The beloved musical comedy made its tickling debut in 1959 and hasn't been seen on Broadway since 1996. On August 12 the show debuted at 37 Arts Theatre led by Two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster in the role of Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, and superstar Michael Urie.

Inspired by the classic fairytale The Princess and the Pea, the story of Once Upon A Mattress follows quirky and headstrong Princess Winnifred, who must prove her royal worth by passing an impossible test devised by the scheming Queen Aggravain.

What the Critics Are Saying:

"When it comes to this particular couple, Urie and Foster make you believe in a happy future that may include all kinds of calisthenics."
- New York Times

"Transferring to the Hudson Theatre following a successful Encores! run this January, the production's stacked cast is far from a band of teens Broadway regulars Michael Urie, Ana Gasteyer, and Will Chase are among the incredible talents on stage. Yet at its most joyful highpoints, even this high-class gathering of musical theater's finest feels closer to a bunch of big kids playing dress-up. To be clear - that's a compliment. Mattress is an exceedingly silly show." - Theatrely

"Foster carries Mattress just as Carol Burnett did in 1959." - New York Theatre Guide

"She's good. I'd guess from her performance that she closely studied videos of Burnett in the role, and she has grasped that overdoing it is the key to this show. So she mugs and leans in and leans out and does a funny little loose waggle with her hips between lines." - Vulture

"But this is Foster's show, and even more amazing than her vocal pipes, physical dexterity, and attention to emotional detail is the way all of it feels spontaneous, as if she's coming up with these bits off the cuff. If Once Upon a Mattress reminds us of the lasting appeal of fairy tales, Foster reminds us of the thrilling spectacle of seeing performers work their magic live." - TheaterMania

"In short, Foster nails this performance." - Deadline

"Once Upon a Mattress is mostly alright, then at momentsthanks to Foster and the others - very funny." - The Daily Beast

"She's clearly having a good time and you either jump on the Good Ship Sutton, or you'll keep falling overboard all night long." - New York Daily News

"Once Upon a Mattress offers laughs galore; flights of melody highlighted by the light-hearted romantic ballad 'In a Little While,' that upbeat paean to 'Normandy,' and that clarion-blasted swamp-heroine's lament, 'Shy'; and is likely to leave a wide grin on the face of happy playgoers." - New York Stage Review

"Bright and delightfully unserious, Sherman-Palladino's adaptation is filled to the brim with buzzy dialogue and perfectly-timed punchlines that draw both laughs and shocked gasps from the crowd." - Entertainment Weekly

"What I saw as missing from this 'Once Upon A Mattress' upon second viewing on Broadway, was an almost intangible alchemy that turns fun into comic mastery." - New York Theater