Rhinebeck Central School District

RHINEBECK HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

MARCH 24, 25 and 26, 2023

Rhinebeck High School Drama Club is proud to present its 2023 spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress, with original music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer.

In this musical version of The Princess and the Pea, Princess Winnifred (Zelda Kosofsky) is an ungainly, brash girl competing for the hand of Prince Dauntless (Noah Bancroft), whose domineering mother Queen Aggravain (Margaux Ilyse Epter) has declared he must marry a "true" princess. Unfortunately, the rest of the kingdom are also banned from marrying until the prince weds. Princesses come from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none can pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, shows up. Will she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince and help others in the Kingdom to the altar? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this kitschy 1960 Broadway spin on the classic tale of The Princess and the Pea provides some side-splitting shenanigans. For after all, a princess is a delicate thing.

This year’s Spring Musical is directed by Cheyenne See. Cheyenne is a graduate of The Dutchess Community College Performing Arts program and the 2015 recipient of the RIchard Maltby Jr. Award for Musical Theater Excellence. She has been in over 30 productions and made her main stage directorial debut in February 2019. Cheyenne has directed countless children’s productions and  taught character development and scene study classes for ages 5-17. Helping children and teens find their love for theater is Cheyenne’s passion. See is joined by a top-notch creative team: Choreographer, Cedric James, Musical Director and Conductor, Marla Ulrich, Choral Director, Daniel Conroy. Melissa Coggeshall and Tonya Kennedy join the team this year as the show’s costume designers with the help of Jennelle Liscombe. Brian Carolan, Dan Chester and Jovan Bradley also join for set design, scenic design and light/sound design. She is also joined by Crystal Carolan as production assistant and first stage manager.  Each adult helper has become a mentor to the student crew members.

The performances for Once Upon A Mattress are Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at 7:30pm with a Sunday matinee, March 26 at 2pm. Tickets are reserved seating and are available on-line at RHSDramaClub.org. https://onthestage.tickets/rhinebeck-hs-drama-club Tickets can also be purchased on the day of each performance at the box office 1 hour prior to show time. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $8.00 for students, seniors and children ages 10 and under. Checks should be made out to Rhinebeck Extra Classroom Fund with cash or credit. All purchases are final; no refunds and no exchanges. Performances will be held at the Joseph L. Phelan Auditorium at Rhinebeck H.S., located at 45 N. Park Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

2023 CAST OF ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
REAGAN W. AIERSTOK (Sir Studley)
LAILA ALAM  (Minstrel)
NOAH BANCROFT (Prince Dauntless)
SARAH COGGESHALL (1st Knight)
FRANCISCA DICKENS (Princess #2)
LISANNE EPTER (Lucille)
RION HACK  (Lady Larken)
JOSEPH HAGERTY (Sir Harry)
ANNIKA HAILE (Rowena)

MARGAUX ILYSE EPTER (Queen Aggravain)
EMILY JEFFREYS (Jester)
TRAYSE KASNIA-HERMAN (King Sextimus the silent)
MACKENZIE MASSARONE (Sir Luce)
DANICA MILLIOT (Merrill)
CHLOE MOOR (Wizard)
ZELDA KOSOFSKY (Princess Winnifred)
JOSIE ROURKE (Emily)
ZOE ULRICH (Lady Mabelle)
ELLIOT VANSTEENBURG (2nd Knight)