JAY — The musical “Once Upon A Mattress” will be performed at Spruce Mountain High School on Dec. 1-3.

“It’s a comedy. It’s hilarious,” said Kymberli Bryant, who is directing the school production for the first time. 

“Once Upon A Mattress” is an adaption of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” It opened off-Broadway in 1959.

The Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m.; Sunday’s matinee is at 2 p.m. and Bryant has asked that seats be reserved if at all possible. While more shows are being held, fewer seats will be available for each. Seats in the back and sides have been eliminated.

“We want to avoid people not being able to see and make it easier for people to hear,” she said.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students, including college, and senior citizens. Seats may be reserved by calling 530-8105 or emailing kbryant@rsu73.com. 

Reserved tickets can be picked up at the door. Tickets will still be available at the door.

“Eventually we’ll transition to reserved seats so people don’t have to get here as early,” Bryant said.

Auditions were held the first week of October and the cast includes one person from the middle school and the rest from the high school.

Rehearsals have been held three times a week from 6 to 9 p.m.

“The night rehearsals are new,” Bryant said. “It allowed me and the kids to do other things we needed to do.”

Bryant said Livermore Falls High School performed “Once Upon A Mattress” several years ago. She chose it because it’s fun and relatively simple.

“The sets, costumes and music are not really difficult. It’s one I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

Daniel Labonte is the music director. Twelve local musicians will be in the pit. There are a few instrumental numbers and 19 with vocals. 

The school’s costume shop had many of the outfits needed.

Students in the tech theater and drama classes worked on the sets. Most were carved out of foam. 

Bryant said the musical’s title has raised some questions. 

“There is an unwed, pregnant woman in it, she said. “That was very risque then. People are more accepting of it today. All ages will enjoy it,” she said.

“I have a lot of kids who’ve done drama but not held major parts before,” Bryant said.

Arianna Gordon, who plays Princess Winnifred said, “The music is a lot of fun.”

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net

Spruce Mountain High School will present the Broadway musical “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3. Rehearsing are, from left, Acacia Fournier, Lilly Spencer, Caleb Blanche, Garrett Smith and Robert Fowler. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Spruce Mountain High School will present the Broadway musical “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3. Rehearsing are Cameron Souther and Rylee Saunders. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Spruce Mountain High School will present the Broadway musical “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3. Rehearsing, from left, are Robert Fowler, Lilly Spencer and Garrett Smith. Orchestra members Hallie Pike on clarinet and Andrea Keirstead on piano are in the foreground. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Spruce Mountain High School will present the Broadway musical “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3. Cast members, from left, front, are Narrisa Nieves, Hannah Coates, Arianna Gordon, Caleb Blanche, Garrett Smith and Will Thornton; back, Lorelei Munro and Carter Mitchell. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Spruce Mountain High School will present the Broadway musical “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3. Cast members, from left, are Will Thornton, Robert Fowler and Scott Jackson. Clarinet player Hallie Pike is in the foreground. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Spruce Mountain High School will stage “Once Upon A Mattress” on Dec. 1-3 at the Jay school. Cast members, from left, are Acacia Fournier, Natalie Luce, Riley Gray, Will Thornton, Narissa Nieves, Hannah Coates, Faith Maurais, Rylee Saunders and Garrett Smith. Orchestra member Hallie Pike plays the clarinet in the foreground. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

 Cast members

Minstrel, Will Thornton

Princess # 12/Ensemble, Acacia Fournier

Wizard, Caleb Blanche

Lady Larken, Rylee Saunders

Queen Aggravain, Lilly Spencer

Prince Dauntless, Garrett Smith

King Sextimus the Silent, Robert Fowler

Jester, Scott Jackson

Sir Studley, Riley Mills

Sir Luce, Carter Mitchell

1st Knight, Kaden Maberry

2nd Knight, Lorelei Munro

1st Lady-in-Waiting (Rowena), Natalie Luce

2nd Lady-in-Waiting (Merrill), Hannah Coates

3rd Lady-in-Waiting (Lucille)/Kitchen Wench, Narissa Nieves

Sir Harry, Cameron Souther

Princess Winnifred, Arianna Gordon

Lady Maybelle/Ensemble, Riley Gray

The Nightingale of Sarmankand/Ensemble, Faith Maurais

Pit musicians-instrument

Andrea Keirstead, piano

Beth Johnson, flute

Dot Rupert, oboe

Hallie Pike, clarinet

Leslie Geissinger,violin

Cherry Poirier, cello

Dianne Fenlason, bass

Madeline Labonte, French Horn

Kristy Labonte, trumpet

Tim Schwab, trumpet

Daniel Labonte, trombone/director

Rylee Delaney, percussion

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