Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress is a critically-acclaimed musical comedy that opened on Broadway on May 11, 1959 and ran for 460 performances. The play was written as an adaptation of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. The show's music was written by Mary Rodgers with lyrics by Marshall Barer. The book was written by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer.

Stage and screen

Once Upon a Mattress was originally written as a shorter play during an adult summer camp. The play was later expanded for the Broadway stage. Initial reviews of the play were mixed, but critics and actors alike were surprised by the show's enduring popularity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Broadway production was directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Joe Layton. Once Upon A Mattress also marked the Broadway debut of stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who founded the role of Princess Winnifred the Woebegone. The Broadway cast also starred Joseph Bova, Allen Case, Jack Gilford, Anne Jones, Matt Mattox, and Harry Snow. Actress Jane White played the role of Queen Aggravaine, becoming the first African-American woman to portray a white character on stage. The play was nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, and Best Leading Actress (Carol Burnett).

Related Topics:
George Abbott - Joe Layton - Carol Burnett - Joseph Bova - Allen Case - Jack Gilford - Anne Jones - Matt Mattox - Harry Snow - Jane White - Tony Awards - Best Musical - Best Revival of a Musical - Best Leading Actress

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Once Upon a Mattress opened in London in 1960. It was made into a a TV movie in 1972. The movie included many members of the original cast (including Burnett and White) and also featured Bernadette Peters as Lady Larken. Many fans of the stage show have complained that the movie is unfaithful to the original book. In the movie, several songs were eliminated and characters were cut or altered (including a prologue sequence with Burnett playing a storyteller).

Related Topics:
London - 1960 - 1972 - Bernadette Peters

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The play has been revived several times, including a 1997 revival starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Today, Once Upon a Mattress is a standard of amateur and high school theater programs.

Related Topics:
1997 - Sarah Jessica Parker

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~