Photo credit: www.broadwayworld.com
In an engaging conversation with BroadwayWorld’s Richard Ridge, Michael Urie, the star of Once Upon a Mattress, reflects on his artistic journey with the production.
Following its successful and record-breaking run at New York City Center Encores!, Once Upon a Mattress has made its return to Broadway for the first time since 1996. To celebrate the launch of the show’s cast album, the cast hosted a CD signing event at The Museum of Broadway.
Urie recounted the initial experience of performing for the Encores! audience: “On our first night, we were quite anxious. After just 10 days of rehearsal, we knew it was a full production labeled as a ‘concert,’ but we essentially performed the entire show. When the audience began laughing and applauding right away, it felt like we might have a hit on our hands,” he reminisced.
The production features a talented cast led by Sutton Foster, who reprises her celebrated role as Winnifred the Woebegone, alongside Michael Urie as Prince Dauntless. Other notable cast members include two-time Tony Award nominee Brooks Ashmanskas as The Wizard, Tony Award nominee Daniel Breaker as The Jester, and Will Chase as Sir Harry. Nikki Renée Daniels returns as Lady Larken, while David Patrick Kelly reprises his role as King Sextimus, and Ana Gasteyer plays Queen Aggravain.
Regarding his collaboration with Foster, Urie expressed admiration: “Sutton Foster is incredibly dynamic on stage; she radiates energy like a supernova. Performing alongside her makes you feel uniquely alive, as if the experience transcends normal reality,” he added, highlighting the captivating atmosphere she brings to their performances.
Floyd Collins
Vivian Beaumont Theatre (Broadway)
Currently, you can witness Jeremy Jordan perform in Floyd Collins, a musical inspired by the real-life story of a cave explorer in Kentucky during 1925. As Collins seeks to transform Sand Cave into a tourist destination, he unwittingly becomes the main attraction when he gets trapped 200 feet underground. Isolated except for sporadic interactions with the outside world, particularly with his brother Homer, Floyd struggles to maintain his sanity and fight for survival as the rescue effort becomes an early media spectacle.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com