The well-known fairytale of “The Princess and The Pea” is taking on a new form on Thursday, March 14, to Saturday, March 16. Pascack Valley Theatre will be presenting the musical comedy, “Once Upon a Mattress.”

There will be four performances at PV’s auditorium: a 7 p.m. performance nightly, and a matinee at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $8 for students at the door. They are available to purchase at pvhstheatre.org or by calling the box office at (201) 312-4122. Tickets are also sold at the door one hour prior to each performance.

“Once Upon a Mattress” is a Tony award winning musical that is a spin on the original story of the “The Princess and The Pea.” In “Once Upon a Mattress,” Prince Dauntless, played by junior Daniel Large, is on a journey to find a princess to marry. However, his terror-of-a-mother, Queen Aggravain, played by senior Keara Fernandez, does everything in her power to keep Dauntless single, including making princesses, like Princess Winnifred, played by senior Lindsey Cooper, pass near-impossible tests. Everyone is in distress because no one can get married until Dauntless does.  

“There’s something in it for everyone,” said Cooper about her last show with PV Theatre.

Other students with main roles include senior Amelia Moran as the court Sorceress, sophomore Tyler Toledo as Sir Harry, senior Elisabeth Bloom as Lady Larken, sophomore Kyle Towey as the Jester, and senior Kax Petkovitch as the Minstrel.

“‘Once Upon a Mattress’ is a funny, classic musical that we are excited to share with the Pascack Valley community,” director Tom Lupfer said, who co-directs with his wife, Merielle Lupfer.

There are 49 other students in the cast playing knights, servants, soldiers, and other princesses and princes.

Aside from being onstage, other students who are a part of PV Theatre are participating backstage. Behind the scenes, students are a part of the crew, orchestra, and stage management team. Other adults also working on the show include PV alumni Adam Farnan who is the associate technical director and choreographer Kelsey McRail, Italian teacher Francesca Silvano who is also a choreographer, and lighting designer Curtis Shields.

Mr. Michael Mahadeen, a musician and composer who has worked on Broadway and has experience in working on other productions of “Once Upon a Mattress,” mixed songs from the original show and the revival for this production.

“We are very proud of the 100 plus students who have worked in the cast, crews and orchestra to create this show,” Tom said.