Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland, right, in the lead role of Princess Winnifred rests her head on Alex Rogers/Prince Dauntless’s shoulder during a special performance last Thursday evening of G-R’s fall production, “Once Upon a Mattress.” PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

REINBECK – High school thespians took to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck auditorium stage last Saturday and Sunday for the fall production of the musical comedy “Once Upon A Mattress” by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer, with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer.

The story is based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.”

The musical was directed locally by Cecilia Shutt, Courtney George, Greg Tessendorf, and Amber Sweeney.

Lead actors included Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland in the role of Princess Winnifred, Shelby Norton in the role of Queen Aggravain, Alex Rogers as Prince Dauntless, Nattalee Brinkman and Jayla Hemann as Lady Larken, and Cameron Sieh as Sir Harry.

The two-act, ensemble musical takes place in a faraway kingdom long ago and centers on Prince Dauntless’s quest for love and the ridiculous lengths his overbearing mother Queen Aggravain will go to in order to prevent her son from marrying.

Members of the cast of G-R’s “Once Upon a Mattress” perform an ensemble song last week Thursday on the G-R High School auditorium stage as part of a special performance. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Princess Winnifred – aka Fred – eventually captures the attention of the prince and, in the end, is able to pass the queen’s supposedly impassable sensitivity test.

One of the highlights of the G-R production was Arvizu-Ersland in the role of Fred. Her performance was described as ” a riot” by one audience member.

While the character of Fred was written with comedic tones, Arvizu-Ersland skillfully brought the role to life beyond the page.

For a full cast list including biographies visit https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Gladbrook_Reinbeck_Schools/2023/Greg_Tessendorf_158051

Sir Harry played by Cameron Sieh, left, serenades the expectant mother of his child, Lady Larken – who was played by both Nattalee Brinkman and Jayla Hemann – during G-R’s special performance of “Once Upon a Mattress” last week Thursday. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The ensemble cast of G-R’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress” pictured surrounding Alex Rogers in the lead role of Prince Dauntless during a special performance staged ahead of opening night in the high school auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 9. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland, center, performs in the lead role of Princess Winnifred during G-R’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress.” PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland, center, in the lead role of Princess Winnifred sings to a gathered group of ladies-in-waiting during a special performance last Thursday evening of G-R’s fall production, “Once Upon a Mattress.” Ladies-in-waiting were played by Amaya Peterson, Brinn Schneider, Elly Sieh, Kennedy Brant, Leila Thesing, Lydia Bystricky, Olivia Riffey, and Xandra Anderson. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Shelby Norton, left, as Queen Aggravain and Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland as Princess Winnifred pictured last Thursday evening during a special performance of G-R’s fall production, “Once Upon a Mattress.” PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

King Sextimus the Silent played by Hudson Clark, center, is flanked by Corbin Hutchison (left) in the role of the Minstrel and Carly Wilson (right) as the Jester during last Thursday’s special performance of “Once Upon a Mattress.” PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland in the lead role of Princess Winnifred pictured last Thursday evening during a special performance of G-R’s fall production, “Once Upon a Mattress” in Reinbeck. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Alex Rogers (Prince Dauntless), left, dances with Vanessa Arvizu-Ersland (Princess Winnifred) on the G-R High School auditorium stage during a Thursday, Nov. 9 special performance of “Once Upon a Mattress.” PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER