Festival 56 will open season with Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical

Festival 56 will open its first production of the 2021 summer season at 7:30 p.m. on June 25 with “Polkadots: the Cool Kids Musical.”

Festival 56 positions itself in offering several productions in the summer that features a cast and crew of professional theatre artists assembled from across the summer to live and work in Princeton during the season, and they are thrilled to be able to produce a show designed for young audiences. Performances continue through July 21.

This colorful and creative musical takes the actual experience of the Little Rock 9, a group of young students who were the first to be integrated in to public schools in Arkansas in 1957, and uses their courage and perseverance to reimagine their story in the fictional Rockaway Elementary school, where Lily Polkadot is the first polkadot in an all-Square school. Lily develops a friendship with the shy Sky Square, and their pal-ship helps her to find her pride and her strength. The score is so catchy and so much fun, that all audiences will love this colorful show.

Different from years past, all of Festival 56′s performances will be held on an outdoor stage behind the Bureau County Metro Center, 837 Park Ave W., Princeton, in order to ensure the health and safety of all artists and patrons. Concessions will be available for all to enjoy, but audience members should bring their own lawn chair, bug spray, or sunscreen.

Note that for this show specifically, there will be a special ticket offering for kids ages 10 and under for a low price of $7. For more information or to purchase tickets, call or visit the box office from 12-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday at the Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St., Princeton, 815-879-5656, or visit www.festival56.com.

This year’s season sponsors are Norberg Memorial Home and Heartland Bank & Trust Company. This production has also been made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois and supported by a grant from The Arts of Starved Rock Country Community Fund and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.