Once Upon a Mattress (2004)

“Once Upon a Mattress” graced the stage at Lower Dauphin High School in March 2004, delighting audiences with its side-splitting antics and dance numbers.

Based on the fairy tale of “The Princess and the Pea,” Once Upon a Mattress centers around Prince Dauntless the Drab whose mother, Queen Agravain, seeking to keep the boy to herself, has declared that he will wed only a true princess of royal blood. When Princess Winnifred arrives dripping wet (having swam the moat!) and declares herself a contender for the Prince's hand, the Queen devises a clever test to determine whether this self-proclaimed princess is worthy of her son.

The cast of 65 students in grades 9-12 was led by Lydia Graeff as “Winnifred,” Brian Freed as "Prince Dauntless," Megan Nazar as “Queen Agravain,” Joey Roksandic as “King Sextimus,” Meredith Bailey as “Lady Larken” and Adam Herneisey as “Prince Harry.”

Kevin Strawser, a 1986 Lower Dauphin graduate, returns for his eighth year to direct the show.