Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
*The event has already taken place on this date: Fri, 02/17/2017
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WHAT: Park Playhouse is pleased to announce our SPRING 2017 Scholastic Touring Productions. Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley can be brought to your school auditorium, gymnasium or muli-purpose room. One month before the performance, we will provide your educators with an activity packet designed to engage students in the creative process behind bringing a show to life on stage! This packet will also introduce students to core themes of the productions—math, literature, history, language arts, music, friendship, acceptance, and travel.
WHO: Our professional actors perform for elementary students throughout the Capital District. We are now listed in the BOCES Art-in-Ed registry. These productions are appropriate for grades 1-5.
WHEN: We are now booking touring dates for Polkadots February 6-17 and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley May 8-19.
WHY: Introducing students to live theatre gives them an important audience experience, helping them to learn the proper etiquette for live performances and public presentations. It also introduces them to a hobby and craft they may not have had access to previously. The arts teach collaboration, creative problem solving and self-expression, and our program gives students a taste of what is possible in the arts. The Park Playhouse Scholastic Touring program allows you to introduce your students to the performing arts in a low-cost way, without the need for bussing and field trip arrangements.
HOW: To book a performance at your school, contact Ashley Simone Kirchner, Arts & Education Coordinator, at akirchner@palacealbany.com or (518) 465-3335 ext 113. The total fee to bring a performance to your school is only $500.
Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical is inspired by American civil rights history that involved the Little Rock Nine - nine teenagers who were enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in 1957 following the U.S. Supreme Court decision for desegregation of schools. Created by Douglas Lyons (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and co- composer Greg Borowsky, this new musical hits on key themes for youth. When being the “cool kid” is a pressure-filled dilemma for adolescents, its great to have theatre that sets the stage for learning the best of humanity.
8-year-old Lily Polkadot 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 polka dot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Inspired by the events of The Little Rock 9, Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical serves as a colorful history lesson for children, reminding them that our individual differences make us awesome, not outcasts.
History, Music, Friendship, Acceptance
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