UCLA Music Theater Workshop
Presents
Once Upon A Mattress
A Musical Fairy Tale in Two Acts
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller
First Performance May 11, 1959 at the Phoenix Theater, New York City
Directed by Carol Burnett
February 26 and 27 at 8pm
February 28 at 3pm
March 5 and 6 at 8pm
March 7 at 3pm
Schoenberg Hall, UCLA
Carol Burnett, Regents’ Professor, University of California 1999
Having Carol Burnett come to UCLA and work with my students in the UCLA
Music Theater Workshop has long been a dream for me. When she offered to
make her directing debut at UCLA with the show in which she made her Broadway
debut, “Once Upon A Mattress,” that dream became a reality.
Carol (already the recipient of the UCLA Medal in 1985) was now voted unanimously
by the Regents of the University to make her UC Regents’ Professor
of 1999. Most Regents’ Professorships are bestowed on distinguished
leaders in their fields who come to campus and give a lecture and interact
briefly with students and faculty. I don’t know of any Regents’
Professors who have rolled up their sleeves, got right down to the real
nitty gritty and took over the job of getting not one, but two students
casts on the boards in a complete production of a musical. From our first
production meetings last August, through the auditions, call-backs and final
casting in December, through the two months of daily rehearsals and all
the ups, downs and in betweens, Carol has been there sharing her experience,
her wisdom and her hopes for the best for these student performers. Carol,
along with her team of Don Crichton, Nick Perito, Bob Wright, Jon Sokoloff,
and Mary Jo Niedzlieski, have become very familiar with the academic grove
of Schoenberg Hall. They have struggled with overbooked rehearsal rooms,
lack of space and scheduling problems, even the unfamous UCLA parking system.
For all that Carol remains the idol and ideal for the young talent at UCLA.
We can only say “we’re so glad we had this time together”…thank
you, Carol. Having a dream come true has been an amazing thing.
John Hall
UCLA Music Theater Workshop
This production of “Once Upon A Mattress” is made possible
by the kind support from the Gluck Foundation, the Gladys Turk Foundation
and a generous gift from Tony and Debbie Hall. The UCLA School of Arts and
Architecture and the UCLA Department of Music wish to thank these donors
for their belief in the young talent at UCLA. If you are interested in supporting
UCLA’s Music Theater Workshop, you can contact Laura Parker in the
office of the School of the Arts and Architecture, (310) 825-2512.
Once Upon A Mattress is presented through special arrangement with The
Rodgers & Hammerstein Theater Library, 229 West 28th Street, 11th Floor,
New York, NY 10001.
Cast of Characters
(In order of appearance)
Prologue
Minstrel
Will Pellegrini (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Mario Rocha (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Prince
Jon Neeley
Princess
Amber East
Queen
Rachel Collins
Play
Wizard
Tom McMahon (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Tom Stutzman (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Princess Number XII
Amanda Blatchford
Lady Jill
Jill Simonian
Lady Cara
Cara Marino
Lady Sierra
Sierra Rein
Prince Dauntless the Drab
Michael Shapiro (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Will Heermance (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Queen Aggravaine
Tyson Sheedy
King Sextimus the Silent
Michael Triglia (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Eric Martin (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Wench
Sierra Rain
Jester
Darren Ishmael (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Brian Bennitt (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Lady Larken
Melissa Lyons (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Susannah Hall (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Sir Harry
Joe Santiago (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Lawrence Long (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Princess Winnifred
Teresa Marie Sanchez (Feb. 26, 27, 28)
Maria Eberline (Mar. 5, 6, 7)
Queen’s Attendants
Tal Feingold
Kate Gersten
Nightingale of Samarkhand
Len Levitt
Carin White
Lords and Ladies of the Royal Court
Amanda Blatchford
Rachel Collins
Amber East
Tal Feingold
Kate Gersten
Cara Marino
Sierra Rein
Jill Simonian
Carin White
Carlos Avilas
Brian Hobbs
Sergio Lobito
Jon Neeley
Dario Nolfi
Michael Rose
Mishi Schueller
Josh Silberman
Jeff Wiesen
Biographies
Carlos Avilas
Freshman Carlos Avilas has thoroughly enjoyed his first year as a Music major
in vocal performance. He made his Schoenberg Hall debut in January as the
Pirate in Poulenc’s opera “Les Mamelles de Tiresias” with
the UCLA Opera Workshop.
Brian Bennitt
Brian Bennitt, a third year Theater major, is thrilled to be performing in
his fourth show with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop. His other productions
include “Penelope Saves the Nutcracker,” “Flora, the Red
Menace” and “Into the Woods.” Last year Brian received Honorable
Mention in the Carol Burnett Awards and this year he is working in her production
of “Once Upon A Mattress”!
Amanda Blatchford
Amanda Blatchford is a third year World Arts and Cultures major who has performed
in many productions including Maisie in “The Boyfriend” at the
Sierra Madre Playhouse. Last season Amanda played Little Red Ridinghood in
the UCLA Music Theater Workshop production of “Into the Woods.”
She also participated in the Carol Burnett Awards and has thoroughly enjoyed
working with this cast and crew and, of course, the lovely Carol Burnett herself.
Rachel Collins
A Junior transfer from UC Berkeley, Rachel Collins has trained at the Oxbridge
Dramatic Arts program in Oxford and at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. She
has appeared in television, commercials and music videos and was a member
of the Bay Area Repertory Dance Company in 1996-97. Currently she is training
at Ballet Ecarte under Nadezhda and Golden Koscuik and aspires to pursue a
career in entertainment.
Amber East
Originally from Saratoga California, Amber East has appeared in “The
Music Man,” “The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail” and “Dancing
at Lughnasa.” This is her first UCLA production and she is thrilled
to be working with Carol Burnett.
Maria Eberline
A Senior Theater major is absolutely tickled to be part of Carol Burnett’s
directorial debut. Her favorite past roles and productions are Timoune in
“Once On This Island,” Nancy in “Oliver,” “Flora,
the Red Menace” and creating the role of Katelyn in the new musical
“Something Old, Something New.” Maria would like to thank John,
her parents and Carol for their trust, love and support.
Julia Faussone
From the San Francisco Bay area, Julia Faussone is a second year Theater major
and has performed in professional productions of “The Sound of Music,”
“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Annie” and “Evita.”
She was Little Red Ridinghood in Last season’s UCLA Music Theater Workshop
production of “Into the Woods.” Julia is also doing voice overs
for CD Rom games and television. This is Julia’s first experience in
stage management and she is thrilled to be working on Carol’s “Once
Upon A Mattress” both on the stage and behind the scenes.
Tal Feingold
Tal Feingold is a first year student at UCLA. A Psychology major with a passion
for theater, she has appeared in “Singin in the Rain,” “Annie,”
“The Wiz,” “Godspell” and “Hello Dolly.”
Kate Gersten
A second year Theater major, Kate Gersten was born and raised in New York
City where theater was infused directly into her veins by her inspiring family.
Trained at the Joffrey School of Ballet and the HB Studio, Kate first performed
at age nine in the Joffrey’s “The Nutcracker” at the City
Center. Kate is loving every minute at UCLA where she has been seen in “Who’s
Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and has directed “A Midsummer Night’s
Dream.”
Susannah Hall
Soprano Susannah Hall will be graduating in June as part of the final class
of Dance majors at UCLA. She has been a member of the UCLA Music Theater Workshop
for three years most recently portraying Cinderella in Sondheim’s “Into
the Woods.”
William Heermance
William Heermance, a Sophomore Theater major, is thrilled to be appearing
in his first production with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop. He hails from
Palo Alto where he worked in children’s theater (including the title
role in “Oliver” when he was twelve). Currently he shared the
musical directorship of the campus ensemble “Awaken A cappella.”
Brian Hobbs
Music major Brian Hobbs is proud to be celebrating his final year at UCLA.
Though it’s been a while since he appeared onstage, his campus credits
include musical director for the Tiny Band productions of “Assassins,”
“Falsettos” and “Something Old, Something New.” Last
year he produced and directed “A Chorus Line” for the Residentials
Halls. His goal is to compose for music theater after graduation.
Darren Ishmael
Darren Ishmael will be graduating this June with a BA in Theater Arts. “Once
Upon A Mattress” is Darren’s first production with the Music Department
and he is very pleased to have been given this opportunity. He has been performing
since childhood and was last seen in the UCLA Theater Department’s production
of “Origen” in which he played an Aztec God.
Francoise LeClerc
Francoise LeCler, a native of Northern California has been stage managing
theater productions since her Junior year in High School. She is currently
a Sophomore in the Theater program at UCLA studying direction and productions
for stage and film. Recent stage management credits include the West Coast
premiere of “The Atomic View Motel” and “The Triumph of
Isabella.” Francoise is proud and honored to have the opportunity to
work with the legendary Carol Burnett.
Sergio Lobito
Sergio Lobito is receiving his B.A. in Theater in June. Some of his UCLA credits
include “Lulu,” “Assassins” and “Hoichi”
(Japanese shadow theater). “Once Upon A Mattress” is his first
production with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop.
Larry Long
Second year Theater major Larry Long is thrilled and honored to be a part
of “Once Upon A Mattress.” Last year he enjoyed playing the role
of Cinderella’s Prince/the Wolf in Sondheim’s “Into the
Woods.”
Melissa Lyons
Melissa Lyons is a Music major with an emphasis in vocal performance who will
graduate this June. She won first place in UCLA’s Carol Burnett Awards
in 1997 and “Mattress” marks her fourth production with the UCLA
Music Theater Workshop. Other companies Melissa has worked with include the
Civic Light Opera of Santa Barbara, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Music Theater
of Southern California and Music Theater West.
Cara Marino
Cara Marino is a second year Theater maor who began training and performing
in Music Theater in the second grade. A graduate of the San Diego School of
Performing Arts, she plans to pursue a career in the arts.
Tom McMahon
While leading a double life as a Political Science major and a “theater
geek,” Tom McMahon has enjoyed an exciting tenure with the UCLA Music
Theater Workshop. A two-time winner of the Carol Burnett Award, Tom has been
seen as the Baker in last season’s “Into the Woods” and
was featured in their production of “Flora, the Red Menace.” He
also appeared as Guiteau in “Assassins” and in the Reprise production
of “The Three Penny Opera.”
Eric Martin
Eric Martin is a graduating Theater Arts student and a veteran of UCLA’s
Music Theater Workshop, having appeared in “Godspell,” “Into
the Woods” and “Flora, the Red Menace.” He spends his weekends
making young children happy as “Merlin” at Club Disney and spends
his free time writing plays and devising ways to rule the world.
Jon Neeley
“Once Upon A Mattress” is Jon Neeley’s first production
with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop, although he appeared in last year’s
residential hall production of “A Chorus Line.” Other shows include
“42nd Street,” “Hello Dolly” and “Crazy for
You.”
Dario Nolfi
Dario Nolfi hails from San Francisco. He is a Theater major and was last seen
as Demetrius in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Special thanks
to Mom and dad for all their support and my friends for making me laugh.
Will Pellegrini
A fourth year Theater major from Folsom, CA, Will Pellegrini’s past
UCLA credits include roles in “A Lie of the Mind,” “Godspell,”
“Assassins,” “Into the Woods” and his most recent
appearance in “Taking the Bait.” He is also active in UCLA’s
award winning a cappella group Awaken.
Sierra Rein
Sierra Rein hails from Oakland, CA and does not look forward to leaving UCLA
in June when she graduates from the Theater Department. During her college
career she has divided her time between her classes, John Hall’s Music
Theater Workshop (where she played the Witch in Sonheim’s “Into
the Woods”), being alto in the UCLA group, Awaken A Cappella and she
has directed and performed in numerous student-produced musicals such as “Assassins,”
“Falsettos” and “Something Old, Something New.” She
is excited about her role as the castle wench in “Mattress” and
sends her love to her Moms, Dads and (especially) to Pete.
Mario Rocha
Senior Theater major, Mario Rocha enjoys making a fool of himself whenever,
wherever and for as many people as possible. He has appeared with the UCLA
Music Theater Workshop in “Dames at Sea” and “Into the Woods.”
Mike Rose
Mike Rose is a native of San Diego and is excited to be returning to “Once
Upon A Mattress” after a run last winter in that show with the San Diego
Civic Light Opera. Other shows include “7 Brides for 7 Brothers,”
“Cinderella,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “South Pacific”
and “Crazy for You.” Mike thanks his family and best friend Melisa
Olleyvara.
Teresa Marie Sanchez
Twice winner of the coveted Carol Burnett award in Music Theater, Teresa Marie
Sanchez is a Senior Theater major and has performed in several UCLA productions
including “Flora, the Red Menace” (Flora), “Assassins”
(Squeaky Fromme) and “Gospell” (Roin). She has appeared in “Wonderful
Town” with Lucie Arnaz and “The Pajama Game” with Christine
Ebersol for Reprise!
Joe Santiago
Joe Santiago was last heard as Marcus in “Gianni Schicchi” and
the stylemaker in “Les Mamelles de Tiresias” with the UCLA Opera
Workshop. Schoenberg Hall has been a second home to him at UCLA, but he wishes
to finish his degrees in Biology and English before 2000.
Mishi Schueller
Mishi Schueller has previously performed with A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory.
He has also performed with the Dance Attack Performance Company for five years
and played in “Hello Dolly,” “Brigadoon” and “Peter
Pan.” He has also participated in musical revues at Sonoma State University
and UCLA.
Michael Shapiro
A third year pre-medical honors student, Michael Shapiro has appeared in the
UCLA Music Theater Workshop production of “Godspell” and the musical
revues of Jerry Herman and George and Ira Gershwin. This past summer he recorded
the lead role in a concept album for the new rock musical “bare.”
He is also a model for the 1998-99 BearWear catalogue.
Jill Simonian
Originally from Fresno, Communications major Jill Simonian has been a member
of the UCLA Music Theater Workshop for three years. She has appeared in “Penelope
Saves the Nutcracker,” “Flora, the Red Menace” and “Into
the Woods.”
Tyson Sheedy
Tyson Sheedy is a Sacramento native graduating this year from the UCLA Theater
Department with Honors. She spent the last year studying abroad at the University
of Birmingham in England where she performed a leading role in the premiere
production of Sondheim’s “Saturday Night.” She is delighted
to be part of this production and sends her love and thanks to her family
and friends.
Josh Silberman
Back for his second season with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop, Josh Silberman
is studying computer science and rows for the University Crew. He was last
seen as the Steward in Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” Josh
plans to continue to perform in his next three years at UCLA and still make
it as a computer scientist.
Tom Stutzman
Theater major, Tom Stutzman is a Junior transfer from Cal State Bakersfield
and is overjoyed that his debut performance at UCLA is “Once Upon A
Mattress” directed by Carol Burnett. He is thankful to be working with
UCLA Music Theater Workshop and this is his first performance with a rubber
chicken. Tom would like to thank Carol, John, Mom, Dad Pope, his family and
friends for their constant support and prayers.
Michael Triglia
Michael Triglia, a 20-year-old theater major has been seen in several productions
at the UCLA Theater Department, most recently as the fire chief in Ionesco’s
“The Bald Soprano.” He has also been lighting designer for over
40 shows in his three years at UCLA.
Carin White
Carin White is a first-year Music major in vocal performance at UCLA. She
received first place in the Rotary International “Singer of the Year”
competition and in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.
Jeff Wiesen
A freshman majoring in Theater, Jeff Wiesen is excited to be working with
the Music Department on this production. He dedicates this performance to
Roya Hekmat, an incredible performer and wonderful friend.
