Fairy Tales Were Never This Funny - Once Upon a Mattress Brings the Laughter! Think you know The Princess and the Pea? Think again! Once Upon a Mattress flips the classic fairy tale upside down in this hilarious, high-energy musical that’s bursting with charm, cleverness, and contagious fun for all ages. Meet Princess Winnifred—bold, boisterous, and anything but traditional. When she arrives to win the hand of the shy and sheltered Prince Dauntless, chaos erupts in the kingdom. With toe-tapping tunes, outrageous characters, and non-stop laughs, this is a royal romp that will have you grinning from start to finish. This production is brought to life by a joyful cast of dedicated volunteer performers, whose passion, time, and talent shine in every scene. When you attend, you're not just enjoying a night of musical comedy—you’re supporting local artistry and fueling the confidence of performers who give their all to entertain, inspire, and build community through live theatre. Bring your family, your friends, and your sense of humor—seats are filling fast, and this is one fairy tale you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets today and join the royal fun!
Tony Awards and Nominations for Once Upon a Mattress
| Year | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Best Musical | |
| 1997 | Best Revival of a Musical |
SUBMIT UPDATES
Manatee Performing Arts Center Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Fred Kletts Stand-Up Comedy (2/7/26-2/7/26)
The Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: A Motown Revue (2/10/26-2/12/26)
Cemetary Club (2/19/26-3/1/26)
BRIGHT STAR (3/5/26-3/15/26)
Paddy O'Furniture (3/10/26-3/10/26)
The Elvis Presley Experience (4/7/26-4/7/26)
And Then There Were None (4/9/26-4/19/26)
Big Fish (4/23/26-5/3/26)
Manatee Performing Arts Center is at 502 3rd ave w, bradenton, FL.
Terms of Endearment (1/8/26-1/18/26)
Fleetwood Max: the Definitive Fleetwood Mac Tribute (1/6/26-1/6/26)
Frozen (12/4/25-12/14/25)
A Jimmy Buffet Tribute by the Caribbean Chillers (10/28/25-10/28/25)
Hello Dolly! (10/23/25-11/2/25)
Misery (10/16/25-10/26/25)
Terry Lee Goffee as Johnny Cash (9/30/25-9/30/25)
Gutenberg! the Musical! (9/4/25-9/14/25)
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT (8/21/25-8/31/25)
Videos
 |
Primary Trust
Asolo Repertory Theatre (1/7 - 2/11) | |
 |
Cabaret for Scholarship Fund Raiser
St. Boniface Episcopal Church (2/13 - 2/14) CONCERT HOLIDAY SHOW SARASOTA PREMIERE | |
|
Romeo & Juliet
Dingbat Theatre Project (6/12 - 6/28) | |
|
Marie and Rosetta
Asolo Repertory Theatre (5/6 - 5/31) | |
|
The Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: A Motown Revue
Manatee Performing Arts Center (2/10 - 2/12) | |
|
Lady Disdain
Asolo Repertory Theatre (6/6 - 6/27) | |
|
Assassins
The Sarasota Players (4/29 - 5/10) | |
|
Primary Trust
Asolo Repertory Theatre (1/7 - 2/11) | |
|
Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!
Dingbat Theatre Project (3/13 - 3/29) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
Get Sarasota's #1 Theatre Newsletter
All the show news & discounts for Sarasota & beyond.
