TYA Auditions

2022-23 Season Breakdown

POLKADOTS: The Cool Kids Musical by Melvin Tunstall, Douglas Lyons & Greg Borowsky

Director: Adam P. Blais

Contract Dates: May 9 – 25, 2023

To be notified of future audition opportunities, please email education@thepublictheatre.org

Synopsis: 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. From daily bullying by mean girl Penelope 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. 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.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

We are looking for actors in the age range of 18 – mid 20’s to portray children in the show. Unless otherwise indicated, the characters for this production could be played by an actor of any race, ethnicity, ability, gender/gender identity.

Lily Polkadot – Female – 8 – Lily is the sunlight in the midst of a storm; smart, charming and strong willed; she has the task of being the first of her kind ever integrated into a school of all Squares. Must be played by a Black, Indigenous Person of Color.

Sky Square – Male – 8 – Ideally short; video games illuminate his imagination; he’s anxiously shy, friendly, quirky, and curious; younger brother to Penelope Square and admirer of Lily Polkadot.

Penelope Square – Female – 9- A straight up bully; bratty, loud, and entitled; the world revolves around Penelope, and we just happen to be living in it; older sister to Sky Square.

Mrs. Square/ Mama Square – Female Mid 30s-40s – Doubles as both characters: Mrs. Square is the teacher at Rockaway Elementary responsible for integrating Polkadots and Squares; she’s the disciplinarian- conflicted yet gentle and loving all in the same. Mama Square is a loudmouth, overbearing and stuck in her ways.