Milo has one vivid imagination. The protagonist of “Milo Imagines the World” — a popular children’s book by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson — encounters strangers on the subway and dreams about what their lives might be like, drawing sketches that go where his musings lead him.

His story has been adapted into a very enjoyable and eventually touching little musical that was co-commissioned by Children’s Theatre Company. After premiering in Chicago in the fall, it now graces CTC’s Minneapolis mainstage in a production that boasts a clever score full of pop, rock, funk, country and hip-hop, delivered by a tremendously versatile cast of six. While it’s built around childhood imaginings, it’s a show that bears tremendous rewards for even the adults who attend without a kid.

China A. Brickey, from left, Keegan Robinson, Antonisia (Nisi) Collins, Cortlan Gosa, Janely Rodriguez, and John Jamison II in the Children’s Theatre Company’s world-premiere production of “Milo Imagines the World,” a musical adaptation of Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson’s book about a child who rides the subway and imagines the lives of the other passengers. It runs through March 9, 2025 at the Minneapolis theater. (Glen Stubbe / Children’s Theatre)

If you get the impression that this is an episodic show in which one adventure doesn’t necessarily lead to another, well, that’s true. Or at least it seems to be until a final scene that could inspire you to look at all the prior action through a new lens. And Milo’s imaginings are great fun to experience as they come to life in tuneful fashion.

It all happens on a series of subway rides with his older sister. With sketchbook in hand, young Milo dreams up a dinosaur attack and a country-fried tale of a cowboy chasing his pet bird, also concocting a court of royals populated by his fellow passengers.

Between the songs and entertaining over-the-top fantasy sequences, Milo engages in some very believable baiting and arguing with his sister, Adrienne. Yet there seem to be serious issues bubbling beneath the surface that have something to do with their unspoken destination. I’ll only say: Prepare to be moved when you get there and ready for a lesson about imagination’s importance.

Composer Christian Magby and lyricist Christian Albright have crafted 10 tunes without a weak one in the bunch, the moods ranging from Milo’s melancholy “Reflection” to a rollicking bout of break dancing on “My Expression.” All are brilliantly executed by a versatile four-piece band led by music director Sanford Moore.

Director Mikael Burke and choreographer Breon Arzell keep the action briskly swirling about the stage, and the tight-knit ensemble of six execute their vision with copious energy and expert timing, making an audience feel as if encountering a city full of interesting characters.

Carrying the show on his small shoulders is Toussaint Francois Battiste as Milo, and what a talent this kid is. You rarely encounter a “triple threat” of his tender years, as he proves an actor capable of commanding the stage, an exceptional singer with a voice reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson, and a pretty darn good dancer, too.

Antonisia Collins shows off a lovely voice as the stressed-out sister, while each member of the cast gets at least a couple of scenes to steal, most memorably John Jamison II as the two-stepping bird chaser, Janely Rodriguez as a subway breaker, Keegan Robinson as a comical king, and China A. Brickey as the character who pulls the pieces of this puzzle together.

If the three theaters that commissioned this 65-minute musical bear imaginings of their own that this show could make it to Broadway, I heartily endorse the idea.

Rob Hubbard can be reached at wordhub@yahoo.com.

‘Milo Imagines the World’

When: Through March 9
Where: Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis
Tickets: $68-$15, available at 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org
Capsule: A wonderfully entertaining paean to imagination.

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