I see that some of you, tragically, are not aware of one of the best lines from "Heathers"

youtu.be/KpDF0NKQiLU

They are supported in the Once Upon a Mattress production team by the brilliant Viivi Valpuri who has designed so many of HEA's fantastic costumes, and Trish Butterfield who has been the cast's vocal director through the rehearsal process.

The visionary founder of this remarkable international musical theatre company in Amsterdam (and director of Once Upon a Mattress) - Sara Watts, brilliant assistant director and choreographer - Brittany Sanders, and Lori Evans - our fantastic band director.

✨ The Queens at Happily Ever After:
As we celebrate the great women of Once Upon a Mattress, we turn our spotlight to the inspiring female leadership of HEA Productions:

In 1967, she defied industry skepticism and created The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 years and won 23 Emmy Awards. Fun fact: she later reprised her Mattress role in TV adaptations in 1964 and 1972, and in 2005 she returned as Queen Aggravain—the villain to her former character.

Director George Abbott insisted on casting a fresh face, and when Burnett auditioned, she won the role instantly. The show earned her a Tony nomination and launched her career.

Burnett discovered her comedic talent in college and moved to New York to pursue acting, working odd jobs while performing in cabarets. A parody song she performed on The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 caught the attention of Broadway producers.

A legendary actress and comedian, best known for The Carol Burnett Show, one of the first comedy variety shows hosted by a woman. Before making television history however, she got her big break as Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress (1959).

Though she never reached the stardom she dreamed of, her defiance helped open doors for future Black actors in theatre.