Rehearsals are underway for the New York City Center Encores! production of Once Upon a Mattress, which is set to run January 24-February 4, 2024. Check out video from the first day with the 26-piece Encores! Orchestra rehearsing "Shy" above. 

Sutton Foster will lead the cast as Princess Winnifred, with Harriet Sansom Harris as Queen Aggravain, Michael Urie as Prince Dauntless, Nikki Renée Daniels as Lady Larken, J. Harrison Ghee as Jester, Cheyenne Jackson as Sir Harry, Francis Jue as Wizard, and David Patrick Kelly as King Sextimus the Silent.

Rounding out the company in the ensemble will be Shavey Brown, DeMarius R. Copes, Kaleigh Cronin, Cicily Daniels, Ben Davis, Ta’Nika Gibson, Gaelen Gilliland, Jaquez, Paul Kreppel, Morgan Marcell, Abby Matsusaka, Adam Roberts, Ryan Worsing, and Richard Riaz Yoder. Casting is by The Tesley Office's Craig Burns.

Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods) is directing the production, with choreography by Lorin Latarro and music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. The work features music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Barer. The Encores! staging will feature a new concert adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

The musical, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1959, launched the career of Carol Burnett, who starred in the work's Off-Broadway and Broadway bows along with a string of live TV performances. The musical has since become a favorite at high schools and theatre groups around the world, and was last seen in NYC in a 2015 Off-Broadway revival via Transport Group starring Jackie Hoffman.

The Encores! season will continue February 21-25, 2024, with Jelly's Last Jam and June 12-16 with Titanic.

Visit NYCityCenter.org.