PAC Shows & Events

"Once Upon a Mattress" is a musical comedy based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea", with a comical twist. The story centers around a kingdom where Queen Aggravain has decreed that no one may marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a suitable bride. After an expectant Lady Larken, desperate to marry before her condition becomes obvious, implores her lover, Sir Harry, to seek a princess for Dauntless, he returns with the unconventional Princess Winnifred. Winnifred's arrival sparks chaos, as her boisterous personality clashes with the Queen's expectations. The Queen devises the infamous "sensitivity test," placing a pea under a mountain of mattresses, to prove Winnifred's delicate royal nature. Despite being anything but delicate, Winnifred manages to pass the test. The curse on the mute King is broken when Prince Dauntless finally tells his mother to "shut up". Aggravain’s manipulations are revealed, and the kingdom is free to marry. The musical features a score by Mary Rodgers (music) and Marshall Barer (lyrics), with popular songs like "Shy" and "In a Little While." This production explores themes of true love, overcoming adversity, and challenging societal expectations.