NHS Drama Club on stage with ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ April 8-10

The Nordonia High School Drama Club announces its long-awaited musical return with this year’s spring production “Once Upon a Mattress.” This will be the Drama Club’s first live performance since 2019. Performances will take place April 8-10.

This comedy, family-friendly show takes the classic fairy tale story “The Princess and the Pea” and turns it on its head. Many moons ago, in a distant place… King Sextimus (Richie Nyce) has fallen under a curse and is unable to speak. His domineering wife, Queen Aggravaine (Leah Jackson) rules the kingdom and has decreed that no one can marry until a suitable princess can be found for Prince Dauntless (Jacob Filisky). The princesses come and go, unable to meet the queen’s challenges.

Things seem hopeless, until the day when we learn of the arrival of Princess Winnifred the Woebegone (Libby Herberth). Will she be able to pass the Queen’s test? Because after all… a real princess is extremely rare.

Rounding out the rest of the main cast are: Isabella Zeman and Elliot Marchant as Lady Larken and Sir Harry, Stella Naymik as The Jester, Ella Bozan as The Minstrel and Caeden Bolling as Wizard. 25 other cast members take on the roles of knights and ladies-in-waiting. In addition to the cast, another 40 students work offstage as crew members, direct technology, and play in the orchestra.

This year, the Drama Club will once again be participating in the Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square. The Dazzle Awards are high school musical theater awards for Northeast Ohio, and after four NHS nominations for ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in 2019, including Best Musical, students will once again have the opportunity to showcase Nordonia’s talent.

This year’s musical production is led by Nordonia High School Theater Director Chris Simmons. Megan Gargano returns as choreographer and assistant director while Bill Shaffer returns as vocal director and also oversees the student orchestra, with help from Ryan Dulaney.

Performances of this year’s production “Once Upon a Time a Mattress” will take place: Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available. Reserved seating is $15 a ticket and general admission tickets are $10 each.

For more information about the show and to reserve your tickets, visit www.nordoniadrama.com.