Join Footlight Players for an evening of happily ever after as the racuously funny musical, “Once Upon a Mattress,” takes the stage this October.
Under the masterful direction of Footlight president Robert Komendera, this retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story “The Princess and the Pea,” spins the tale of a medieval kingdom’s search for a proper princess to marry the hapless Prince Dauntless .
“I always loved 'Fractured Fairy Tales' as a kid, and when I saw the original TV version (of 'Once Upon a Mattress') with Carol Burnett as Winnifred I fell in love with the kookiness of the show,” Komendera said. “We have everything from award-winning actors and actresses to newcomers onstage bringing this 'cartoon' to life.”
Everyone, from the knights and ladies who can’t wed until the Prince (Anthony Holt) is married off, to the henpecked King Sextimus (Jim Lampl), wants to see the lonely prince engaged. Everyone, that is, except the domineering Queen Aggravain (Leslie Evans).
Enter Winnifred the Woebegone (Shannon Wyels), princess of the far-off swampland Farfelot brought to the castle by Sir Harry (Noel Carlson). Harry has no time to waste in seeing the Prince married, since his own lady in waiting (Alicia Ebaugh) is waiting for a little bundle of joy.
Also starring in the production are George Maslankowski, Tom LeDonne, John Hutchinson, Dee Piotrowski, Charmaine Tompkins, Ava Lee Abraham, Thom Nelson, Tony Thomas, Allyson Holt, Angela Barreto, Kathi Jones, Alayna and Bobbi Lauritsen, Carrie Lynne Zerbe, Ezra Pendergrass, Michael Thomas, and Miranda Manzuk. Musical direction is being provided by Lee Meyer.
This show marks Komendera's 40th time at the helm of a Footlight production. Over his lifetime, he's directed more than 73 shows at seven community theaters in the region. Having the opportunity to work with him has made this experience special for many cast members, including Wyels, who plays Princess Winnifred.
“He is one of the reasons I began to love musicals,” said Wyels, who last appeared on Footlight's stage in 1988 under Komendera's direction as Annie in “Annie.” “He took me under his wing and helped develop me into an aspiring thespian.”
Show dates are Oct. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. Tickets are $15 (or 2 for $25 with a coupon printed off our website atfootlightplayers.org). Tickets for children 12 and younger are $10.
Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Doors open 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Reservations will be held until 15 minutes prior to curtain unless secured by the presentation of a Footlight Season Gift Card or by prior payment in full. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 219-874-4035 or at footlightplayers.org.
Footlight Theatre is at 1705 Franklin St. in Michigan City.