Parker’s Beale Street Theater Opens The Phantom Tollbooth Feb. 13

Beale Street Theater opened its family production of The Phantom Tollbooth on Feb. 13 and is scheduled to run across three weekends in downtown Kingman, providing a new cultural draw for families and local businesses. The stage adaptation, written by Susan Nanus from Norton Juster’s classic book, features a mix of child actors, adults and several puppets, and aims to boost weekend foot traffic on Beale Street.

Performances are set for Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with dates listed as Feb. 13–14, Feb. 20–21 and Feb. 27–28. Tickets are available through the theater’s online box office and by phone; prices start at $5 for children ages 4–11, $15 for teens, $25 standard and $35 for VIP, with VIP ticket holders gaining access to a VIP Room offering themed food. The theater is at 302 E. Beale Street in Kingman; for questions call 928-764-7657.

The production names a 14-year-old Joseph Arnesto in the role of Milo, and sources describe a cast that includes four kids, adult actors and several puppets. Visual elements prepared for the stage include a “Castle in the Sky” backdrop, a “Humbug” costume, Gatekeeper and The Page puppets, a “Senses Taker” costume (noted as “Senses, not Census”) and a car prop that was being finished in the week before opening. The director is listed as Jayn, with some notices spelling the name Jayne; no last name was provided in the available materials. On the production’s themes, the director said, “It was one of the first books I ever read. It really stuck,” said Jayne, the director of the production. “Pay attention to the little things that happen in life that make it more enjoyable. If you ever thought that life was boring, it’s probably because you weren’t looking hard enough. Come join us in discovering the magic that is in the little things!”

Local event listings corroborate the Feb. 13 start and the Friday 7 p.m. opening, though some social posts list an alternate March run (March 13–21) that conflicts with the Feb. schedule; patrons should confirm dates directly with the theater if planning travel or group outings.

For La Paz County and Kingman residents, the production combines affordable family entertainment with modest economic upside: multiple weekend performances can lift nearby restaurant and retail sales, VIP food service creates extra on-site revenue, and employing young local actors like Joseph Arnesto keeps arts skills and career pathways visible for area youth. The run also reinforces downtown Beale Street as a cultural destination, which matters to municipal efforts to sustain small-business corridors.

What comes next is practical: verify showtimes with the box office at 928-764-7657, secure tickets through the theater’s online ticketing portal, and consider weekend plans that pair the performance with dinner or shopping downtown to capture the broader local benefit.