Broadway is preparing to welcome the classic musical “Once Upon a Mattress” to the Hudson Theatre this summer. Following a run with New York City Center’s Encores! series, the revival, guided by Tony Award-winning producers Seaview and Creative Partners Productions, is scheduled to begin previews on July 31 ahead of an official opening of Aug. 12. The limited engagement is set to run through Nov. 30.
Sutton Foster will lead the cast, reprising her role as Winnifred the Woebegone. Encores! artistic director Lear deBessonet, who was Tony-nominated for the Main Stem transfer of her Encores! “Into the Woods,” will direct this production that features a new adaptation by Emmy Award winner Amy Sherman-Palladino (co-creator of TV’s “Bunheads,” which starred Foster), based on the original book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer. “Mattress” features a score by Mary Rodgers (music) and Barer (lyrics).
“Once Upon a Mattress” first opened on Broadway on May 11, 1959. It earned two Tony nominations — for leading actress Carol Burnett as Winnifred and Best Musical. A revival opened on Dec. 19, 1996, and earned a Tony nod for best revival of a musical.
The musical is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea.” Prince Dauntless the Drab is unable to marry until his overbearing mother, Queen Aggravain, approves of his bride. But the queen has a penchant for testing potential princesses with impossible tasks. When Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, an unrefined woman from the swamps, captures the prince’s attention, the unexpected ensues.
The creative team for this revival will also include choreographer Lorin Latarro, Tony-winning scenic designer David Zinn, costume designer Andrea Hood, Tony-wining lighting designer Justin Townsend, Tony-winning sound designer Kai Harada, music supervisor Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music director Annbritt duChateau, Tony-winning orchestrator Bruce Coughlin and hair/wig designer J. Jared Janas.
Foster’s return to Broadway follows a recent replacement stint as Mrs. Lovett in the revival of “Sweeney Todd.” (Foster began in the role immediately following the City Center mounting of “Mattress.”) A two-time Tony winner (and seven-time nominee), Foster is known for her turns as Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Jo in “Little Women,” Janet Van De Graaff in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Inga in “Young Frankenstein,” Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes,” the titular role in “Violet” and Marian Paroo in “The Music Man.” Foster also led the television series “Younger” for seven seasons.
Further casting, by the Telsey Office, will be announced.
General Management will be provided by Wagner Johnson Productions. Cody Renard Richard will serve as production stage manager.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name Annbritt duChateau. This has been corrected.
