The department of theatre will be showing "Once Upon a Mattress," a play based on "The Princess and the Pea," at the Telfair Peet Theatre.
In the story, the prince wants to get married, but his mother won't let him and no one else in the kingdom can get married until the prince does according to Matthew Scott Phillips, director of the play and department chair of the department of theater.
According to Phillips, these performances are a learning experience for theater students.
"A lot of what we do here is based on providing a depth of experience for our students," Phillips said.
The process of choosing a play to perform is often matched with a passion of a faculty director, according to Phillips.
Phillips said they have a subscription audience who attend the plays during the season, and they have to balance shows that probe deeper thought about particular issues with light-hearted shows.
For example, they performed "Vinegar Tom," a feminist piece based on the witch trials in the 16th century.
Phillips said the theatre department does not censor what they perform.
"We choose things because we think those things either serve the students, or the plays that we choose have a message that need to be told and that we feel strongly about," Phillips said.
Phillips also said the University doesn't censor the theatre department.
"We haven't had any problems with the audience, and the University doesn't tell us what we can and can't produce," Phillips said.
Katherine McDonald, stage manager of "Once Upon A Mattress" and senior in psychology, said working on the play has helped her be better prepared for rehearsals and sharpen her skills as a stage manager.
Paula Bagley, senior in theatre and one of the lead characters, Winifred, said being a part of the play has been a dream come true for her since she dreamed of playing the role since high school.
"Winifred is kind of a mess in a good way," Bagley said. "She's basically the complete opposite of what you would think of a princess, except her sincerity. She's a princess from the swamps, she's rough around the edges, clumsy, not sure how to act properly, but she's kind and has everyone's best interests in heart."
Anna Caudle, senior in theatre and one of the lead characters, Queen Agravane, said being a part of the play has broadened her horizons because it is her first musical performance.
Caudle said her character is complex.
"She is the antagonist of the show," Caudle said. "She's very snooty, conceited and snippy and controlling and a total diva. She's a villain in a way that you hate her and love her."
Caudle said being able to play an antagonist has given her a new perspective because she has been accustomed to playing sweet and innocent characters in the past.
The play premiers Feb. 19 and will run until March 1.
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