ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Previews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 10:11am

Once Upon a Mattress – the iconic musical comedy that’s forever woven into the tapestry of theatre history and probably being performed at your local high school right now – is back on Broadway for the first time since 1996. Two-time Tony® winner Sutton Fosterstars as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone alongside royalty of stage and screen, Michael Urie.

Direct from its sold-out New York City Center Encores! run and newly adapted by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Once Upon a Mattress sets Winnifred, an unapologetic free spirit, loose in a repressed kingdom, where she charms, delights, and dances her way to the top… of a stack of mattresses.

Don’t miss this uproarious production of the show every theater kid knows like the back of their pillow!
Previews begin July 31 at the Hudson Theatre.

[someoneinatree2]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 2:56pm

Is Mattress still a high school musical juggernaut? No shade to the show, which is perfectly fun and certainly appropriate for teens, but I feel like I hear more about Into the Woods or Beauty and the Beast or Footloose (or now Mean Girls and The Addams Family) these days.

Just found it funny that they implied its popularity with kids not once but twice in a rather succinct press release.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 4:03pm

someoneinatree2 said: "IsMattress still a high school musical juggernaut? No shade to the show, which is perfectly fun and certainly appropriate for teens, but I feel like I hear more aboutInto the WoodsorBeauty and the BeastorFootloose(or nowMean GirlsandThe Addams Family) these days.

Just found it funny that they implied its popularity with kids not once but twice in a rather succinct press release."

I just checked the Concord Theatricals page, and there are six pages' worth of current or upcoming productions of the show.

One is by a high school in my area in the fall! Might have to check it out.

[someoneinatree2]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 5:18pm

You should! Sounds like my area has been sorely missing out.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 5:43pm

This was just delightful at City Center. Looking forward to catching it again on Broadway!

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 6:58pm

Has a lottery or rush been announced for this? I'd like to see it but want to spend as little as possible.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 7:07pm

FANtomFollies said: "Has a lottery or rush been announced for this? I'd like to see it but want to spend as little as possible."

Prob will be announced a day or two before performances start

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/23/24 at 5:49am

Liked this at City Center, but definitely wouldn’t say I loved it. Hopefully now that there’s no Sweeney, Sutton will be a full voice for Shy. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/23/24 at 11:14am

A bit early for this thread me thinks. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/23/24 at 11:39am

I saw a pic on Instagram of Bonnie Milligan & Rachel York hanging out the other day, and THAT is the [regional/off-bway] cast I'd like to see for this show.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 12:00am

We have a previews thread for a princess!

The second Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress starts up tomorrow night (July 31) at the Hudson Theatre, prior to an August 12 opening. This production — set to run through November 30, before an expected Los Angeles stint — comes direct from New York City Center, where it played for two weeks earlier this year. 

Foster and Urie head a cast of Broadway veterans that also includes Brooks Ashmanskas, Daniel Breaker, Will Chase, Nikki Renée Daniels, Ana Gasteyer, and David Patrick Kelly. A humorous Golden Age adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale “The Princess and the Pea,” Once Upon a Mattress features music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer, with a book by Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller. Lorin Latarro choreographs, and Lear deBessonet directs.

Who’s giving the new-look kingdom a visit?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 12:07am

Per PlaybillVault, the orchestra is 16 + conductor. Quite large for a 970-seat house, but smaller than at Encores:

• Conductor
• 2 Keys
• 3 Reeds
• 2 Trumpets
• 1 Trombone
• 3 Violins
• 1 Viola
• 2 Celli
• 1 Bass
• 1 Drums/Perc

Bruce Coughlin did the new orchestrations, as he did for the '96 revival (which had 14 + conductor)

Updated On: 7/30/24 at 12:07 AM

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 12:47am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Per PlaybillVault, the orchestra is 16 + conductor. Quite large for a 970-seat house, but smaller than at Encores:

• Conductor
• 2 Keys
• 3 Reeds
• 2 Trumpets
• 1 Trombone
• 3 Violins
• 1 Viola
• 2 Celli
• 1 Bass
• 1 Drums/Perc

Bruce Coughlin did the new orchestrations, as he did for the '96 revival (which had 14 + conductor)"

That’s an enormous string section per today’s standards. If I did my research correctly, it’ll be tied with Lion King for the largest currently on Broadway. Love to see it!

Updated On: 7/30/24 at 12:47 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 9:23am

MatthewS1 said: "That’s an enormous string section per today’s standards. If I did my research correctly, it’ll be tied with Lion King for the largest currently onBroadway. Love to see it!"

well THAT’s a depressing stat!! But I guess makes sense. A lot of contemporary shows do 4, maybe 5 strings. The second cello is what puts it over the top.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 1:52pm

The show will have a $45 same-day digital rush through TodayTix. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 10:03am

“Once Upon A Mattress has also announced a weekly “Princess Test” event series, held at the box office every Thursday evening, 2 hours prior to curtain time. Hosted by special guests from Broadway’s Royal Court, attendees can participate in the week’s featured “Princess Test” to win show tickets and other special prizes. The first weekly test will be held tomorrow, Thursday August 1, at 6:00PM.”

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 2:32pm

Merch: https://www.broadwaymerchandiseshop.com/collections/once-upon-a-mattress

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 7:11pm

Show's official website lists a 2:15 runtime, including intermission. 

[Observation]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 10:44pm

Anyone go this evening? Excited to hear about Ana Gasteyer! 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 10:51pm

I can't believe it's been this long since a constantly-working actor like Brooks Ashmanskas was last on Broadway. When we last saw him, he was crowned prom queen by a high school lesbian in suburban Indiana.

Also curious to hear about Gasteyer and the new additions — and how the show itself was!

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 11:01pm

Someone on Reddit posted a photo of the (entirely art-less) Playbill:

Updated On: 7/31/24 at 11:01 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/31/24 at 11:17pm

Oh that was a glorious night of musical comedy. Even better than it was at Encores and Sutton and Michael are somehow even funnier. As far as new cast goes, Ana is sublime, Brooks is PERFECTION, Daniel is wonderful and Will is somehow just as good as Cheyenne was, which I didn’t think possible. 

Those sleeping masks were on everyone’s seats and they’re NICE. They have them for sale also for $20 (or $25).

Can’t wait to go back to this many many more times .

 

[meyerd584]

Posted: 8/1/24 at 4:01am

I was there tonight as well. Lucky to get a rush ticket on TodayTix.

 

Just tons and tons of fun. A great cast. The updated book is wonderful but it still feels like a classic. 

 

Admittedly I've never actually seen this show so I was happy all around. 

 

Sutton is fantastic and I can often be a little critical of her but she does comedy/physical comedy so well. She was born for this part. 

 

Ana was sensational. A powerhouse and stole every scene she was in. 

It's Urie who made the experience for me though. He's fantastically gifted and putting his whole heart and body into this role. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 8/1/24 at 5:29am

meyerd584 said: "I was there tonight as well. Lucky to get a rush ticket on TodayTix."

I've never done rush through Today Tix, did you know your seat location before you purchased? And where was your seat located?

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/1/24 at 9:44am

How do the book/designs/music arrangements compare to what was at City Center? The set from the one photo I saw looks very similar from what was at Encores.