style defaults to "theater," our official, legal name is the New England Youth Theatre (using the traditional -re spelling). We kindly request that our organizational name be preserved with the -re spelling in all print and digital coverage. Thank you!