Once Upon A Mattress at Ahmanson Theatre

Straight from its sold-out, record-smashing New York City Center Encores! run, Once Upon a Mattress is making its way to Los Angeles, California! The 2x Tony® Award winner Sutton Foster provides what The New York Times dubs an “ebullient, joyful, perfectly goofy” performance. She stars as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone alongside royalty of stage and the silver screen, Michael Urie. 

Once Upon a Mattress is a New York Times Critic’s Pick that has been recently adapted by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). The story introduces the unapologetically eccentric Princess Winnifred to a repressed kingdom, where she charms, thrills, and dances her way to the very top… of a stack of mattresses. Book your tickets now to this one of a kind production at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Once Upon A Mattress Tickets

“ONCE UPON A MATTRESS shows you can retell fairy tales with wit and sophistication, and more important, human feeling.” – New York Daily News

Synopsis

Set in a fairy tale kingdom, Once Upon A Mattress follows the manipulative Queen Aggravain (Harriet Harris) as she disapproves of every potential bride for her middle-aged son Prince Dauntless (Michael Urie). Unfortunately, the entire kingdom is also banned from marrying until the prince gets married, which leaves Lady Larken (Nikki Renée Daniels) in trouble – considering she’s already pregnant! Her love, Sir Harry (Cheyenne Jackson) sets off on a mission to find Prince Dauntless the perfect bride. He returns with the feisty Princess Winnifred (Sutton Foster), but will she get the queen’s blessing by proving she is a “real” princess?

“Sutton Foster as a Perfectly Goofy Princess” – The New York Times

Creative Team

Musical theater icon Sutton Foster (The Music Man) returns to the center stage as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone alongside Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) as Prince Dauntless in this charming musical fairytale. Jam packed with gloriously catchy songs, such as “Shy” and “In a Little While,” this joyful update of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea” also stars Nikki Renée Daniels as Lady Larken, J. Harrison Ghee as Jester, Harriet Harris as Queen Aggravain, Cheyenne Jackson as Sir Harry, Francis Jue as Wizard, and David Patrick Kelly as King Sextimus the Silent.

Led by the brilliant Tony-nominated Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods, Lionel Bart’s Oliver!) and with a brand new concert adaptation by the talented Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Once Upon a Mattress boasts a star-studded creative team. The talent includes Mary Rodgers (music), Marshall Barer (lyrics), Frank Galgano and Matt Castle (orchestrations); Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller (book), Madison Booth (costume designer), Sandra Goldmark (set designer), R. Lee Kennedy (lighting designer), Walter Trarbach (sound designer), Paul Huntley (wig designer), Andrew Lazarow (projection designer), Nora Brennan Casting (casting), and Rachel Gross (production stage manager).

“A show and a star have aligned. Sutton Foster is a perfect princess on Broadway” – NY Post

History and Awards

Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy that premiered in 1959, with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Barer. The production was a humorous adaptation of The Princess and the Pea.

Once Upon a Mattress marked Carol Burnett’s Broadway debut and ran for 460 unforgettable performances. The production was so well received that it was nominated at the Tony Awards in 1960 for not one but two accolades, including Best Musical and Best Leading Actress (Carol Burnett). Ever since, the musical has been revived and adapted for television in 1964, 1972, and 2005, with the latter featuring Carol Burnett as the Queen. Once Upon a Mattress’ humor and charm have made it a lasting favorite in theater, and it returned to Broadway in 2024. And this winter, it has stunned audiences at Los Angeles’ esteemed Ahmanson Theatre. 

“Funny people rule in Once Upon A Mattress” – The New York Times

Ahmanson Theatre

Once Upon A Mattress is coming to the Ahmanson Theatre this winter, and it’s the one to watch. With a stunning interior, state-of-the-art facilities, and glowing reviews, The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre is a venue fit for royalty. Just like this dazzling production, the Ahmanson Theatre reigns as one of the leading venues in Los Angeles, California. It opened its doors in 1967 and has since been the beating heart of Downtown LA’s entertainment scene. From local audiences to worldwide fans, people come from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of a production at the Ahmanson Theatre.