MENDOCINO COLLEGE THEATRE ARTS DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT ONCE UPON A MATTRESS MARCH 22-31
The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department will present the musical extravaganza Once upon a Mattress March 22-31. This delightful family-friendly show with music by Mary Rodgers (daughter of the famous American composer Richard Rodgers) is based on the classic story of “The Princess and the Pea.” Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, at once hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. It promises fun for all ages!
In addition to Rodgers’ enchanting score, the show features lyrics by Marshall Barer, and a book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller. The original production premiered in 1959 with Carol Burnett in the leading role of Princess Winnifred (played in the Mendocino College production by Blare Elliott). The show launched Carol Burnett’s career. Later in 2005, Disney released a television movie of the musical. This time featuring Carol Burnett as Queen Aggravain (played in the Mendocino College production by retired Ukiah High School Choral Director Denise Doering). In that movie version, the role of the silent, but very expressive King Sextimus was played by Tom Smothers (Mendocino College Theatre Conservatory Cohort student Schuyler Marcier plays the hilarious role of King Sextimus in the Mendocino College production).
Once upon a Mattress presents a revisionist version of the classic tale of the “Princess and the pea,” one in which the princess is far more strong and bold than in the original fairy-tale. Her brash demeanor appeals to the young Prince Dauntless (played in the Mendocino College production by Ukiah High theatre student August Kaster). When director Reid Edelman initially announced that he hoped to produce this play at Mendocino College, he discovered that Ukiah High School theatre director Maria A. Monti had similarly planned to do the show at the high school in the same year. Rather than mounting two productions of the same musical in the same year, Edelman and Monti decided to join forces. The play is now being produced by the Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department, but with tremendous collaboration and support from Ukiah High School. Monti is not only playing the central role of the Minstrel, the narrator of the fairy-tale, but she is also collaborating with college Dance Instructor Eryn Schon-Brunner on the choreography for the production. Additionally, the musical will feature eight high school students in the cast of 25.
According to Edelman, “producing a major musical, such as Once upon a Mattress, is always exciting. It is a joyful opportunity to collaborate with our wonderful dance and music faculty and to involve a large cast of enthusiastic performers. This is a delightful show, featuring lovely music, hilarious plot and characters, and great roles for our students.”
In addition to those mentioned above, the cast features Lindsey Chapman and Eddie Haehl respectively as the romantic leads Lady Larken and Sir Harry. College theatre and dance major Jas Byerley is highlighted in the solo singing and dancing role of the court Jester, and theatre major Shannon Sawyer plays the magical court wizard (spoiler alert…the show involves some wizardly moments of stage-magic!). The company includes an energetic chorus of singing and dancing knights and ladies, featuring high school students Luci Allende, Sophia Butler, Kenzie Hanssen, Sara Richardson, Martin Henebury, Philip Henebury, and Logan Runnings, and college students Gabriel Baca Meza, Yves Charles Browne, Rickie Emilie Farah, Sandra Moreno, and J. Marcus Morning. The cast is enhanced by the additional talents of local community performers Frank Braverman, Ben Miranda, Janet Noe, and Rick Rader.
In all, the radiant and enthusiastic cast includes 26 talented singers, dancers, and actors as well as a full orchestra (under the direction of music director and retired Mendocino College Professor Les Pfutzenreuter). Philip Lenberg, the new full-time music professor at Mendocino College, also collaborated on the musical direction of the show. Mendocino College music faculty members Janice Hawthorne Timm and Marilyn Simpson served respectively as the show’s choral director and singing coach. College Technical Theatre Professor Steve Decker is designing scenery and lighting which will be brought to fruition with the assistance of an enthusiastic crew of students in the college’s growing program in technical theatre, while college costuming instructor Kathy Dingman-Katz is creating the many costumes with the assistance of her dedicated costuming students. College Theatre Technician David Wolf will design the sound reinforcement and effects, as well as serve as the show’s master carpenter. Devoted community volunteer Gary Hudson is stage-managing the entire elaborate production. Brittany McKemy is the Assistant Director.
This show is expected to be a crowd-pleaser, so audiences are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Once upon a Mattress opens Friday March 22 and runs through March 31 in the Center Theatre on the Mendocino College Ukiah campus. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sunday March 31 at 2 PM. There is also a special discounted performance on Thursday, March 28, with all tickets costing only $10 for that performance only. Tickets are available now at the Mendocino College Bookstore on the college campus, at the Mendocino Book Company in downtown Ukiah and also online at www.artsmendocino.org. Prices are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and ASMC cardholders.
For more information, call (707) 468-3172 or visit /the-arts/theatre. The Mendocino College Ukiah campus is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Rd. Ukiah, CA 95482.