It’s Indian Lake High School’s turn to take the stage this weekend as students prepare to present the 2026 school musical, Once Upon a Mattress.
The cast and crew will perform the beloved fairytale-inspired musical Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilma Jacobs Performing Arts Auditorium at Indian Lake High School.
Several cast members joined Ken Keller on the Morning Show on 98.3 WPKO Friday morning to talk about the production.
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!”
The musical is a humorous retelling of the classic fairytale The Princess and the Pea. In the story, a faraway kingdom struggles under a marriage ban imposed by Queen Aggravain, who refuses to allow anyone to marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a suitable princess.
The queen rejects every potential royal bride through a series of elaborate tests, leaving the kingdom’s residents increasingly frustrated.
Audiences can expect a lively production featuring memorable songs such as “In a Little While,” “Shy,” “The Swamps of Home,” “Spanish Panic,” “Sensitivity,” and “Song of Love.”
The production features a large cast led by seniors Alyssa Powell as Queen Aggravain, Riley Ross as Princess Winnifred, Lilly Wickline as Lady Larkin, Makenna Hurley as the Jester, Bandon Hutton as King Sextimus, and Evie Wagner as Lady Rowena.
Junior cast members include Crew McPherson as Prince Dauntless, Max Soloman as the Wizard, Tommy Jones as Sir Harry, Grace Johnson as Lady Lucille, and Haley Metzger as Lady Merrill. Freshman JJ Aspidow appears as the Minstrel.
The production team includes director Tracey Notestine, choreographer Rebecca Taylor, orchestra director Kasandera Crockett, set designer Ed Rogers, lighting designer Gabe Reichert, and sound designer Hunter Gross.
All seats are $12, with tickets sold exclusively online through the Indian Lake Schools ticket office.
Once Upon a Mattress is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
The musical features a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer, music by Mary Rodgers, and lyrics by Marshall Barer.
