Cumming, Sonenclar, et all Set for PBS' 'The Electric Company'

A number of theatre vets will be featured on the Emmy Award-winning educational PBS series "The Electric Company," which begins its new season February 7 on PBS KIDS GO!

Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, rockers Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, music producer and rapper Swizz Beats, comedian and SNL alumni Jenny Slate, comedian Sherrod Small, The Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac and the original beatboxer Doug E. Fresh will appear in new beat-boxing segments, music videos or storylines which will help to teach kids the value of literacy and math.

Two new regular characters join the talented group of young performers: Coy Stewart (ARE WE THERE YET?) who plays the newest member of The Electric Company, Marcus Barnes, inherits a math superpower once he joins the crew; and Carly Sonenclar (Broadway's LES MISERABLES), portrays Gilda Flip, a prankster-in-training. In the introductory episode of the season, Marcus has just found out he has the wordball power kind of. The Electric Company tries to help Marcus improve his wordball throwing skills so he can join them. Meanwhile, Francine and Gilda ask Manny to build a machine that can help them prevent Marcus from becoming the newest member of The Electric Company.
"Literacy and math are among the core curricular areas that we focus on at PBS," added Linda Simensky, Vice President Children's Programming, PBS. "The Electric Company continues to give kids the opportunity to build these critical skills by engaging with fun and comical characters on television, as well as across multiple platforms."

The upcoming season of "The Electric Company" will have 12 new episodes, airing every Monday on PBS KIDS GO!

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos