Once Upon a Mattress is a hilarious twist on the classic fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." The story follows Prince Dauntless, who can't marry until he finds a true princess. However, his domineering mother, Queen Agravain, has set the bar impossibly high with a series of ridiculous tests for any potential suitor.
Enter Princess Winnifred, a bold and athletic woman who arrives dripping wet after swimming the moat. Unfazed by the Queen's outlandish challenges, Winnifred tackles them all with a healthy dose of sarcasm and unconventional methods. Through their witty banter and clashing personalities, a spark ignites between Winnifred and Prince Dauntless. The show's highlight is the famous "Sensitive Test," where Winnifred must sleep on a massive pile of mattresses, with a single pea hidden beneath.
This wacky musical is packed with catchy songs, witty dialogue, and slapstick humor. It celebrates individuality, challenges societal expectations of princesses, and reminds us that true love can blossom in the most unexpected places.
Tony Awards and Nominations for Once Upon a Mattress
| Year | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Best Musical | |
| 1997 | Best Revival of a Musical |
SUBMIT UPDATES
New York City Center Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Titanic (6/12/24-6/23/24)
New York City Center is at 131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, New York, New York.
New York City Center has played a defining role in the cultutal life of the city since 1943 when it was founded by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia with the mission to make the best in the performing arts accessible to all. The distinctive neo-Moorish theater welcomes 300,000 visitors annually to experience internationally acclaimed artists on the same stage where legends like George Balanchine, Leonard Bernstein, and Barbara Cook made their mark. Its landmark 75th Anniversary Season (2018 – 2019) paid tribute to this rich history while celebrating the institution’s singular role in the arts today. For more than 25 years, the treasured, Tony-honored Encores! series has given new life to the American musical theater canon, complemented in recent years by the Encores! Off-Center series, which brings today’s innovative artists into contact with groundbreaking musicals from the more recent past. Dance continues to be an integral part of the institution’s mission through programs like the annual Fall for Dance Festival, which exposes a new audience to an international array of artists by offering subsidized tickets for the price of a movie ticket.
Titanic (6/12/24-6/23/24)
Videos
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Ladies of Laughter
Bergen PAC (2/3 - 2/3) | |
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Holst’s The Planets—An HD Odyssey
Mayo Performing Arts Center (2/2 - 2/2) | |
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Warner Bros. Discovery presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
State Theatre New Jersey (2/16 - 2/16) | |
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Madama Butterfly
Sieminski Theater at the Cultural Arts Center of Fellowship Village (2/8 - 2/9) | |
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Cinderella
Axelrod Performing Arts Center (11/6 - 11/23) | |
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The New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players
Sieminski Theater (3/2 - 3/2) | |
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Brahms and Chopin
Count Basie Center for the Arts (2/22 - 2/22) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
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