'Once Upon a Mattress'

Michael Urie, an accomplished Broadway star in his own right, calls working with Once Upon a Mattress co-star Sutton Foster “like swimming with Michael Phelps.” Foster, whom we last saw in L.A. in the spirited 2021 revival of Anything Goes, brings her huge voice, limber dance skills, quirky humor, and boundless energy to this fun take on The Princess and the Pea. Owing a bit to British holiday pantomimes, Once Upon a Mattress is a bright and lively addition to the holiday theater season.

The stars really are what make this show worth seeing; I’m not sure the play would have enough there without the vocal power and comedic timing of this full straight-from-Broadway cast. It’s a great opportunity to catch Foster, Urie, and my favorite performance – Ana Gasteyer (SNL, Wicked) who shines as the hilariously evil Queen. Kids will love the off-beat princess story and jewel-toned sets; grown-ups will appreciate the cheeky jokes and wink-wink moments.

And before or after the show, explore downtown and participate in a clever scavenger hunt! CTG has placed 10 “peas” at locations downtown. Find six of them and you could win a Once Upon a Mattress prize.

Written by our Best Things To Do columnist, Laura Hertzfeld. See her full columns here.