Souza’s ‘Phantom Tollbooth Jr.’ opens tonight

CENTRAL VALLEY — Their lines have been learned, the songs rehearsed and dance steps practiced – the cast and crew of the Souza Scholarship’s latest summer production, “The Phantom Tollbooth Jr.,” await their first audience at tonight’s opening of this fun and fantasy show.

Shows will continue throughout the weekend.

For those not familiar with the story, “The Phantom Tollbooth” is based on a popular children’s book by Norton Juster, an enduring work that has been described as having the appeal here in America of England’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

Souza chairman Bob Curtis noted just how thrilled he was that Souza alumni Sarah Fields and Dominick Pascullo accepted the challenge to mount this show.

He also paused to remember the scholarship’s background. “I’m sure that Bob Souza, for whom this scholarship is named, would be as enthused as I am that young people who have benefitted from our program are now ‘paying it forward’ in this show.”

Souza came to the Monroe-Woodbury Middle School in 1966 as an instrumental music teacher and was very involved in the music and performing arts programs at M-W, rising to the position of district music coordinator in 1976. He arranged and conducted music for district scholarship and student productions, and in his spare time, played trumpet and arranged music for the now world-famous Jimmy Sturr Orchestra.

Souza Memorial Scholarships were instituted shortly after Souza’s death in 1980, creating scholarships in music and the performing arts for M-W students from grades 7 to graduating seniors. The Scholarship Committee grants monetary awards to seniors in the form of college tuition payments and awards stipends to students in grades seven to encourage further development in music or the performing arts through summer music camps, specialized workshops, advanced lessons or training, etc.

For more information about the Souza Scholarship or application guidelines, contact Souza Chairman Bob Curtis at bobpoet1@yahoo.com.

If you go: Souza’s Phantom Tollbooth Jr. is scheduled for four performances at Monroe-Woodbury Senior High School at 155 Dunderberg Road in Central Valley:

Friday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 at both 2 and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Ticket donation will be $10 general admission for adults, and $5 for students 18 and under with ID and seniors 65 and over with ID.

For more information about Souza’s Phantom Tollbooth Jr. performances to reserve a seat, call 845-782-0453.