Amy Bailey
NEWPORT — The Newport Opera House Association is excited to announce their spring musical, “Once Upon a Mattress.” Packed with humor and colorful characters, the show is a fun-filled musical re-telling of the classic story, “The Princess and the Pea.”
Taking on the leading role of Princess Winnifred the Woebegone is Alia Gonzalez, the reigning Newport Winter Carnival Queen. This role was originated on Broadway by a then unknown actress named Carol Burnett, and propelled her to stardom.
Other featured performers will be Amanda Bailey Christensen as Queen Aggravaine; Chris Gardner as Sir Harry; Natalie Vuletich as Lady Larken; Alan “Buzz” Hague as King Sextimus; Christopher Jacobs as Prince Dauntless; Ken Gruenbaum as the Wizard; Nikolai Gruenbaum as the Jester; and Brian Bavacqua as the Minstrel.
Ensemble cast members include Kaitlyn Andersen, Luke Bartlett, Hayden Christensen, Gidget Ducharme, Deb Gardner, Jaeda Rochford-Hague, Milton Hastings, Susan Hastings, Aukulina Gruenbaum, Illya Gruenbaum, Panteleimon Gruenbaum, Zoya Gruenbaum, Evalynn LaRose, Jenna Mahue, Bethany Smith, Harper Smith, and Alison Wood.
Performances will be held at the Newport Opera House on April 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale to the public via newportoperahouse.com or by phone at 863-1412.
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