Auditions are open to everyone -- of all ages, shapes, colors and sizes -- at SSC and in the greater Chicagoland community and no experience is needed. On the day of your audition, please bring ALL of your conflict dates/times: class, work, home or otherwise. Minor schedule conflicts will be worked out. Participation is free, but for onstage or backstage participation, students may choose to sign up for three (3) course credits.

REHEARSAL INFO:
Rehearsals are held Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturdays from 10 pm to 2 pm. Rehearsals start the last week of February; rehearsals will be held during spring break. All rehearsals are mandatory unless a prior agreement is made, so please check all rehearsal and performance dates prior to auditioning.

SHOW DATES:
"Once Upon A Mattress" runs for a total of eight (8) shows with performances on April 29 at 8pm, April 30 at 11am and 8pm, May 1 at 11am and 8pm, May 2 at 2pm and 8pm and May 3 at 2pm only.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE KINGDOM?
Rumor has it that Queen Aggravain refuses to let anyone in the kingdom marry until her compliant son, Prince Dauntless, takes a wife. The Queen doesn't want to let her baby go, and so by means of all possible sneaky games, tests and challenges, she disqualifies his every possible match. In the meantime, there are oodles of royal couples s-t-i-l-l waiting around to get married, and not getting any younger. Sir Harry, Dauntless's brother, and his Lady Larken are one such couple. Unfortunately, they didn't wait, and now Larken's late, so Harry dashes out to find his brother a wife. He returns with the down-to-earth and lovable Winnifred. She is different in a good way, and Dauntless is intrigued. The queen, however, is not amused.

To ensure Winnifred's defeat in the princess situation, and to keep Dauntless for herself, the dastardly queen has concocted a most absurd series of tests to ensure that this newest candidate fails. Aggravain's first scheme spins the kingdom into a whirl as she makes everyone learn a fast and furious little dance, The Spanish Panic. Her idea is intended to make poor "Princess" Winnifred (but call her by her nickname: Fred) drop dead of exhaustion. When it doesn't work, Aggravain insists upon a show-of-strength contest, and then a drinking match. Finally, poor Winnifred passes out. The couples of the kingdom are in despair because, they learn, the REAL test has just begun. The sly queen is out to test the princess's sensitivity: one tiny pea has been placed under a HUGE stack of mattresses the queen has Winnifred sleep upon. A genuine princess would feel the pea and never for a moment rest.

The following morning when everyone, including the Queen, sees that Winnifred hasn't slept a wink, the truth about Winnifred's true princess nature is revealed. Dauntless is thrilled because he loves Winnifred and has won. All the court couples may now marry and everyone is greatly relieved, but Mama still isn't satisfied and voices her disapproval. Dauntless has had enough. He turns to Mama and from the bottom of his feet he bellows, M-M-Ma-ma & SHUT UP! Well, the kingdom is stunned & and amazed! Dauntless has actually silenced his mother, and in so doing has freed his father from his own long-suffering silence. Dauntless has become a man. The prophecy is revealed: the mouse devoured the hawk.

MUSICAL NUMBERS:
The songs are comical: "There's An Opening For A Princess," "The Swamps of Home" and "SHY!" and also sweet: "In A Little While," "Yesterday, I Loved You" and "The Nightingale Lullaby" in which the unpretentious and unrefined Winnifred, the adorable, no sham gal unshackles the kingdoms frustrated couples-in-waiting, frees the silenced King Sextimus his Queens overbearing ways, but mostly shows that she really and truly loves Prince Dauntless, the subject of the song. In gratitude, the kingdom sings to a very, very tired Winnifred:
"For a princess is a delicate thing, delicate and dainty as a dragonflys wing, you can recognize a lady by her elegant air -- but a genuine princess (loud snore heard coming from Winnifred who has finally fallen asleep!) is exceedingly rare."

WHO SINGS WHAT:
1. Minstrel (Narrator): Prologue, Minstrel, Jester and I, Normandy
2. Winnifred: SHY! Swamps of Home, Song of Love, Happily Ever After
3. Prince Dauntless: Opening for a Princess, Swamps of Home, Song of Love, Man to Man Talk
4. Queen Aggravain: Sensitivity, Opening Act II
5. King Sextimus: Minstrel, Jester and I, Man to Man Talk
6. Lady Larken: Opening for a Princess, In a Little While, Little While reprise, Normandy, Yesterday I Loved You
7. Sir Harry: In a Little While, Little While reprise, Yesterday I Loved You
8. Court Jester: Minstrel, Jester and I, Normandy, Very Soft Shoes
9. The Wizard: Sensitivity
10. A Bird: Nightingale Lullaby
11. Sir Studley: Finale, Act II
12. Chorus: Opening for a Princess, Swamps of Home, Song of Love, Opening Act II, Finale, Act II

Sir Luce
Lady Mabelle
Lady-In-Waiting Rowena
Lady-In-Waiting Merrill
Lady-In-Waiting Lucile
Princess No. 12
Kitchen Wench
Emily
Other Ladies-In-Waiting, Knights, Soldiers, Servants and Musicians