THEATRE + COMEDY

The Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) COMPANY proudly presents Once Upon a Mattress by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller; music by Mary Rogers and lyrics by Marshall Barer.

This charming comedic musical is set in medieval times when Knights sat at round tables and Ladies-in-Waiting paraded through castle courtyards. KVPAC's production promises not just humor, but over-the-top zaniness coupled with magical musical numbers that will delight audiences of all ages.

The story finds King Sextimus unable to speak, due to an unhappy curse. Meanwhile, his terror of a wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken over control of the kingdom. Most importantly, in an attempt to keep Prince Dauntless single, she has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. Further, no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. Lady Larken and Sir Harry are extremely disturbed by this fact since they are madly in love. Luckily, Sir Harry is able to find an amazing princess, Winnifred the Woebegone. She instantly catches the attention of Prince Dauntless, and in the end, is able to pass the Queen's supposedly impassable sensitivity test. When the Queen still tries to prevent Prince Dauntless from marrying, he tells her to 'shut up' which ends up breaking the curse on the king. Now able to speak, King Sextimus regains his rightful position as leader of the kingdom, and all is well.

Based on Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress was originally written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodgers) and Marshall Barer as part of an adult summer camp. The original one-act version was so well received that they decided to expand it into a full-length musical. Ms. Rodgers was only then 28 when she wrote the score. Mattress opened on Broadway at the Phoenix Theater on May 11, 1959, with a young redhead named Carol Burnett playing the part of Princess Winnifred. Burnett at the time was doing television comedy variety shows, but her performance in Mattress made her a star. Mattress would go on to run for a respectable 460 performances.

Once Upon a Mattress is directed by Gregory Magyar, choreographed and assistant directed by Adam Turner and Lisa Burt and performed by KVPAC's talented Senior COMPANY. Set designs by Warren Cochran. Costumes are graciously on loan from Seven Lakes High School. Musical director maestro Adam Stout adds 'live' musical merriment to the production ~ a first for KVPAC COMPANY!

Performances are Friday, April 23rd at 7:00pm, Saturday, April 24th at 2:00pm & 7:00pm, and Sunday, April 25th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $9~ adults and $7~ children under 12 and are available for purchase on-line at www.KVPAC.org.  KVPAC Members receive free admission to either matinee performance while ticket supplies last (call 281-829-ARTS for Member reservations). KVPAC is located at 2501 S Mason Rd., #290, Katy, TX 77450, in the Southwest Equestrian Center complex.