Once Upon a Mattress is a whimsical musical comedy based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.

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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. 

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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!