"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? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. As staged by Peanut Gallery Players, a 501(c)(3) non-profit children’s theatre training program, over 72 actor, singer and dancers ages 6-18 from Oakland and Macomb Counties have been rehearsing since June for performances July 30, 31, and August 1, 2015 at Meadow Brook Theatre, on the campus of Oakland University.

Sporting her swim fins as Princess Winnifred is recent Avondale HS graduate Elizabeth Kurkowski. Hoping she will be the princess he finally gets to marry is Henry Cleaveland as Prince Dauntless. Anna Trzcinski plays Dauntless’ overbearing mother Queen Aggravain, assisted in her impossible-to-pass tests by the Wizard and Apprentices played by Vivienne Greenleaf, Kelsey Reynolds and Hannah Sparks. Aiding and abetting the meek Prince are Jason Donaven (Minstrel) with Troubadours Zachary Garrett and Rohit Mital; McKenna Reynolds (Jester) and Jesterettes Rose Bednar, Sienna Berkseth, Katie Kucemba, Chloe Lezotte and Grace Seyferth; Grant Cleaveland (King Sextimus) and romantic leads, Colin Slon (Sir Harry) and Alexis Sargent (Lady Larken); as well as a host of Knights, Squires, Ladies-in-Waiting, Handmaidens and Servants.

Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Students and Seniors. Groups of 12 or more should call for group discounts. Tickets are available by calling 248-885-5129, on-line at www.peanutgalleryplayers.org or at the door on performance days 2 hours before curtain. Performance times are 7:30 pm on Thursday, July 30 & Friday, July 31 with a 2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, August 1st.

Meadow Brook Theatre is located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills.
For additional information on Peanut Gallery Player classes, please visit www.peanutgalleryplayers.org.