Events and Happenings
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical Release Free Download for World Day of Bullying Prevention
On Monday October 5th, “Sticks & Stones,” on of our favorite songs from Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, will be available for free download in honor of the World Day of Bully Prevention. We attended a reading of this awesome kids musical and were blown away. It truly can make a difference in the way kids interact with each other. All they have to do is see this show! They will soon enough, but let’s get them warmed up with this song. Such a great message and an awesome melody.
According to the creative team, Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical 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. After constant bullying from mean girl Penelope, Lily’s quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected friendship. Inspired by the events of The Little Rock 9, Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical serves as a colorful history lesson, reminding us all that our individual differences make us awesome, not outcasts.
The song, “Sticks & Stones,” is performed by Brittney Johnson (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), who appeared as Lily Polkadot in the industry reading in August 2015. Directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, the cast also featured Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening) as Sky Square, Talia Thiesfield (HBO’s “Veep”) as Penelope Square and Sara King (Hair) as Mrs. Square/Mama Square. Creator Douglas Lyons (Five Points: An American Musical) is the show’s lyricist and co-composed the score alongside Greg Borowsky (Sony ATV). The book is by Melvin Tunstall III (BlooM! the Musical).
Check out a clip of the amazing song below and make sure to download the full thing for yourself on Monday. It will be available via Soundcloud!
UPDATE: It’s HERE!
@sunnybrittney recording “Sticks & Stones” from our demo session today! pic.twitter.com/DEmv2EBjfg
— Polkadots Musical! (@Polkadotmusical) September 9, 2015
Playwright Erika Dickerson-Despenza
There is limited seating left for Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s new play CULLUD WATTAH at The Public Theater. Opening today, Thursday, March 7th and running until Sunday, March 10th in the Public Studio is about three generations of Black women living through the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
“It’s been 936 days since Marion’s family has had clean water. When local activists file a class action lawsuit against the city, Marion—a third-generation employee at General Motors—must decide how best to support her two daughters, sister, and mother while lead seeps into the community, their home, and their bodies. As corrosive memories and secrets rise among them, the family wonders if they’ll ever be able to filter out the truth.”
2018 Relentless Award Semifinalist and poet-playwright makes her Public Theater debut with CULLUD WATTAH directed by Lilly Award winner Candis C. Jones; the cast includes Deonna Bouye (Marion), Alana Raquel Bowers (Reesee), Caroline Stefanie Clay (Big Ma), Nikiya Mathis (Ainee), and Kara Young (Plum).
The creative team includes Production Stage Manager Gregory Fletcher, Stage Manager Priscilla Villanueva, and Movement Director Adesola Osakalumi. Along with scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, Costume Design by Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene, lighting Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Megan Culley
We believe in this work so much we’re giving away 4 tickets to the performances on March 10th. 2 tickets to the matinee and two the evening performance thanks to our founder Drew Shade and actress/playwright Jocelyn Bioh. Go to our Instagram to find out how!
Also, find out more about how you can help the Flint Water Crisis and support this show HERE.
Listen to Erika talk about her work on an episode of Off Book Podcast below
Performances begin today, Tuesday February 26th, for the New York premiere of Surely Goodness and Mercy, presented by Keen Company. A story about an exceptional boy living a troubled life in Newark, NJ who does a good deed for an often unnoticed person. Sarita Covington, Jay Mazyck, Brenda Pressley, Courtney Thomas, and Cezar Williams star under Jessi D. Hill’s direction.
Set in an under-funded public school in Newark, Surely Goodness and Mercy by rising playwright Chisa Hutchinson, tells the story of a bible-toting boy with a photographic memory who befriends the cantankerous old lunch lady. Against all odds, Tino and Bernadette help each other through the mess of growing up and growing old.
Surely Goodness and Mercy has spent the last year charming audiences across the country: “Notably absent from Hutchinson’s frank and sobering story: cynicism” – Chicago Reader; “(Surely Goodness and Mercy has) a soul-stirring quality, touching audiences with its sincerity” – Daily Utah Chronicle; “it’s impossible not to like it” – The Salt Lake Tribune. Now, Keen is honored to bring this big-hearted new play to New York for the first time.
Performances for this limited Off-Broadway engagement of Surely Goodness and Mercy will continue through Saturday, April 13th only, with opening night set for Wednesday, March 13th.