“Once Upon A Mattress”Rehearsals Underway

Emily Howard, who is directing “Once Upon A Mattress” at Newark High School this year, has a very special feeling about this musical production.

“Being on stage in that production was my ‘aha moment,’ ’’ recalled Howard, who played “Princess Winnifred in the show in 1998 while a junior at Newark High School.

“It is definitely the show that made me fall in love with theatre and I knew that THIS was where I needed to be. After we closed the show, I knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in theatre in college.

“It was a great experience and group of students in the cast. Three are now music teachers; another a theatre teacher; two work professionally in the music and television industries; and I know many others have found ways to keep the arts a part of their lives, myself included. What I didn't know then, of course, was that eventually I would find myself back on the Newark High School stage in a different capacity! So when I applied to take on the director role this year, “Once Upon a Mattress” was the obvious choice for the spring musical,” explained Howard, who also directed “The Craving” last fall.

An attorney, who, by day, works for Thomson Reuters in Rochester as a editor updating books lawyers use, she is also the choreographer of “Once Upon A Mattress” that will be presented at NHS March 4-6.

And Howard thinks those who will come to “Once Upon A Mattress,” which was also presented at NHS in 1971, will love it.

“It is a twist on the classic fairy tale, ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ ”she continued. “It features an overbearing Queen, a mute King, a sheltered Prince, the court's staff of a jester and wizard, and a kingdom full of knights and ladies. The royal decree states that no one may marry until the Prince does, so a search for a princess is underway. The Minstrel serves as the narrator when Princess Winnifred makes her appearance, after swimming the moat, clearly not your typical princess! The show is upbeat, funny, witty, and the perfect way to spend an evening _ or afternoon _ away from the snow this March.”

NHS vocal music teacher Jean Bendix is the vocal director; NHS instrumental music teacher Dave Schwind is the instrumental director and Mary Lou Bonnell is the piano accompanist.

“I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside our fantastic music team _ Jean Bendix as vocal director, Mary Lou Bonnell our accompanist, and Dave Schwind as our instrumental music director. 

The cast and their year in school includes: Joey Malach (9) as Minstrel; Joe Goodman (11) as Wizard; Shelby Cramer (11) as Lady Larken; Samantha “Sami” Cepulo (12) as Queen Aggravain; Carson Jordan (9) as Prince Dauntless; Ian MacTaggart (11) as King Sextimus; Cashime “Cash” Myers (12) as Jester; Hunter O’Campo (12) as Sir Harry; Makalah Crawford (12) as Princess Winnifred; and Lindsay Whiting (10) as Nightingale of Samarkand. Ensemble members include: Mary Adkins (11), Abigail “Abbi” Belliveau (9), Haley Brown (9), Liam Childs (9), Mara Cornwell (11), Anthony Diamond (12), Coby Frazier (11), Andrea Hoe (10), Jacob Lindberg (11), Emma Meeks (11), Emily Partridge (11), Alice Sierra-Rosario (12), Trenton Simpson (10), Jadan Smith (10), Nicholas “Nick” Stalker (11), Anisha Stallworth (9), Jada VanDeMortel (11), Medina VanDuyne (9), MacKenzie Westcott (10) and Amanda Williams (10).

Cheyenne Lane (11) is the stage manager and Adam DeRue (11), Brandon Lamb, (11) Oscar Fontanez (10), Lauren Santino (10) and Adriana Wagner (9) are the stage crew members.

“I really love working with the students and having the opportunity to pass along my love of theatre to them,” Howard said January 15th. “It is something I look forward to every winter. It is only the first week of rehearsals but already I can see the cast coming together as a team. Last night, when I arrived for rehearsal at 5:40 p.m. (rehearsal starts at 6) there were already five or six actors practicing a dance in the hall-without even being asked! It's moments like this that show you what the arts can do for students. Students from different grades, social circles, levels of experience . . . all working together toward a common goal. If this is only week one, I am confident we'll have a great production the first weekend of March!” 

Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 4 and March 5 and at 2 p.m. March 6.Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students/seniors and will be available at the door.