Ana Gasteyer Gets The Royal Treatment In Once Upon a Mattress
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Bow down for your new Queen Aggravain, Ana Gasteyer!
Oh, she's determined to keep her son single! It has recently been announced that Saturday Night Live sensation Ana Gasteyer will don the crown of the delightfully domineering Queen Aggravain in the whimsical musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress.
Returning to Broadway, the New York City Center Encores! transfer starts performances on July 31 at the Hudson Theatre, with the opening night scheduled for August 12. This limited engagement will run through November 30.
Who Else Is In The Cast?
Ana Gasteyer will be accompanied by Will Chase as Sir Harry, Daniel Breaker as the Jester, and Brooks Ashmanskas as the Wizard. Previously announced, Sutton Foster and Michael Urie will reprise their City Center roles as Princess Winifred and Prince Dauntless. Also returning from the earlier run are Nikki Rene Daniels as Lady Larken and David Patrick Kelly as King Sextimus the Silent.
Featuring a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer; music by Mary Rodgers; and lyrics by Barer, This revival features a book adaptation penned by Amy Sherman-Palladino.
What Is The Story?
Once Upon a Mattress is a comedic adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. The musical first premiered Off-Broadway in 1959. It quickly moved to Broadway, where it became a hit. The show marked the beginning of Carol Burnett's famed career, as she starred in both its Off-Broadway and Broadway performances, as well as several live TV adaptations.
Set in a medieval kingdom, the story follows the spirited Princess Winnifred, who must prove her worthiness to marry Prince Dauntless the Drab. The overprotective Queen Aggravain, determined to keep her son single, devises a series of nearly impossible tests for Winnifred, against a backdrop of colorful characters and hilarious situations.