Test your knowledge of Once Upon a Mattress with these fun trivia facts about the beloved musical. How well do you know this Broadway hit that debuted in 1959 and introduced Carol Burnett to theater audiences? Inspired by the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea," the show has been performed by countless high school and community theater groups. Dive into behind-the-scenes stories and learn intriguing details about its three television adaptations, star-studded revivals, and more.
Adaptations
- Once Upon a Mattress has been adapted for television three times, with Carol Burnett starring in two of those adaptations.
- The 2005 television adaptation featured not only Carol Burnett but also Tracey Ullman as Princess Winnifred and Matthew Morrison as Sir Harry.
Musical Composition
- Once Upon a Mattress is a musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Princess and the Pea'.
Production Facts
- The musical first opened off-Broadway in May 1959 before moving to Broadway later that year.
- Carol Burnett made her Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, playing the role of Princess Winnifred.
- The original Broadway production received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical and a Best Leading Actress nomination for Carol Burnett.
- Once Upon a Mattress is a popular choice for performances in high school drama programs and community theater groups.
- A notable revival in 1996 starred Sarah Jessica Parker as Princess Winnifred and featured a cast that included Jane Krakowski and David Hibbard.
