It’s that time of the year again for the actors and actresses of Alliance High to clear their throats and belt out some tunes in the Spring Musical. This year’s show is Once Upon a Mattress, a not-so-typical fairy tail about a loud mouth princess and an overbearing queen. Once Upon a Mattress is Roger and Hammerstein’s version of the fable, Princess and the Pea.

Ms. Christina Kloch, the Spring Musical Director has high hopes for this year’s play. The lead roles are Princess Winniferd, played by Junior Megan Buskirk; Prince Dauntless, played by Junior Ian Nelson; The Queen, played by Senior Brayla Alwin; The King, played by Sophomore Collin Cox; Lady Larken, played by Senior Kacey Horn; and Sir Harry, played by Junior Roger Bunnell.

Once Upon a Mattress is not the usual fairy tale. Kloch says, “The princess is obnoxious, the Queen is a snob and the King can only speak in pantomime, which is hilarious coming from Collin (Cox).”

Kloch says she picked this play because she directed a junior version of it at St. Agnes a few years ago. “The kids really liked it and we had the right people to do the full version this year,” Kloch said.

Practice times are not firmly set because every student actor has a busy life. “We have to be flexible and work around schedules, but we take individual parts and work really hard improving certain snippets and when we get closer to the performing date, we will start putting it all together,” Kloch said. The students involved with the play must be responsible for letting Kloch know what will work for them, looking ahead, and planing for the upcoming weeks. “We have a very good group of responsible kids this year,” Kloch said.

A great deal of hard work goes into perfecting the plays. Practice is intense just like an athletic practice, but in a whole different way. “Instead of working our biceps and triceps, we are working our creative muscles,” Kloch said. “We have to work together and be willing to try new things,” Kloch added.

Opening night is not set because Klock has to talk to The School Board about having a Sunday afternoon performance instead of a Thursday night performance to increase attendance. Either way, during the second weekend in April the public can enjoy a great show put on by Alliance High’s finest. “We hope that people come join us for a good time and support their fellow classmates,” Kloch said.

Clear your schedules and you will not be disappointed. As for the cast of Once Upon a Mattress: Break a leg!