For the Antigo Times

The Antigo Community Theatre’s (ACT) fall musical production will be “Once Upon A Mattress” with production dates scheduled for the first two weekends in November at the Volm Theater. Tryouts will be on Monday, August 27^th at Calvary Lutheran Church in the Fellowship hall from 6:00PM until 8:00PM’

“Once Upon A Mattress” is based on the famous fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. Because of her noble birth, the Princess is unable to sleep on a bed of many mattresses when a tiny pea is placed underneath the bottom mattress.

The kingdom is ruled by an over bearing Queen Agravia because her husband, King Sextimus became mute from a witch’s curse placed on him that he shall never speak until “The Mouse Devours the Hawk”. Queen Agrivia has made a decree throughout the kingdom that no one shall be married until Prince Dauntless is married to a true princess. The Queen, along with the court Wizard tested the eligibility of eleven potential princesses, and to the dismay of the knights and ladies of the court, each has failed. Sir Harry, wanting to marry the fair Lady Larkin, sets out to find yet another princess, and returns with Princess Winifred from the land of the Swamp Lilly’s.  Princess Winifred makes a grand entrance, coming into the court soaking wet because she was in a hurry to meet Prince Dauntless and decided to swim the moat rather than wait for the drawbridge to be lowered. Prince Dauntless is immediately smitten with the soaking wet Princess and begs his mother to test Winifred soon so she can marry him. The story then has many twists and turns, with the queen plotting to be sure that Winifred never marries her son, while the entire court is rooting for her pass “The Test”. This delightfully funny musical will have the audience laughing at the antics of the various court members including the Jester and the Minstrel.

There are a variety of singing parts for both men and women and anyone high school age and older may tryout. At the auditions, those trying out should be prepared to read from a script, to move and sing, but no extra preparation is needed.  Those not wanting to be on stage should consider helping with behind the scenes with set building, costumes, make-up, publicity and programs to name a few.

For more information contact Moira Scupien by calling or texting 715-350-1683 or emailing actantigo@gmail.com.