Inclusivity makes fairy tale dreams come true in Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre’s ‘Once Upon a Mattress’
Originally published on The JOLT News on July 22, 2026
Remember Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea” literary fairy tale?
Admittedly, all I could remember is that a girl is a sensitive enough sleeper that she could feel a pea underneath a plethora of mattresses and blankets. I recently decided to get reacquainted with the story, and now I see why it is timeless and forever relevant.
“The Princess and the Pea” combats the status quo and breaks through superficial mindsets by reminding us to take the time to go deeper and look inside ourselves and people we encounter.
Stories play a key role in developing identity, which I was reminded of last weekend at the Rebecca and Alexandar Howard Community Engagement “Read the Park” event (read my review here).
It’s crazy how one little pea teaches so much about how we must continue to pursue truth and integrity, and embrace sensitivity.
The musical “Once Upon a Mattress” wraps all those lessons in a humorous, light and whimsical package. Fun for the whole family, go see Tenino Young-At-Heart’s (TYT) upcoming production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”
Dates: July 23-26, July 29-Aug. 1.
Times: Weekdays at 7 p.m., weekends at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $16, students/seniors $14. Pay what you can on July 29. Purchase here.
Venue: Tenino High School: 500 W 2nd Ave in Tenino
To learn more about the show, I had the opportunity to speak with TYT Board President Courtney Stanley whose excitement for the show was contagious!
Sneak peek
People familiar with the legacy of “Once Upon a Mattress” on Broadway and beyond, including Carol Burnett’s original iconic performance of Princess Winifred, know that the show is a campy delight. TYT plans to honor that legacy while giving it a fresh breath of life.
Audiences can look forward to not only seeing TYT’s characteristic age diversity on the stage, but seeing themselves as well, especially as they identify with various characters in the story.
“Being an all ages, all abilities theater, we do inclusive casting and have people all over the spectrum. People who come from different walks of life, journeys and experiences.” Stanley said. “I think each of our actors brings themselves to our stage. It’s very cool to see how each of them colors their own characters.”
Some of the shining stars in the production include, but are not limited to, Maddy Roy as Princess Winnifred, Allie Goodrich as Prince Dauntless, Noah McKenzieSullivan as King Sextimus and Bri Hines as Queen Aggravain.
Looking specifically at the heroine of this tale, Stanley described how Princess Winifred is a trailblazer and role model — strong-willed, determined and powerful.
All young people, but especially young women need to see examples of strength in the stories they are told. Good characters and stories are vital because they influence our own character, values and who we ultimately become.
As TYT has been working on this show, they have appreciated and embraced Princess Winifred’s neurodivergent flair, which only adds to the sparkle of her presence in this story. Again, seeing heroes, royalty and lead characters, who represent diversity, is deeply important for our society.
Representation not only happens on stage, but off stage as TYT continues to provide everyone with opportunities to grow and pursue their passion. The choreographer of this show is 15-year-old Briana Smith.
Stanley shared, “She’s 15 and taught all the show’s dances! She has shown exceptional professionalism beyond her years.”
Age diversity cannot fully succeed if not everyone is on board. Reading between the lines, I began to wonder if attitudes do arise where older people feel a sense of hesitation or dread working with younger people, and vice versa.
Stanley’s response to this inspired me: “This is such a good and timely thing to discuss because I’ve actually had a conversation with some of our folks recently on why having a variety of ages is so important."
Stanley continued, “Smart does not have an age tied to it. Someone who’s older may have more wisdom from life experience, but that does not mean you can’t learn something new from little ones who have cool new ideas, think about things in a completely new and different way, and who have the innocence of youth on their side.”
Stanley shared examples of members of the cast who, through being themselves, have taught everyone else something valuable about life.
“We’ve got a little girl named Ashlyn who is 6 years old and is very confident — she does her positive affirmations and she knows herself. I always learn something new watching her," Stanley said.
“We’ve also got Tim, who is a mature gentleman in the cast. Hearing about his life adventures and skills he has gained over time inspires me. He could write a book.”
Variety is the spice of life. JOLT readers, I invite you to come experience this magic for yourselves. I’ll see you in the audience.