Written by Kayla Maloney |
Photos by Maddi Roman |

Would any of you like to see Mark Zumpano in a wig and four inch heels? This year’s musical Once Upon A Mattress is “the story of the princess and the pea, with some funny humors and a twist” according to Mrs. Robinson.  Tickets for this play are $12 and all seating is reserved, so get your ticket soon! They are currently on sale! The play is March 21-24th.

When I interviewed Mark Zumpano I found he has a great part in this year’s musical, ” I am playing ‘The Queen’. I would say the most difficult part of the role is being a woman. I will be in a dress, a wig, and four inch heels for the show. It’s very different from anything I’ve ever done, but I’m sure it will be a blast.” Mark has plenty of theater experience to prepare him for the challenge: ” I played ‘Perchik’ in last year’s Fiddler on the Roof and was also ‘Joe Hardy’ in Clinton Family Theater’s Damn Yankees, last summer. It’s definitely nerve racking to be on stage in any circumstance, but this is something I’ve never done, and definitely adds to the pressure. it’s going to be very fun to be on stage acting as a woman. I’m sure people will love it!”

As I continued to learn more about this play, I soon found out just how much they practiced. The students in the play have to balance school, homework, sports, jobs, and play practice, and I wanted to know just how they did it.  Ryan Driscoll explained, “I’m the king in the play, and it’s hard to stay on track with the homework, but I try to do it either before or after practice or sometimes during it.”  Ryan has been in five of John Lampe’s productions in the past, though this year he is very excited to play the role of the king!

To see a video of their first reherseal, see Lucas Edwards article: Creating Once Upon a Mattress

The cast of Once Upon a Mattress:

Principals:
Thursday/Saturday Friday/Sunday.
Minstrel: Kevin Moran, Patrick McAllister
Wizard: Matt Egan, Charlie Bencivengo
Jester: Bella sicignano, Lucas Edwards
Dauntless: Chase LeMay, Mateo Zumpano
King: Ryan Driscoll, Jadan Washington
Sir Harry: Mike Iavarone, Andrew tran
Lady Larken: Shannon dobney, Amanda Lucas
Princess Winniefred: Maddi Roman, Caroline Best
Queen: Aubri Suarez, Mark Zumpano

Ensemble:
Lady Gertrude: Emily Maertz
Lady Jazmine: Jenna Egan
Lord Howard: Seth Warner
Lady Mabelle: Karli Robertson
Lady Guenevere: Olivia Giannotti
Lady Phoebe: Catie Lamontague
Sir Christopher: Jason Hicks
Lady Morgana: Cara Morello
Sir Daniel: Chad Neri
Lady Florence: Jillian Acetta
Lady Elizabeth: Alyssa Robinson
Pageboy: Scott Acetta