Archbishop Ryan’s ready to go
Once Upon A Mattress

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

With some 120 students participating as part of cast, crew and orchestra, the Archbishop High School Music Theater program may be the biggest of its kind in the city.
And with more than two dozen seniors, many of whom have been involved since arriving on the Far Northeast campus, the group has an auditorium full of experience.
Yet, despite all of the veteran leadership, staging their twice-yearly musicals never ceases to be a demanding chore and rewarding challenge for the teens, along with their director, Kim Williams, and producer, Gene Ciccimaro, who chairs the music department at the school.
This weekend, the company will present three performances of the Broadway classic Once Upon a Mattress to what they hope will be big and appreciative audiences at the school’s auditorium.
The Music Theater program has produced at least two shows each school year for the last 21 years. Current members of the company have been working on Mattress since January, not too long after they wrapped up their last successful show, Seussical the Musical.
"We did Seussical in the fall, which was big and brassy and fun," Williams said. "(Mattress) is more of an old fashioned musical."
According to the director, the forthcoming play has all of the ideal qualities for a company like Ryan’s.
The original play was adapted from the children’s tale The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson. Yet, it gives the teens a taste of classic Broadway. It opened in May 1959 and later debuted on Broadway with Carol Burnett starring in the lead role of Princess Winnifred.
The show played 460 performances in its original run and was turned into an award-winning revival in 1996 starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
Ryan’s version has 18 musical numbers and, most importantly, showcases the many talents that the diverse group of performers has to offer.
"What we’re trying to do is excite young people," Williams said. "It has a lot of parts and we have a lot of talent here."
The fairy-tale court setting features an indignant queen, a king who doesn’t speak, a conniving wizard, a sentimental minstrel and jester, an unkempt but spirited princess and the sheltered young prince who hopes to wed the princess against the queen’s will.
The queen forces the princess, Winnifred, to pass a seemingly impossible test to earn the right to wed her son, Prince Dauntless the Drab.
"It’s like corny medieval times with knights and princesses," said sophomore Bridgette Graham, who portrays Queen Aggravain. "It has some serious moments, but not too serious. It’s basically comedy."
The story has a moral, too.
"It’s kind of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’" said Sean Naylor, who plays the minstrel. "(Winnifred) is from the swamp, but she’s the only one to pass the test."
"Also, don’t listen to your mother," added Joe Conwell, who plays the Jester. "You have to be independent."
"And be yourself. That’s my message," Naylor agreed.
Even during their tedious preparations as a bunch of fictitious characters, the teens have little trouble finding ways to express their own inner joy for being onstage.
Many of the lead actors also take part in outside projects such as community theater productions.
"We all complain, but we love it," said Katie Wilson, who plays Winnifred.
"You get to spend time with your friends and goof off and work in between — or the other way around," Conwell said.
Progress has been "a little at a time," according to Williams, the director.
First, the cast learned their singing parts. Then Williams introduced her choreography. The 22-member orchestra, under Ciccimaro’s baton and with the piano accompaniment of Sister Kate Shelly, joined rehearsals.
Adult volunteers developed costumes, constructed the sets, arranged for publicity and carried out many other supporting tasks, while the student crew worked on lighting, sound, stage direction and securing needed props.
"It is a lot to learn, but one of the most beautiful things on the planet is watching this all unfold," Williams said. "An important part of the arts is learning all aspects of it."
Performances of Once Upon A Mattress will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors at the door.
The auditorium entrance is at the front of the school, at 11201 Academy Road.
Other upcoming music department performances will include the Elementary Music Program Concert on May 13, the Choral/Dance/Jazz Concert on May 14 and the Concert Band/Orchestra Concert on May 15. The Concert Band, Chorus and Jazz Band will take part in the Dorney Park Festival on May 17.
Visit www.ABRyanMusic.org or call 215-637-1800, Ext. 211 for information. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com