O N C E U P O N A M A T T R E S S
Once Upon a Mattress is a whimsical musical comedy based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.
The story is set in a 15th century magical kingdom where Queen Aggravain, a mean-spirited ruler and over-protective mother devises impossible tests for potential brides for her drab son Prince Dauntless. Furthermore, no one in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. Thanks to a resourceful knight Sir Harry, princess Winnifred the Woebegone emerges and catches everyone’s hearts – except that of Queen Aggravain, who comes up with an impossibly difficult sensitivity test.
The Broadway show, which opened in May 1959, launched the career of stage and TV legend Carol Burnett when she played Princess Winnifred – nicknamed Fred. It was nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Circle Players opened the show in April of 2009, and was the first time they ever produced it!