BLOOMINGTON – Constellation Stage & Screen presents the world premiere of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical with puppets this spring.
Constellation is working directly with writer and two-time Emmy nominee Douglas Lyons (Chicken and Biscuits, Table 17, Fraggle Rock) and puppet maker Matthew Lish (Sesame Street at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop) to bring this story to life in a new way. Running April 25 – May 11 at the Waldron Auditorium, this Constellation for Kids show is a fun-filled story of friendship, acceptance, and celebrating what makes you unique.
The musical follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot, who just moved to the small “Squares Only” town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in a Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. Lily’s quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected friendship. Inspired by the events of The Little Rock 9, Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson that reminds us that our differences are what make us extraordinary.
Constellation’s world premiere puppet version will be co-directed by Emmy winner & Tony nominee John Tartaglia and co-directed and choreographed by Melanie Tojio Lockyer. John Tartaglia began his professional career at 16 as a puppeteer for Sesame Street. He earned a Tony award nomination for his Broadway debut in the dual roles of Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q. He also played Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and originated the roles of Pinocchio and the Magic Mirror in Shrek the Musical on Broadway. Most recently, he finished filming the second season of the Emmy-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, where he performs and serves as an executive producer, writer, and puppet captain. Co-director Melanie is a performer and director, directing the national tours of Nickelodeon/VStar/Cirque du Soleil’s Baby Shark Live and Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You. She also served as the associate director for Allegiance on Broadway. Joining the creative team are Music Director Rashad McPherson, Puppet Maker Matthew Lish, Stage Manager Mitchell Ward, Scenic Designer Shane Cinal, Lighting Designer Michelle Mann, Costume Designer Becky Underwood, and Sound Designer David Sheehan.
Polkadots features a talented cast of performers from across the country, all making their Constellation debuts. Starring as Lily Polkadot is Maliha Sayed, a Chicago-based actor recently featured in the penultimate episode of Deli Boys on Hulu. Reagan Cole Minnette, a recent graduate from Millikin University, will play Penelope Square. Sky Square will be played by Alex Burnette, who was on the National Tours of Madagascar, the Musical and A Charlie Brown Christmas. “Square-ing” out the cast is Mikelle Miller, a Bloomington-based actor previously seen as Shelby in Off Night Production’s Steel Magnolias, as Mrs. Square and Mama Square.
To make the show accessible to all families, Constellation offers a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, May 11, at 1:00 p.m. This special performance is designed to create a theater experience that is welcoming to all families with children with sensory sensitivities. In addition to lighting, sound, and seating modifications, Constellation’s Sensory-Friendly Performances are Pay What You Will, allowing audiences to choose their ticket price. To learn more about Constellation’s sensory-friendly programming, visit the website.
Alongside Polkadots, Constellation is excited to present an enhanced fundraiser performance on Saturday, April 26th, at The Cool Kids Gala, a one-of-a-kind event for kids and grown-ups alike. This isn’t just any fundraiser—it’s a chance to experience an engaging musical, enjoy a delicious meal, meet the cast, and make memories that sparkle with inclusion and creativity. This family-friendly “gala” is a benefit to support Constellation’s education and accessibility programs, ensuring that Constellation remains a pillar of arts education and theater for young audiences in South-central Indiana.
This puppet version of Polkadots requires a significant investment to deliver the best possible show. Constellation is thrilled to announce that it recently received a generous grant from the First Financial Foundation to support the creation of professional puppets. These puppets will be available for rent to other theaters across the country and will subsidize the presentation of special weekday matinee performances for area schools throughout the run of the show.
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical runs April 25 – May 11 at the Waldron Auditorium; tickets are on sale now! For most performances, tickets cost $15 for children and $25 for adults. Tickets are available through Constellation’s website (seeconstellation.org), over the phone at (812) 336-9300 (Mon-Fri 12-5 p.m.), or in-person at 122 S Walnut St (open Wed-Fri 12-5 p.m.).
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