Notes from the Directors
The Carrollton Middle School and High School Students in this production have worked hard to bring you an entertaining and fun filled musical. While many students were on spring break our cast was coming to school for rehearsals every single day. It has been a fun and successful production! Special thanks to our janitorial staff, Ms. Frazier, Ms. Baez, and Dr. Cox. Thank you to all our students, parents and staff for your support!
Once Upon A Mattress is a fractured fairy tail, as with the namesake "fractured fairy tale" television segments of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame (premiering in 1959, the same year Mattress opened on Broadway), this tale is undergirded with the original story, and then turned on its head. The Hans Christian Andersen tale from which Mattress is drawn, The Princess and the Pea, is much more narrow in its storyline and is only one and one half pages in length!
Our production tells a tale that reminds us that what we see on the surface is not always the full story. That a true princess (or prince) may appear when you least expect them to. That love and friendship can be found in a way that doesn’t always follow the storyline we expected. And, to put it another way, that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover! Embrace your inner princess ... or prince.
Mrs. Schroeder
I first encountered this musical when I was a sophomore in high school. I had the opportunity to be a part of the production at Belvidere North High School as a lady- in- waiting. Still to this day, it is my favorite musical that I participated in when I was in high school.
Fast forward a few years, I was presented the opportunity to direct this wonderful musical. I am excited to bring music and theater back to Carrollton and I thought this production would be the perfect way to do that.
This is the biggest cast that I have EVER directed in a musical. They are an eager cast of students who are fairly young to music theater. Freshmen are starring in leading roles, and many other students are making their debut to theater. This has been an enormous learning experience for all of the students both on stage and backstage. They have worked so hard, not only learning the show, but how to be cast members, theatre students, members of the music department, learning stage left from stage right, and learning how to read a rehearsal schedule. We are in the midst of creating a group of students who will take this experience and continue to grow, ensuring the growth and success of the endeavors of the Carrollton CUSD 1 Music Department.
We've worked, sweat, cried (literally), stressed, laughed, learned-and I wouldn't have it any other way.
We hope you enjoy the show! We are going to enjoy performing it for you!
Musically,
Miss Runyan
