Q&As with the Cast & Creative Team of Milo Imagines the World

Toussaint Francois Battiste
Milo

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

T: Exhilarating!

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

T: Matt writes really endearing characters and has an ability to make complex topics like art, imagination, and family accessible for all.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

T: Once when I was ten, I was taking the subway with my Dad in New York, and a group of subway break dancers got on board and invited me to perform with them, so while the train was flyin’ from 125th street to 59th street non-stop, I hit a few moves that ended in a one-handed hand stand to their amazement and received an unexpected applause from the train spectators. I found out later my Dad recorded the whole thing.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

T: On the set of The Savant, my soon-to-be released Apple TV show, my character Ryan had to be upset a lot, and because I’m not naturally angry, I used my imagination to create the emotional connection that I needed for the scenes…

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

T: The music. The storytelling. The performances. And hopefully a little more imagination because the world can use more empathy and love.

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share? 

T: Well, I was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. We’ve done some really cool service projects recently. Also, I’m sort of a young paleontologist! I absolutely love learning about dinosaurs, drawing them, and creating my own dinosaur costumes. Piano, and music in general, is another great passion of mine! Both composing new songs and rearranging existing ones. I really enjoy baseball, and martial arts training regularly in Jiu Jitsu, and Muy Thai. Another big interest I have is in cooking, I make the best salad dressings!

Antonisia (Nisi) Collins
Adrienne

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

AC: This is my first time ever being a part of a new musical, and I feel so honored, to be able to bring something fresh and wonderful to the stage is a joy.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

AC: I think the storytelling transfers so well to the stage because it’s so real. It highlights real family issues and allows audiences to be able to see human nature right before their eyes.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

AC: I have only ever ridden a subway once in my life in Washington DC, when I was in high school. I remember thinking it was so cool that so many young people were able to navigate the city so well by train.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

AC: My imagination comes in handy a lot when it comes to my craft, sometimes there are roles where I have had to imagine certain things in my life in order to connect with my character more. The mind is a beautiful thing, and it’s so cool that we are able to use our imagination so vividly.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

AC: I am most excited for audiences to experience the beauty of family dynamic and relationships that comes along with this show.

John Jamison II
Jim/Ensemble

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

JJ: You’re forced to co-create without rigid expectations. This is always a beautiful reminder that the present moment is a wonderfully potent place to be. Non-new musicals deal with a lot of deconstructing and then re-constructing, new musicals focus mostly on the construction of the theatrical form. Lots of trust involved.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

JJ: I’ve used public transportation here for years and the one that stands out most is pretty recent. Taking the light rail from the History Theater to North Minneapolis at around 10pm during the winter season. This was the most diverse group of people I’ve ever seen in my entire life and what was unique about this ride was that everyone was talking to each other and sharing parts of their lives that you don’t normally hear on public transportation. I mean everyone! I left the train with at least six different names in my head.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

JJ: I use my imagination to invert realities all the time its possibly a coping mechanism but some of the most resilient positive people I look up to in my life have the kind of conscious alchemy that I would like to have due to their creative inversions.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

JJ: Watching a young heart practice the art of surrendering and seeing how that surrender-ance always keeps him in alignment with something so special.

Keegan Robinson
Kevin/Ensemble

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

KR: It’s very exciting! Things can change up until the last minute, and it’s a really cool opportunity to have the playwright and composers in the room as you work.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

KR: I fondly remember traversing the New York City subway with my half-sister Caitlin when I was 18.

Janely Rodriguez
Melanie/Ensemble

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

JR: It is the luckiest feeling in the world. Especially when magic like this falls in your lap. There’s a lot of great theatre out there, but you don’t get stars aligning like this very often: a genius creative team, a wildly talented cast, and a heartwarming, meaningful story. Truly once in a lifetime stuff.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

JR: I think the magical realism of his stories really lends itself to live theater. It hits the perfect sweet spot of fantastical, yet incredibly grounded storytelling. Also, huge shoutout to illustrator Christian Robinson whose whimsical artwork perfectly fits the stage.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

JR: One magical day, on my way downtown, I noticed the only passengers on the bus were women. And I guess I wasn’t the only who noticed. It was like the energy shifted. I watched with the biggest smile on my face as all these women, complete strangers to each other, started gabbing like they’ve known each other for years. I didn’t want to leave. 

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

JR: The music! I can’t wait for audiences to leave the theatre with these songs stuck in their heads.  

Tyler Susan Jennings
Adrienne/Mom/Ensemble (Understudy)

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

TSJ: It’s exciting being a part of new storytelling. Getting to be an innovator of any artform is always so invigorating. I am so excited to see the fruits of this work come to life!

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

TSJ: Matt’s storytelling translates well to the stage because it’s done in a way that anyone and everyone can relate to and understand. The main audience he’s trying to reach may be children, but the story resonates with all ages.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

TSJ: One of my earliest memories is riding the A-train with my grandmother during Christmas time. I was wearing pink mittens while I held her gloved hands and we were on our way to the library. I had to have been around 4 years old. My nana planted the seed of my love for reading and books that day.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

TSJ: I often find that allowing myself a mental escape, let’s me process larger emotions in my own time.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

TSJ: I’m excited for CTC audiences to see a whole new story centered around a young boy and his sister.

Joshua Row
Kevin/Ensemble (Understudy)

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

After coming off of a similar experience at Theater Latte Da with Scotland, PA, being part of the development of new works is such an incredible experience. Seeing character and their actors grow into their final product is always the most amazing thing to view.
 
CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

I always think of books as a movie or play in my head, so seeing it on the stage just saves me the trouble of doing all the work because the director and writer have already.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

In New York my family somehow ended up on a subway that was under construction! So it would stop and start and sometimes not move for minutes on end, and we had to make our way to the conductor to let us off!

Boomer Xiong
Jim/Ensemble (Understudy)

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

BX: My most recent work was a new musical (Blended 和 (Harmony): The Kim Loo Sisters), and after that experience, I prefer doing new works. It’s so exciting to create your own character and understanding of the world. When doing new work there are no wrong answers!

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

BX: Matt de la Peña invites us to his character’s thoughts and perspective, which is why his storytelling translates so well on the stage, because in theatre we’re constantly trying to figure out every character’s story and reasonings.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

BX: Funny enough, when I went to New York for a summer vacation on our first subway ride, there were these Showtime Performers, hip-hop performers who used the poles in the subway train in their dances.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

BX: Imagination has defined who I am today. I would imagine little scenes with toys, my hands, and performances whenever I listen to music. I believe imagination has led me to become the artist I am today.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

BX: In a world with imagination, there simply are no limits. Combining that world with theatre will be the most exciting element to look out for! I’m also excited about the choreography, everybody loves hip-hop!

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share? 

BX: One thing you should know about me is that I love to play volleyball. 

Ninchai Nok-Chiclana
Melanie/Ensemble (Understudy)

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

NN: It is so amazing to watch this musical come to life and being able to see everyone collaborate and make small adjustments to help the show grow as we go along is such an honor!  

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

NN: I think Matt’s storytelling is just something that truly can connect with so many and especially in this story it offers a beautiful representation of people and how imagination works, it’s so fun!  

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

NN: Yes! While I was in New York, on my way in to watch a show, I looked outside of the window while we were in a tunnel, and I saw that there were drawings on some panels and while we were moving it looked like it was a flipbook animation! It was absolutely unforgettable to see that art transform in front of me.  

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

NN: Yes, I use my imagination all the time to deal with tough situations, I like to walk around and listen to music while I invent stories in my mind.  

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show? 

NN: The wonderful music!!! They’re all such great songs in this show! It’s hard to find a show where you like all the songs, but I truly enjoy them all.  

Christian Albright
Lyrics and Music

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical? 

CA: It feels rewarding and fulfilling to be a part of a new musical. It’s awesome meeting many different artists and watching how everyone’s hand touches this wonderful creation and brings it to life.  

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

CA: I think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to stage because it comes from real experiences. Even if the experiences aren’t necessarily innate to the author’s life, it feels like you know these characters and the environments around them feel like one you’ve experienced or seen.  

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride? 

CA: A subway train ride I recall was when my high school friends and I took a train from the Bronx to Manhattan, and we walked around Times Square on our own. It was fun and it felt like we unlocked a new sense of responsibility and freedom. 

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience? 

CA: My imagination has helped me through countless experiences. My imagination is always active, even as an adult. So in times of sorrow, grief or misfortune, my imagination is my escape, and what I create from my imagination is what helps me move on.  

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

CA: I am most excited for audiences to experience the beginning and ending of the story. It’ll be interesting to witness how they parallel each other and what surprises are in store for our audiences. Overall, I hope they experience laughs, joys, and some empathy feelings.  

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share? 

CA: I feel like I am a person of hidden talents. I would say my life has consisted of trying a lot of things once, which I think everyone should. We don’t have to be great at everything we do, and you’ll also be surprised at what you can do. I learned how to paint having not done so since I was kid. If you’re willing to try you’ll be willing to learn. 

Terry Guest
Bookwriter

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

TG: It is both incredibly fun and incredibly challenging. Thankfully I had collaborators that I trust completely and a source material that I really believe in.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?

TG: It begins and ends with Matt’s writing. Even though he didn’t write Milo with the intention of it being on the stage, it is incredibly touching, surprising and imaginative, which are all qualities that also make for a thrilling time in the theatre. 

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

TG: I will never forget my first time riding the New York Subway alone. I was 19 years old and I remember looking around and thinking “I am really an adult now.” 

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

TG: I can’t wait for audiences to see the tech and design of the show! And for them to hear the AMAZING music! 

Breon Arzell
Choreographer

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

BA: Refreshing, invigorating, and difficult. There are so many ideas and so many possibilities. All the while, it’s exciting, because you get create something new; something that’s never been seen before. It’s like leaving your personal mark on history.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?

BA: Because it’s creative and imaginative. It’s easy to realize it because it’s already so visual and “paints with all the colors” of life.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

BA: My first 6 years of living in Chicago, I took public transportation, so there was ALWAYS a story or some sort of antics going on. However, the first time I took a subway train ride was in London, and I was 16. It was so cool. Also, I’ve always loved to people watch, and ohhhh the characters you see on the train.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience?

BA: It’s why I’m an artist. It’s my way to cope, to heal, to process, to reach out to others. If Breon is going through something particularly difficult, I could always give him a break by disappearing into a role or taking a moment to dance it out. Removing the weight of that burden, no matter how brief, allows me to keep going, to breathe, to pick it up and keep pushing.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

Joy. And the power of imagination. This world tends to steal our innocence early on and stifle our instincts to play. I hope that this show reignites that for audiences, and allows them to let that part of themselves free.

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share?

I mean, I’m pretty awesome, so that’s a very long list! 😉 For starters, I lived in Europe for 6 years (Italy & Germany) performing and teaching English through theatre and drama-based activity. (Extra fun fact, I’m typing this from Italy right now! Visiting friends from when I lived here!)

Annie Cady
Costume Designer

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

AC: It’s exciting! Every time there is a change in script or new bit of information from a collaborator it sets off a cascade of ideas that brings energy and fun. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together before opening night.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?

AC: The story has so much imagination while also being rooted in a real-life journey.  We get to travel to the fun and fantastical places in Milo’s mind and see how it all connects into his life and the people around him. Plus, there is a great message for all ages.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

AC: I was on a train in France that stopped all of a sudden and then proceeded to go backwards! The overhead announcement was so fast that my basic understanding of French did not help me understand. Luckily the folks sitting near me translated for me and after a detour and backtrack to another line, I did make it to the airport on time.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience?

AC: I often turn to audiobooks or storytelling podcasts when I’m feeling stress or anxiety. I love to listen and imagine the world that is being described in the story. It helps me relax and let go of whatever I was worried about, at least for a little while.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

AC: The variety of worlds and emotions of each story–both the stories in MIlo’s imagination and the real world. It is a journey.

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share?

AC: As a kid I went to shows at CTC both with school groups and my family. I still remember being absolutely confused and awestruck at the hat magic in The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. I still think about it every time I sit in the UHG Theatre.

Z Makila
Stage Manager

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

ZM: I love working on new musicals and plays! It’s so special to be one of the first people helping to tell a specific story in a new way.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?  

ZM: The challenge of creating a faithful adaptation is not to try and recreate the original story in the exact same way, it’s to use the strengths of a new medium to tell that same story in a different way. Matt de la Peña’s books stand on their own as smart, strong, stories with rich characters and world building, which creates a great foundation to allow for the creativity of adaptation.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?  

ZM: I rode the Amtrak train to Glacier National Park in 2016, and it was a really life changing trip! Getting to slow down and watch out the windows as the gorgeous prairie land gave way to the Rocky mountains was incredible

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience?

ZM: I’m a huge believer in the power of imagination and creative expression as a tool to find truth. When I was in college, creative writing became a way for me to explore new possibilities without the pressure of permanence.

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

ZM: Not only is the show itself amazing, the team is incredible: from the cast to the designers to the backstage crew, everyone involved is at the top of their game. Seeing this show means you get to celebrate all the hard work and dedication that has come from every angle! Enjoy!

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share?

ZM: I play the geography games Worldle, travle, and Globle almost every day!

Wu Chen Khoo
Lighting Designer

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

WCK: It’s always fun to be a part of new work. It’s very exciting to bounce new ideas around and think–without other influences–about different interpretations and what the story we want to tell is.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?

WCK: The work is vibrantly imaginative and visually compelling; the narrative is layered and complex without being complicated.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

WCK: Riding the train to and from Penang to Ipoh as part of school field trip in primary school.

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience?

WCK: Whenever I’m feeling stressed, I withdraw into my imagination. I’ve done this for as long as I can remember. If you want something specific, I once slipped and was skidding around trying not to fall and my mind decided that I was a steadily degrading coherent ball of energy leaping from snowflake to snowflake in the middle of swirling blender. I needed to bounce off the right geometry of snowflake to not lose too much energy and break up so I had to use my super senses to plan my leaps as everything swirled around me while some snowflakes were arctic hares determined to absorb me and power their transformation into the Ultimate Jackalope ™. I needed to escape!

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

WCK: The joy of the mundane!!

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share?

Uhm… my kids love to play “imagination games”, where they banter back and forth describing different scenarios and what they’re going to do. It’s a lot like the Bluey episode Escape, if you know that one. 

Marley Ritchie
Assistant Choreographer

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

MR: Musicals are so much fun! Doing all three (singing, dancing and acting) all at the same time is such a fun way of telling a story.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage?

MR: What’s a better way of expressing your imagination than on stage in a musical?

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

MR: I used to go to work with my mom when I was little in the city, and I would take the city bus with her. Getting to pull the chord for stopping was always my favorite part. 

Anna M. Schloerb
Assistant Director

CTC: What is it like to be part of a new musical?

AS: It’s so exciting! So many possibilities and it is just wonderful to watch the creation of a new world and the characters in it.

CTC: Why do you think Matt de la Peña’s storytelling translates so well to the stage? 

AS: Matt de la Peña’s writing is very evocative, richly descriptive, and yet so simple, touching, and human. It is just begging to be brought into a physical storytelling land and to be given real breath for these wonderful characters and their lives.

CTC: Do you recall a particularly memorable subway or train ride?

AS: I remember many a train ride to choir rehearsal with my friends, singing together or hurriedly memorizing lyrics and even sometimes practicing choreography in the aisles!

CTC: Is there a time when your imagination has really helped you through a tough or complicated experience?

AS: Yes! I think our imaginations are so deeply important and serve as guidance through difficult times. When we practice imagining, we can think and dream of the types of worlds and communities we want to live in as well as new ways to transform our current social realities. It is through collective imagination, play, and creation that we can bring to life a reality that is loving, dignified, and life-affirming. 

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

AS: I’m excited for audiences to be invited into Milo’s world and think about how his story translates into their own stories. I think this story invites audiences to perhaps think critically about where our imaginations first go as we see a new person or encounter a new situation, and it invites us to engage in our collective and personal reimagining. 

CTC: Any other cool facts, tidbits, individualisms, etc. about you that you’d like to share?

AS: I have a darling kitty named Armadillo!

Come see Milo Imagines the World at Children’s Theatre Company Now-March 9, 2025!