New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Bridge Players Theatre Company presents "Once Upon a Mattress"


By Zachary Klein, JerseyArts.com

originally published: 05/09/2024


When Burlington-based Bridge Players Theatre Company originally planned to produce the classic 1959 musical "Once Upon a Mattress," it was 2020 and the pandemic disrupted the planned performances. Now, four years later, the company finally gets the chance to put on this production with many of the same cast members that were originally supposed to be in the show.

Even though many members of the cast have returned for the second-chance production, not all were able to come back. Thankfully, many of the actors cast in leading roles were able to return, making it easier for the show’s director, Brian S. Rothman.

“The first thing that I had done was any cast member who was valuable and wanted to come back,” Rothman said. “[They] Did not have to audition. This is and I will say that this is not our traditional casting.”

Theatre Company’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”  Photo Courtesy Brian S. Rothman.

After the leads were cast, a grassroots effort was enacted to try and find ensemble members for the production. Rothman and Bridge Players Theatre Company President Gina Petti recruited many people they knew in the community to come join the show. Both have been involved in community theater for a long time, so they knew many people who may have been interested in acting in the show.

“I asked people I knew and said ‘Hey, people I've done shows with you know, would you like to come and join us?’” Rothman said. “I'm looking for ensemble members. I'm familiar with you and your talents. Come join us. I recruited people at work. I recruited some of the teachers I work with.”




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



The network of people who have been involved with community theater shows how vibrant the community theater scene is in Southern New Jersey. Bridge Players Theatre Company is just one member of this scene, serving Burlington County and the surrounding areas.

The company was founded in the Burlington County city of Palmyra, right near the Tacony Palmyra Bridge that links New Jersey with Pennsylvania, hence the name Bridge Players. In 2001, however, the company moved 11 miles north to the city of Burlington, where there is another bridge – the Burlington-Bristol Bridge – so the name did not have to be changed. The company has provided programming to the Burlington community for the last 23 years and understands the nuances of programming theater for their community.

The non-profit organization aims to produce quality, affordable theater for the community they serve while also providing a variety of opportunities for involvement both on and off the stage. They produce about four shows per year, ranging from well-known, crowd-pleasing musicals to lesser-known works, so there is something for everyone.

“I think like an effort to maintain our affordability and still provide high-quality theater and we try to do a good mix of like classic stuff like ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ that will really have a wide appeal to stuff that's a little bit complicated,” Petti said. “Makes you think, a little more thought-provoking.”

As the company revived its production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” both Rothman and Petti knew that they would gather interest from the community since the show is so well-known. They said the show is perfect for a community theater to produce because of its large cast and easy-to-follow fairytale storyline.

Jeff Rife (Jester), David Helgeson (King), Caitlin Figueroa (Lady Larkin) and Damon A. Strothers (minstrel) in Bridge Players Theatre Company’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”  Photo Courtesy Brian S. Rothman.

“We have a whole play selecting committee that selects the plays, so every potential director goes and approaches play reading and says I haven't played that I would like to direct,” Rothman said. “So I personally for myself as the director who submitted the show, it's a show that I fell in love with myself. I saw it on Broadway back in 1998. And it's just a fun show. It's a classic fairy tale.”




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Because Bridge Players is a non-profit organization with a limited marketing budget, the company relies on using social media to get the word out about its productions. They also place advertising in local newspapers and websites, but word-of-mouth is key to building a patron base. Repeat patrons from one show to the next also help the company find new audience members to come see their productions.

Another thing that Bridge Players is always looking for is volunteers, which are needed in all areas from production and stage management to ticket-takers and concession sellers. They will take anyone willing to lend a hand and help carry out the mission of this company.

“Volunteering is huge, so even just to run a show we need volunteers to do for a half so box office, concession sales and 50/50 sales,” Petti said. “Building of sets is a huge one right now. We lost a lot of our builders during the pandemic.”

“Once Upon a Mattress” began performances on May 3 at the Broad Street United Methodist Church, 36 East Broad St., Burlington, but remaining performances are on May 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. with matinees on May 11 and 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and children under age 10 are $10. The company prefers ticket sales in advance on their website, www.bridgeplayerstheatre.com.

Bridge Players Theatre, Burlington, NJ | May 3-17 @ 3 PM and 8 PM. Click here for tickets.




About the author: Zachary Klein is a journalism major at Rider University who has a passion for telling stories about the arts and those who make them. He currently serves as a house manager at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton and when he's not working there or on stories, he is probably at a theatrical production somewhere in the tri-state region. His work includes theater reviews and feature stories for Rider's college publication, The Rider News, as well as theater reviews for his own personal website, zachsfacts.com. Zach resides in Princeton with his family where he has lived for eighteen years. He is thrilled to join jerseyarts.com as a feature writer in his first professional writing credits.

Content provided by Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

"Twist

"Twist of Faith" to Debut at 2025 Dream Up Festival

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Twist Of Faith, an original comedy-drama with music, will make its debut at Theater for the New City as part of the 2025 Dream Up Festival. The production will run for five performances from August 24-31 in the Johnson Theater. Set over the course of a single Jewish Sabbath, Twist of Faith follows the unexpected encounter between two deeply different young men—a meeting that challenges both of their assumptions and forever changes the trajectory of their lives.



Wharton

Wharton Players to Hold Auditions for Beetlejuice JR.

(BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ) -- The Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) will hold auditions for the upcoming Wharton Players production of Beetlejuice JR., a hilarious and heartwarming Broadway hit based on Tim Burton's beloved film. Auditions will be held on September 5-6, 2025 for students ages 8-15, with performances scheduled for December 5-7 in the Wharton Black Box Theater.



Set

Set in New York City on the Brink of a New Millennium, "The Boys From Kingsbridge" Makes Its NY Premiere

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Set in New York City on the brink of a new millennium, the New York Premiere of The Boy From Kingsbridge captures the grit and energy of 1999. Written by Steven Sarao, the two-hander stars James Lorinz and Sarao as childhood friends who grow up to become NYPD officers. Directed by Anna Rebek, the play runs for seven performances from August 27 through September 5, 2025 as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City.



Ruth

Ruth Stage presents "The Zoo Story" by Edward Albee

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Ruth Stage presents Edward Albee's The Zoo Story at the historic Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove from September 4-6, 2025. This searing one-act revival stars three-time Emmy winner Christian Jules Le Blanc (The Young and the Restless) and acclaimed Off-Broadway actor Matt de Rogatis, best known for his explosive turn as Brick in Ruth Stage's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.



Surflight

Surflight Theatre presents "Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story!"

(BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre brings back the Broadway hit musical Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story! from August 19 to September 7, 2025. Collin Yates stars as Buddy Holly in this journey through the legendary musician's life over the years (1936-1959, respectively). It is Collin's first time on the Surflight Theatre stage.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Walden

Walden

Thursday, September 04, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre


 

South

South Camden Theatre Company presents "A Good Farmer"

Friday, September 05, 2025 @ 8:00pm
South Camden Theatre Company
400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
category: theatre


 

Walden

Walden

Friday, September 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre


 

South

South Camden Theatre Company presents "A Good Farmer"

Saturday, September 06, 2025 @ 8:00pm
South Camden Theatre Company
400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
category: theatre


 

Walden

Walden

Saturday, September 06, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre