Shanice Williams, Alex Newell, Lilli Cooper and More Featured on POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL Recording, Out Today

Masterworks Broadway celebrates the release of the World Premiere Recording of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical available today, September 16, 2016. Written by Douglas Lyons, Melvin Tunstall, III and Greg Borowsky, Polkadots is the new musical inspired by the true events of the Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine.

The World Premiere Recording features Shanice Williams (Dorothy in NBC's The Wiz Live!), recording artist Alex Newell (Glee), Lilli Cooper (The SpongeBob Musical), Alysha Deslorieux (Hamilton), John Arthur Greene (American Idol Season 15), Katie Thompson (Giant), Julia Knitel (Beautiful), Brittney Johnson (Motown), Gerard Canonico (Dear Evan Hansen), 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.

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. The new musical is now being licensed regionally and is searching for a theatre to host its New York City bow.

Polkadots was conceived by Douglas Lyons, who also wrote lyrics and co-composed music with Greg Borowsky and features a book by Melvin Tunstall, III. The creative team also includes Madeline Smith (Music Supervisor), Ted Arthur (Musical Director), Ethan D. Pakchar (Orchestration) and Salina Giardino (Illustration).

The World Premiere Recording of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical is produced by Marc Blakeman, Shaun Hurwitz, Douglas Lyons and Greg Borowsky.

Douglas Lyons (Conceiver, Co-Composer, Lyricist) As an actor Douglas has appeared on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and The Book of Mormon, plus tours of Rent and Dreamgirls. He's half of writing team Lyons and Pakchar who's new musical Five Points was a Top 2 finalist for the 2016 New American Musical Award. The team has also just been commissioned by Seattle's 5th Ave Theatre.

Melvin Tunstall, III (Book) Melvin is currently appearing in Beautiful: the Carole King Musical and has written the books for the original musicals BLooM! (NAMT semifinalist 2014) and Higgins in Harlem. In addition to his original works, Melvin was commissioned to write updated adaptations of The Wiz and Wonderland.

Greg Borowsky (Co-Composer) Greg is a songwriter and producer from South Africa signed to Sony ATV globally. His American album debut The Greg Dean Project,which features soul and Broadway artists such as Eric Roberson, Gordon Chambers, Mykal Kilgore, Chester Gregory, Amber Iman and Natalie Weiss, reached #1 on the UK Soul Chart for 3 weeks consecutively and remained on the Billboard R&B chart for 6 weeks.

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical - World Premiere Recording Tracklist

1. First Day Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico, Brittney Johnson, Julia Knitel

2. Sticks and Stones Alex Newell

3. Sticks and Stones Reprise Alex Newell

4. One Pal Shanice Williams

5. Square Motto Sara King, Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico

6. Beautiful John Arthur Greene

7. The First Katie Thompson & Alysha Deslorieux

8. One Pal Reprise Shanice Williams

9. Cool Kid Lilli Cooper

10. The Squadot Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico, Brittney Johnson, Julia Knitel

11. New Day Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico, Brittney Johnson, Julia Knitel

12. Finale Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico, Brittney Johnson, Julia Knitel

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Taught Katie Thompson

14. Polkadot Christmas Brittney Johnson

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS:

September 23- October 2 Limelight Performing Arts Center - West Chester, PA

September 17-24 Jenny Wiley Theatre - Pikeville, KY

October 2016- June 2017 Ocean State Theatre Company (touring production) - Warwick, RI

November 2-6 The Queens Theatre - Corona, NY

Masterworks Broadway is a label of Sony Music Masterworks. For email updates and information on Masterworks Broadway, visit www.masterworksbroadway.com.