Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Jessica Fontana, David Greenspan, Zak Resnick & More Join Transport Group's ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Transport Group has announced that casting has been completed for its upcoming revival of Once Upon a Mattress, which stars Jackie Hoffman (On the Town, Difficult People, Hairspray) as Princess Winnifred and John "Lypsinka"Epperson (Lypsinka's The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford) as Queen Aggravain. The production, which is directed by five-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, features Jessica Fontana (Cinderella) as Lady Larken, David Greenspan (The Patsy) as The King, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music) as The Minstrel, Cory Lingner(On the Town) as The Jester, Zak Resnick (Piece of My Heart) as Sir Harry, Jay Rogers (Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly) as The Wizard, and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Things to Ruin) as Prince Dauntless, with Vivienne Cleary, Richard Costa, Michael De Souza, Tim Dolan, Jack Donahue, Amy Griffin, Sarah Killough, Kristen Michelle, Ali Reed,and Doug Shapiro.

The raucous musical fairy tale Once Upon A Mattress stars the formidable Jackie Hoffman (On the Town, Xanadu, Difficult People) and the inimitable John "Lypsinka" Epperson (Lypsinka's The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford). During a kingdom-wide search to find a princess fit for the hapless Prince Dauntless, in swims the less-than-regal Princess Winnifred the Woebegone (Hoffman). Unrefined and undeniably charming, Winnifred is like no princess Dauntless has ever seen and his heart is captured. The truly terrible Queen Aggravain (Epperson) goes on a mission to come between her son and his soulmate in this retelling of the classic story of "The Princess and the Pea." This is a Happily-Ever-After like no other!

Once Upon a Mattress has music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer.

The scenic design for Once Upon a Mattress is by Sandra Goldmark; costume design is by Kathryn Rohe; lighting design is by Drama Desk nominee R. Lee Kennedy; sound design is by Walter Trarbach. Musical staging and choreography is by Scott Rink; musical direction is by Matt Castle; arrangements and new orchestrations are by Frank Galgano and Matt Castle. Casting is by Nora Brennan Casting. Once Upon a Mattress will feature live drawings by Ken Fallin.

Jackie Hoffman - Broadway: On The Town, The Addams Family, Xanadu, Hairspray. Off-B'Way: A Chanukah Charol, The Gingerbread House, The Book of Liz (Obie Award), Straightjacket (LCT Festival), One Woman Shoe. Regional: MUNY, Old Globe, Second City(Jeff Award). Film: Birdman, The Sitter, Extra Man, Garden State, Legally Blonde II. TV: Difficult People, Girls, Six By Sondheim, The New Normal, Family Guy, The Good Wife, Inside Amy Schumer. CD: Live at Joe's Pub.www.jackiehoffman.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialjackiehoffman, Twitter: @jackiehoffman16

John Epperson - Theater: Lypsinka!The Boxed Set (Drama Desk nomination), John Epperson: Show Trash, The Passion of the Crawford, Lypsinka:The Trilogy, New York City Opera's Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, I Could Go On Lip-Synching!, The Fabulous Lypsinka Show, Lypsinka! Now It Can Be Lip-Synched, Lypsinka! A Day In The Life (Drama Desk nominations), Lypsinka! As I Lay Lip-Synching, Lypsinka Must Be Destroyed!, Lypsinka IS Harriet Craig!, Legends!, The Roaring Girle, Messages For Gary. Film: Witch Hunt with Dennis Hopper, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, Wigstock: The Movie, Angels In America, Kinsey, Another Gay Movie, Another Gay Sequel.Television: HBO specials Sandra After Dark with Sandra Bernhard, and Dragtime, George Michael's video Too Funky, PBS's The United States Of Poetry and special features on the Mommie Dearest andWhatever Happened To Baby Jane? DVDs. Fashion: Paris, Tokyo and Los Angeles shows of designer Thierry Mugler, modeling for Valentino, Pauline Trigere, Barneys New York, and launching lines of cosmetics for Prescriptives, MAC, and Isabella Rossellini .Advertising. Author of the play My Deah: Medea For Dummies, an Obie-winning production. Appearing at Feinstein's/54 Below January 20 - 23, 2016 in "An Evening With Lypsinka's Maid."

Founded in 2001 by Jack Cummings III and Robyn Hussa, Transport Group has produced twenty-three shows comprised of twelve new works and eleven revivals, including twelve plays and eleven musicals. In addition to mainstage productions, Transport Group also produce readings, developmental labs, concerts, and other special events. During Transport Group's first eight seasons, the company was in residence at The Connelly Theatre, a turn-of-the century proscenium theatre located in the East Village. Beginning with the 2009 - 2010 season, Transport Group began to explore environmental staging, performing works in non-traditional spaces such as a penthouse apartment, a commercial loft, and a gymnasium. Transport Group found an uptown home in The Duke on 42nd Street, where four shows were produced, including the acclaimed one-man version of The Patsystarring David Greenspan and the original musical The Memory Show by Sara Cooper and Zach Redler. In 2014, Transport Group returned to The Gym at Judson, located in the historical Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village. Currently headed by Jack Cummings III (Artistic Director) and Lori Fineman (Executive Director), Transport Group's most recent production, Three Days To See, explored the extraordinary heart and mind of Helen Keller through her own writings. Our 2013-2014 season began with the first critically acclaimed revival John Cariani's modern classic Almost, Maine, the 2006 romantic comedy that explores the magical delicacy of finding and sharing real love. Almost, Maine enjoyed an extended run with packed houses on a snow-laden set, and featured the play's author, Tony Award-nominated actor John Cariani in the cast. In March of 2014, New York responded with rapturous reviews, sold out performances, and multiple award nominations for the revival of the John Van Druten classic I Remember Mama. Director Jack Cummings III envisioned John Van Druten's 1944 play with an ensemble cast of ten women in their 70s and 80s, starring Drama Desk Award nominee Barbara Andres and Oscar and Tony nominee Barbara Barrie. Most recently, Transport Group produced the world premiere of Three Days To See at New York Theatre Workshop, an intriguing, surprising, humorous, and impactful look at the life and mind of Helen Keller through her own writings. Transport Group's programming also includes our annual gala and most noteably, a series of hit concerts sending up classic musicals. In 2014, TG produced a sold-out, star-studded concert version of The Music Man, featuring 58 actors, and the original orchestrations performed by a 20-piece orchestra. The Music Man: In Concert comes on the heels of past one-night-only sensations, including concert productions of Once Upon a Mattress (2013), starring Jackie Hoffman and John "Lypsinka" Epperson, and Baby (2012), featuring over 60 actors, hosted by original cast members Todd Graff and Liz Callaway.

The Abrons Arts Center is the 2014 OBIE award-winning performing and visual arts program of Henry Street Settlement. The Abrons supports the creation and presentation of innovative, multi-disciplinary work; cultivates artists in all stages of their practice with educational programs, mentorships, residencies and commissions; and serves as an intersection of engagement for local, national and international audiences and arts-workers. Each year the Abrons offers over 250 performances, 12 gallery exhibitions and 30 residencies for performing and studio artists, and 100 different classes in dance, music, theater, and visual art. The Abrons also provides New York City public schools with teaching artists, involving more than 3,000 students in the arts.

Once Upon a Mattress plays Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm with weekend matinees Saturday at2pm and Sunday at 3pm at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street (F to Delancey Street; J or M to Essex Street; D or B to Grand Street). There will be special added matinees on Wednesday, December 23 and Wednesday, December 30, both at 2pm. Tickets, which start at $45, are on sale and may be purchased by visiting www.transportgroup.org or by phoning 866-811-4111. For complete schedule and more information, visit www.transportgroup.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos