Gaslight Players to stage ‘Once Upon a Mattress’
The St. Stephen Gaslight Players have announced their upcoming production of “Once Upon a Mattress.” Mary Rodgers’ classic, a musical based on the tale of “The Princess and the Pea,” takes place in a faraway medieval kingdom long ago. Prince Dauntless the Drab wishes to marry, but his mother, Queen Aggravain, demands that only a princess who can pass her test may marry her son. Will the amazingly awkward princess from the swamp, Winnifred the Woebegone, be the one to finally pass the test?
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 21, 22, 28 and March 1, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in Hanley Hall at St. Stephen Church, 1835 Spruce St., Des Plaines.
Reserved table seating is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for children 12 and younger. A table of four can be reserved for $70. There will be food and drinks for sale at all performances. For reservations and more information contact the parish office at (847) 824-2026, or go online to the parish website, marymotherofmartyrs.org. If available, tickets will be sold at the door.
The cast features Rebecca Watson (Princess Winifred), Kevin Lipecki (Prince Dauntless), Kate McJannett (Queen Aggravain), Jeff Blume (Minstrel), Zoe Meshenberg (Jester), Rob Potempa (King Sextimus), Trina Garland (Lady Larkin), John Di Leo (Wizard), Matt Mosconi (Sir Harry), Phyllis Rotundo (Lady Mabelle), Sara Poff (Lady Rowena), Joan Mattingly (Lady Lucille), Gabby Potempa (Lady Merrill and Nightingale), Amelia Potempa (Princess No. 12), Scott Skiple (Sir Studley), and Andy Caccavari (Sir Luce). The Ladies-in-waiting are Denise Adams, Mariann Bilodeau, Marie Burke, Paula Cahill, Nancy Patterson, Amy Serpe and Denise Wiorek. The Knights are Joshua Knudtson, Jim Szczesniak and Charlie Vana.
The production team includes director Joanna Fosco, producers Jill and Charlie Vana, producer and costume coordinator Phyllis Rotondo, music director and rehearsal accompanist David Richards, and stage manager and prop mistress Deb Szczesniak. The kitchen crew is headed by Danielle Broehl and Mary Beth Conte.