The 2026 Indian Lake High School Musical brings a favorite fairytale full of forbidden love and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements to the big stage.
The cast and crew will present Once Upon a Mattress in the Wilma Jacobs Performing Arts Auditorium at Indian Lake High School on March 6th and 7th, beginning at 7:30 pm.
Indian Lake Vocal Music Teacher and ILHS Musical Director Tracey Notestine explains why audiences will be delighted,
“ I fell in love with this show almost 30 years ago when I attended a musical production that my former college roommate was directing. It was a show that I’ve always kept in my back pocket and this was the right time.” She continued, “I fell in love with it all over again this summer while watching the 1972 version featuring Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters and I knew that it was the “one” for this group of students. It is fun and quirky, just like them!”
In this retelling of “The Princess and the Pea,” a faraway kingdom struggles against a marriage ban.
Queen Aggravain won’t permit anyone to marry until her grown-ish son, Prince Dauntless, marries a suitable princess.
She also happens to reject every eligible princess through a series of elaborate royalty tests, leaving the kingdom’s residents romantically frustrated.
Songs that will please include “In A Little While,” “Shy,” “The Swamps of Home,” “Spanish Panic,” “Sensitivity” and “Song of Love.”
The production has a large cast featuring seniors:
- Alyssa Powell (Queen Aggravain)
- Riley Ross (Princess Winnifred)
- Lilly Wickline (Lady Larkin)
- Makenna Hurley (Jester)
- Bandon Hutton (King Sextimus)
- Evie Wagner (Lady Rowena)
Junior cast members include:
- Crew McPherson (Prince Dauntless)
- Max Soloman (Wizard)
- Tommy Jones (Sir Harry)
- Grace Johnson (Lady Lucille)
- Haley Metzger (Lady Merrill).
The show also features freshman JJ Aspidow as Minstrel.
Along with Director Tracey Notestine, the show is choreographed by Rebecca Taylor, with orchestra direction by Kasandera Crockett, sets by Ed Rogers, lighting by Gabe Reichert, and sound by Hunter Gross.
All seats are $12.00, and tickets are sold exclusively online at HERE.
Tickets may also be purchased at the door to the show with a credit/debit card only.
Tickets go on sale to cast and crew members on Saturday, February 14th, and to the general public on Wednesday, February 18th at 8 am.
Once Upon a Mattress is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
The book Once Upon a Mattress was written by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer, with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer.
