Name: Auditions for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Youth Edition, Youtheatre at the Erie Playhouse
Start: 2026-03-08T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-08T20:30:00-04:00
Location: Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall

Auditions for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Youth Edition, Youtheatre at the Erie Playhouse

Auditions: Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition
Youtheatre at the Erie Playhouse
Ages 8 – 18
Auditions: March 8 @ 6:30 p.m. & March 9 @ 4:30 p.m.
Audition Workshop: March 7 @ 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall 1158 E 12th St, Erie, PA 16503
Performances May 8 – 17 @ LECOM Stage at the Playhouse
(including school time matinee performances at 10 am on May 13, 14, and 15)
Auditioners are asked to arrive and to sign in BEFORE the posted audition start time.
All roles are available. The Erie Playhouse practices color conscious casting. All ethnicities and newcomers are welcome. Crew and other volunteers are also needed for these events. Perusal scripts are available in the box office for 24 hrs. with a refundable $10 deposit. Questions? Please contact [email protected].
THE SHOW:
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS: YOUTH EDITION
Music by Mary Rodgers
Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Many moons ago in a far-off place, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, showed up. Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, Once Upon a Mattress is a rollicking spin on the classic tale “The Princess and the Pea” that provides side-splitting shenanigans. After all, a princess is a delicate thing.
DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER AHNIKA LEXVOLD
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DANIEL COLLETTE
MUSIC DIRECTOR DEVON YATES
AUDITION INFORMATION:
See “Youtheatre Auditions” for a more detailed breakdown of how auditions will run.
Auditions will consist of a monologue, song, and dance portion. You will learn the dance at auditions but should have your monologue and song learned and memorized before auditions. Monologues and songs for auditions are from the show and can be found below. Please choose only one monologue and one song from the options to perform!
There will be an optional (but encouraged!) audition workshop held at the rehearsal hall on March 7 @ 10:30 – 11:30 AM where you can learn the audition dance ahead of time and work on your song and monologue with the director. This workshop is designed to alleviate some of the stress that goes with auditioning and also to ensure that anyone who wishes will have the resources to feel prepared for their audition.
Auditions start at the posted time with everyone learning the dance together and performing it for the director. Arrive early to allow time to fill out/turn in audition forms beforehand!
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS AUDITION FORM
Monologue Options
Choose ONE monologue to perform HERE
Song Options
Listen to the Cast Album on Spotify HERE (also available on all music streaming platforms)
Choose ONE song to perform from the following:
“Happily Ever After” – Princess Winnifred
Accompaniment (what you will be performing with for your audition – Start at 3:15 in the video)
EXAMPLE (for learning the song)
“Yesterday I Loved You” – Lady Larkin and Sir Harry
Accompaniment (what you will be performing with for your audition – Start right away with the video)
EXAMPLE (for learning the song)
“Song of Love” – Prince Dauntless
Accompaniment (what you will be performing with for your audition – Start at 0:45 in the video)
EXAMPLE (for learning the song)
COMMITMENT:
Rehearsal will take place 3 – 4 days a week at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall. Rehearsals will typically take place from 4:30 – 6:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and 2 – 4 on Saturdays. Not every actor will be called to every rehearsal, but if you are called to a rehearsal attendance is mandatory! The show will move to the Erie Playhouse Stage the week of April 27th. Attendance is required at all rehearsals and performances after this date. Please be sure to have any known conflicts with the anticipated rehearsal period for this show ready to provide on your audition form when you arrive!
CHARACTERS:
FEMALE CHARACTERS:
Princess Winnifred “Fred” the Woebegone: strong-willed, energetic and charismatic with a good sense of humor; not your typical princess (Vocal Range: Mezzo-Belt)
Queen Aggravain: controlling and overbearing mother of Prince Dauntless; a powerful presence that commands – and demands – your attention (Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano/Alto)
Lady Larkin: kind, gentle, compassionate, and a little bold as well; in love with Sir Harry and seeking a better life (Vocal Range: Soprano)
Lady Beatrice
Lady Lucille
Lady Rowena
Princess No. 12
Rejected Princesses (Ensemble)
Ladies-in-waiting (Ensemble)

MALE CHARACTERS:
Prince Dauntless: endearingly awkward, innocent and eager to please; child of Queen Aggravain and desperately seeking a bride; you can’t help but love him (Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor)
Sir Harry: brave, dashing and loyal; maybe not the brightest bulb, but his heart is made of goldin; in love with Lady Larkin (Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone)
King Sextimus the Silent: humorous, expressive and kind; unable to speak due to a curse; expert at storytelling through mime; actor should have strong physical comedy and pantomime skills (Non-Singing role)
Sir Studley
Sir Harold
Knights (Ensemble)
NEUTRAL (Any Gender) CHARACTERS:
Minstrel: a talented musician and storyteller; serves as the show’s narrator; fun and quirky but often the voice of reason (Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone/Mezzo)
Jester: quick-witted, nimble and entertaining; close friend of the Minstrel and the King; goofy with a hidden heart (Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone/Mezzo)
Wizard: loyal to Queen Aggravain, maybe to a fault; co-conspirator to the Queen’s tricks and manipulations, carrying out her every wish (Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass/Alto)
Townspeople (Ensemble)