Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s Junior Theatre will present a stage version of Norton Juster’s beloved childrens’ book, "The Phantom Tollbooth," adapted by Susan Nanus and directed by Jenny Anne Koppera and Ariel Jones.

Performances are May 17-19 at 7:30 p.m., and May 19-20 at 1 p.m., at WCC’s College Theater. All tickets are $5 and are available by calling or visiting the A2CT office (734-971-2228), or at the door of WCC’s College Theater before each performance. The production is suitable for children ages 4 and up. Additional information is available at www.a2ct.org.

"The Phantom Tollbooth" tells the story of a young boy named Milo who is bored by school and studying. He receives a mysterious package containing a magical tollbooth, and sets off on great adventures in the Land of Wisdom. Milo encounters, among others, the Mathemagician and the Princesses Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. Milo’s adventures continue as he’s dispatched to rescue the princesses from the Land of Ignorance, and his thinking about thinking will never be the same.

“I’m so excited to be directing this play in the 50th anniversary year of the publication of the book,” said Koppera in a press release. “Not only is the story of Milo and 'The Phantom Tollbooth' beloved by kids nowadays, but their parents--and even grandparents--have fond memories of reading the book.”

“This is a wonderful story and a fabulous cast of 34 young actors,” Jones added. “It’s a magical hour of ‘literary’ entertainment!”

"The Phantom Tollbooth" ensemble features Henry Schirmer, Mark Andrusiak, and Laila Krugman as Milo, Annika Morrison as Tock, Gwyneth Andrusiak as King Azaz, Aidan Brown-Danovi as the Mathemagician, Olivia Ponce de Leon as Princess Rhyme, and Gaby Glassford as Princess Reason, and Bairton Warburton-Brown as the Humbug. The cast also includes Hannah Harshe, Samantha Restorick, Daniel Tramp, Nathan Thomas, Anneka Hallstrom, Janie Harshe, Melody Hassani, Ashley Harlock, Isa Grofsorean, Isabella Giviyan, Miya Restorick, Maya Krugman, Hadas Kluger, Anabela Dill Gomes, Regi Stasser-Gonzalez, Sabina Fall, Claire Vaughn, Lucie Roy, Chrysanthe Patselas, Maya Grekin, Henry Kiley, Josie Leydenfrost, Leoni Muno, Bella Bates, and Amanda Restorick.

A2CT’s Junior Theatre is a program for young actors in grades 4-12. Not only do the kids present wonderful classics and plays with a positive message; they learn the ins and outs of acting and the theater world and meet other like-minded kids in the process. Junior Theatre presents two plays a year, as well as summer camp.