High School South presents “Once Upon a Mattress,” a musical based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea.” Originally a play for an adult summer camp, it was created into a musical by Mary Rodgers. The fictional setting is in a medieval kingdom. Performances are on Thursday, May 1, at 5 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $12.##M:[more]##
Kristen Robinson, a junior, portrays Winnifred as the princess-to-be candidate who cannot sleep in the castle due to objects planted under her mattresses. “I feel quite honored playing the same character as Carol Burnett and Sarah Jessica Parker,” says Robinson. “I am having so much fun being extremely goofy as Winnifred.”
Robinson, seen often on the Kelsey and Washington Crossing Open Air theater stages, studies voice at Farrington’s Music in West Windsor. “My dream is to become a drama teacher and have a career in theater,” she says.
The ensemble cast includes Zach Baumann, Blake Eisenberg, Alan Fang, Tom Fitzpatrick, Alissa Gay, Stacey Greenberger, Matt Hasling, Peter Lee, Eric Leiggi, Ethan Levy, Maureen Ludington, Tara McGuinness, Christina Mendez, Stephanie Mischell, Christine Oglesby, Matt Steiner, Nicole Stoddard, Catie Taaffe, Joe Thel, and Alexi Wiemer.
Chorus members include Nicole Caricato, Ariel Cohen, Kelly Davidson, Rachael Degnan, Kelly Fischer, Ryan Lamson, Jesse Lee, Hannah Leventhal, Kate Maniere, Dan McElwee, Julia Park, Tanika Raychaudhuri, Elyse Sartor, and Daria Schwartz.
The musical is directed by Dara Sheller and produced by Deborah Marinsky. Janice Chapin is the vocal director and Scott Collins is the music director. Mariana Garcia is the choreographer and Mike Novak is the technical coordinator. The stage manager is Amita Maram and assistant stage managers are Amina Munir and Harshita Nedunuri.
Musicians are led by Scott Collins and student music director Joshua Suslak, who is also playing the piano. Pit orchestra members include Allison Kempf, flute; Kat Harter, oboe; Jen Principe and Stephanie Grossmann, clarinet; Joe Grossman, bass clarinet; Megan Kao, French horn; Ethan Stern, Tracy Mischell, and Derrick Liu, trumpet; Peter Yang, trombone; Hannah Loeb, guitar; Jason Sher, drum set; Jake Hoyne and Kyle Schwartz, percussion; and Christina Chen, harp and keyboard.
— Lynn Miller
Once Upon a Mattress, High School South, Clarksville Road, West Windsor, 609-716-5050. Musical. $12. Thursday, May 1, 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, May 2 and, 8 p.m.
