Photo Flash: Broadway Celebrates POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL Album Release Concert
By: A.A. Cristi Oct. 26, 2016
On September 16th, 2016 Masterworks Broadway released the World Premiere Recording of the award winning new hit Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. Written by Douglas Lyons, Melvin Tunstall, III and Greg Borowsky, Polkadots is a new musical inspired by the true events of the Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine. The album's release was celebrated in a concert presentation at The Lindeman (508 w42) on Monday Oct 24th, 2016.
The World- Premiere album features Shanice Williams who starred as Dorothy in NBC's The Wiz, recording artist Alex Newell (Glee),Lilli Cooper (SpongeBob), Alysha Deslorieux (Hamilton), John Arthur Greene (American Idol Season 15), Katie Thompson (Giant), Julia Knitel (Beautiful); and the actors who originated the roles in the 2015 reading, Brittney Johnson (Motown), Gerard Canonico (Dear Evan Hansen 2nd Stage), Sara King (Hair) and Talia Thiesfield (Veep).
Polkadots: follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot who just moved to the "Squares Only" small town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in an all Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. From daily bullying, to segregated drinking fountains, Lily's quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson for children, reminding them that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.
October's concert presentation, directed by Melvin Tunstall III and Amy Corcoran, will featureBrittney Johnson as Lily Polkadot, Gerard Canonico as Sky Square, Talia Thiesfield as Penelope Square and Jennifer Sanchez (On Your Feet) as Mama/Ms. Square. With additional appearances by album cast members Shanice Williams, Alex Newell, Lilli Cooper, Alysha Deslorieux, John Arthur Greene, Katie Thompson and musical direction by Ted Arthur.
After just one AEA- 29 hour reading in August 2015, Polkadots has had two successful developmental runs at Carnegie Mellon University and The Ivoryton Playhouse, where it was awarded the Bully Free Communities Spotlight Award. Polkadots now has licensed productions popping up all over the country through June 2017.
Photo credit: Shani Hadjian Photography
Douglas Lyons, Melvin Tunstall III and Greg Borowsky
.jpg "Photo Flash: Broadway Celebrates POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL Album Release Concert")
Brittney Johnson, Gerard Canonico, Talia Thiesfield, Jennifer Sanchez
John Arthur Greene
Jennifer Sanchez and Brittney Johnson
Videos