Jay Thompson News

Musical Theatre Southwest presents Once Upon a Mattress, a delightful, musical rendition of the story of "The Princess and the Pea." Directed by Terry S. Davis, the MTS production will feature a new twist on the musical favorite: the entire score will be performed a cappella.

Today in 1959, Once Upon a Mattress opened at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 244 performances. Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon A Mattress marked the Broadway debut of later stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Princess Winnifred. Also featured were Joseph Bova, Allen Case, Jack Gilford and Matt Mattox. Jane White played the role of Queen Aggravain, becoming the first African-American actress to portray a white character on the Broadway stage.

Marymount Manhattan College (MMC), a private liberal arts college on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and the college's celebrated musical theatre program, will present a spring theatre festival honoring three generations of musical writers - Richard Rodgers, renowned composer of American popular music and Broadway shows; his daughter, Mary Rodgers, author of Freaky Friday and composer of the Broadway musical comedy, Once Upon a Mattress; and her son, Adam Guettel, composer and lyricist, and Tony winner for his musical The Light in the Piazza.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and OBIE Award-winning theatre company, has announced that its 2015 season will include the world premiere musical The Blonde Streak by Dan Lipton and David Rossmer, slated to run July 5 - August 16 at Theatre 79, and a revival of the classic musical Once Upon a Mattress, starring Jackie Hoffman as Princess Winnifred and John 'Lypsinka' Epperson as Queen Aggravain, running November 29 - January 3, 2016 at Abrons Arts Center. Both musicals will be directed by Jack Cummings III.

Today in 1996, the first Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for188 performances. Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon A Mattress marked the Broadway debut of later stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Princess Winnifred.

The York Theatre Company celebrates the great American lyricist Marshall Barer (Once Upon a Mattress) with a special concert event, The Marshall Barer Project, a musical tour through the life, career and mind of a man whose songs are shimmering jewels from the American Songbook. Starring BJ Ward with special guest Michael Feinstein. Directed by Gordon Hunt, The Marshall Barer Project will play two performances only on Tuesday June 10, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 11, 2014 - Sunday, May 11, 2014.

Stages, A Children's Theatre Workshop, Inc., brings back a Once Upon a Mattress to Bay Street. Fifty-four years ago, Once Upon a Mattress, a romantic and hilarious musical version of 'The Princess and the Pea', opened on Broadway to the delight of theatergoers young and old. It won the hearts of its audiences with an inventive and raucous twist on the old story. Stages, is excited to present this fractured fairy tale at the Bay Street Theatre today, May 10, at 2pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, May 11, at 2pm. And in celebration of Mother's Day on May 11, all mothers will be Queen-for-a-day, with a crown compliments of Stages.

Today in 1959, Once Upon a Mattress opened at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 244 performances. Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon A Mattress marked the Broadway debut of later stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Princess Winnifred. Also featured were Joseph Bova, Allen Case, Jack Gilford and Matt Mattox. Jane White played the role of Queen Aggravain, becoming the first African-American actress to portray a white character on the Broadway stage.

Stages, A Children's Theatre Workshop, Inc., brings back a Once Upon a Mattress to Bay Street. Fifty-four years ago, Once Upon a Mattress, a romantic and hilarious musical version of 'The Princess and the Pea', opened on Broadway to the delight of theatergoers young and old. It won the hearts of its audiences with an inventive and raucous twist on the old story. Stages, is excited to present this fractured fairy tale at the Bay Street Theatre on Saturday, May 10, at 2pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, May 11, at 2pm. And in celebration of Mother's Day on May 11, all mothers will be Queen-for-a-day, with a crown compliments of Stages.

Jason Tramm will conduct the Live Arts Maryland's mid-winter Broadway in Annapolis production of 'Once Upon a Mattress,' Friday, February 14 (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, February 15 (8 p.m.) at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Tramm, who serves as principal conductor and Artistic Director of the MidAtlantic Opera and is widely recognized in the Tri State and MidAtlantic region as a conductor of classical and sacred music, made his conducting debut with Live Arts Maryland last October. In this return engagement Tramm will lead the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Annapolis Chorale in Mary Rodgers beloved musical comedy, with lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer.

Today in 1996, the first Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for188 performances. Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon A Mattress marked the Broadway debut of later stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Princess Winnifred.

Masque Theatre's 2013 All Youth Summer Musical, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS with Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer, Music by Mary Rodgers, Lyrics by Marshall Barer is Directed by Ruth Kegel, Produced by Debbie Weeks with Musical direction by Eri LeGendre and Choreography by Caitlin Pilette.

Masque Theatre's 2013 All Youth Summer Musical, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS with Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer, Music by Mary Rodgers, Lyrics by Marshall Barer is Directed by Ruth Kegel, Produced by Debbie Weeks with Musical direction by Eri LeGendre and Choreography by Caitlin Pilette.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and OBIE award-winning theatre company, just presented a one-night-only, all-star concert of the acclaimed 1959 Broadway classic musical Once Upon A Mattress at the The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in The Pershing Square Signature Center. Leading the company were Jackie Hoffman as Princess Winnifred and John 'Lypsinka' Epperson as Queen Aggravain with Danny Burstein (Follies) as King Sextimus, Tony nominee John Cariani (Fiddler on the Roof) as The Jester, Jill Paice (Curtains) as Lady Larken, Drama Desk nominee Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon) as Sir Harry, OBIE winner Jonathan Hammond (The Boys in the Band) as The Wizard, Stanley Bahorek (Queen of the Mist) as The Minstrel, and Drama Desk nominee David Rossmer (Peter and the Starcatcher) as Prince Dauntless. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the special concert below!

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and OBIE award-winning theatre company, just presented a one-night-only, all-star concert of the acclaimed 1959 Broadway classic musical Once Upon A Mattress at the The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in The Pershing Square Signature Center. Leading the company were Jackie Hoffman as Princess Winnifred and John 'Lypsinka' Epperson as Queen Aggravain with Danny Burstein (Follies) as King Sextimus, Tony nominee John Cariani (Fiddler on the Roof) as The Jester, Jill Paice (Curtains) as Lady Larken, Drama Desk nominee Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon) as Sir Harry, OBIE winner Jonathan Hammond (The Boys in the Band) as The Wizard, Stanley Bahorek (Queen of the Mist) as The Minstrel, and Drama Desk nominee David Rossmer (Peter and the Starcatcher) as Prince Dauntless. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special concert below!

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and OBIE award-winning theatre company, presents the one-night-only, all-star concert of the acclaimed 1959 Broadway classic musical Once Upon A Mattress tonight, June 17 at 7pmat the The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street.

Fountain Hills Youth Theater is proud to announce the closing production of their 10th anniversary season, the musical romp 'Once Upon a Mattress'. 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 Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken's love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling reason that she reach the bridal altar post haste? Or that, in fact, it wasn't the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.