Just as Milo embarked on a journey through the Kingdom of Wisdom in The Phantom Tollbooth, FC Spotlight Theatre hit the road this December, bringing their performance of The Phantom Tollbooth not only to FC, but to nearby elementary schools and a local church.

The show traveled to accommodate for the limited seating available at FC due to the recent construction, which has temporarily closed down the auditorium and its seating space. At FC, the show was performed from inside the new blackbox, with the audience sitting in the gym lobby.

The rehearsal process for The Phantom Tollbooth was different than the other times shows have been put on at FC.

“We have a much smaller space than usual so all of the movements on stage have to be extremely coordinated and thought-out. We also have to rely on the fact that we don’t have much backstage space so all of the entrances are different; it becomes trickier to collaborate with the run crew because of this,” Juliana Esen (11), who played Princess Rhyme, said.

Since run-throughs took place in the gym lobby, some feel as though distractions contributed to a more difficult rehearsal.

“[Rehearsal] has been disturbed by sports teams and people staying after school— the staring people. The staring takes away focus, so that’s been a challenge, but it’s all part of the performance experience. We have to be able to adjust,” Kate Schlageter-Prettyman (12), who played Dodecahedron, said.

The intimate rehearsal space also had its benefits.

“We got to know each other a lot better because we’re in a smaller space and we’ve become more flexible and adaptable,” Esen said.

To make room for a larger audience, the cast and crew traveled to local elementary schools and a church.

“So currently in our Falls Church space we can only fit 100 people and half will be seated on the steps in the gym lobby. We have to go to more venues, which is why we’re traveling. We just have to make enough money to make the travel effort worthwhile,” Esen said.

To fit the smaller space, the set design changed from what it typically is at FC.

“A lot of [the set] is definitely simplified and modified to move around easily. Usually we do big, bulky sets, but everything’s a lot more platform and mobile this time,” said Ellie Whitfield (11), who plays Spelling Bee.
The set was built to be easily transported to accommodate for the show traveling.

“Specifically because we’re travelling, everything has to be in pieces and movable. Everything’s just smaller and created with smaller pieces put together which has been interesting to build,” Esen said.
The traveling nature of the show also came with many positives.

“The outreach effort [from The Phantom Tollbooth traveling] cannot be matched. Now, more students and family members see what FC Spotlight Theatre is about and they are impressed with the work our Jags do for theatre! All our props and scenery (the working car, the open book set and painted blocks and rolling flats) are all done by students. When younger students see that, my hope is that they will see themselves in and around our halls at FC in the future. At the very least, they’ll know us and the next time they see a poster for an FC show, they may just come out to see what it’s all about,” Theatre Arts teacher and director Beth Demarco said.