If you thought you knew the story of "The Princess and the Pea", you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that it may not have been the pea at all that caused the Princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of beguiling songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are, you will never look at fairy tales in quite the same way again.
Cast and Creative team for Once Upon a Mattress at Illinois Wesleyan University
Cast (in order of appearance):
Master Minstrel, a reporter...Vince Gargaro, Senior BFA MT
King Sextimus...Joshua Levinson, Sophomore BFA MT
Queen Aggravain...Melina Rey, Senior BFA MT
Prince Dauntless, their son...Andrew Temkin, Senior BFA MT
Master Merton, confidante to the Queen...Chase Miller, Junior BFA MT
Master Jester, confidante to the King...Nicholas Reinhart, Senior BFA MT
Lady Larken, a lady in waiting...Laura Williams, Junior BFA MT
Sir Harry, Knight of the Herald...Peter Studlo, Junior BFA MT
Princess Winnifred, princess of Farfelot...Erika Lecaj, Senior BFA MT
The Nightingale of Samarkand, entertainer...Caitlin Borek, Junior BFA MT
Sir Studley(Dauntless Understudy)...Zach Mahler, Sophomore BFA MT
Sir Casper/Principal Dancer...Ian Coulter-Buford, Junior BFA MT
Sir Anthony...Isaac Sherman, Sophomore BFA MT
Lord Howard (ghost of Sliding Peter Jingle)...Blake Brauer, Junior BFA MT
Princess Maybelle...Kristen Evensen, Senior BFA MT
Lady Dora (Queen Understudy)...Amy Stockhaus, Sophomore BFA MT
Lady Jane (Larken Understudy)...Annie Simpson, Sophomore BFA MT
Lady Lucille (Winnifred Understudy)...Roz Prickel, Junior BFA MT
Lady Rowena...Laura Martino, Junior BFA MT
Lady Merrill...Julie Tucker, Senior BA
Lady Beatrice/Principal Dancer...Abby Root, Junior BFA MT
Dorothy, a chambermaid...Lizzie Rainville, Sophomore BFA MT
Emily, a chambermaid...Angela Jos, Sophomore BFA Acting
Luce, a chambermaid...Patsita Jiratipayabood, Sophomore BFA MT
Production Team:
Director: Scott Susong
Choreographer: Jessica Riss
Music Director/Conductor: Sandy DeAthos-Meers
Accompanist: Angie Schwab
Scenic Designer: Andréa Healy, BFA Design/Tech '09
Costume Designer: Nicholas Bursoni, Senior BFA Design/Tech
Lighting Designer: Shawn Mallot
Sound Designer: Kirsten Andersen, Junior BFA Acting
Stage Manager: Rebecca Griffith, Senior BFA Design/Tech