Yahoo News Michael Urie Will Star Opposite Sutton Foster in “Once Upon a Mattress” on Broadway (Exclusive)
The beloved musical is returning to the boards for a limited 18-week engagement after an acclaimed run at New York City Center earlier this year
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Sutton Foster and Michael Urie during the curtain call of Once Upon a Mattress at New York City Center on Feb. 4, 2024The upcoming Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress has found its Prince Dauntless.
PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that Michael Urie will step back into the role of the lovable lead in the treasured Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer musical, returning to the boards this summer for an 18-week engagement. He'll join Sutton Foster, as the charmingly brash Winnifred the Woebegone.
Both were a part of this production of Once Upon a Mattress when it made its debut earlier this year in a sold-out run during the Encores! series at New York City Center. Urie, 43, and Foster, 49, also worked together on Younger, the cult-hit TV Land series created by Darren Star.
“Doing Once Upon a Mattress with Sutton at City Center Encores! was such a joyful and hilarious experience," Urie tells PEOPLE exclusively.
He adds, "Each night after the bows, as we made our final exit, the lights would come up on the audience and we saw smiling happy faces, of every age, all the way up to the balcony. Somehow, everyone looked like a kid. I can’t wait to see that again.”
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Sutton Foster and Michael Urie during the closing-night celebration of Once Upon a Mattress in New York City on Feb. 2, 2024Related: Sutton Foster Returning to Broadway This Summer in Once Upon a Mattress Revival
Urie's return to Broadway comes after a brief stint away. The comedic actor — acclaimed for his work on screen in projects like Ugly Betty and Single All the Way — played Sir Robin (among other parts) in the recent revival of Spamalot, though had to depart the production in January 2024 to film the second season of AppleTV+'s Shrinking.
Other stage credits include Chicken in Biscuits (2021), Torch Song (2018), Buyer & Cellar (2013) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012).
Foster was also recently on Broadway. Earlier this month, the two-time Tony Award-winning theater vet wrapped up her run as Mrs. Lovett in the revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street alongside Aaron Tveit. Prior to that, she co-starred in the 2022 revival of The Music Man opposite Hugh Jackman.
To announce his casting, Urie filmed a sweet video which PEOPLE can also premiere, poking fun at his momentary break from New York.
"I'm going back to New York. Who am I kidding? I need all that stress!" he said into the camera, from bed, before running out of the frame and proclaiming, "I'm coming, Sutton!"
Once Upon A Mattress follows Winnifred the Woebegone as she competes for the hand of Prince Dauntless after his demanding mother, Queen Aggravain, insists he must wed a "true" princess before anyone else in their kingdom can marry.
The story is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, with a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer.
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Rodgers and Barer's score is known for songs like "Shy" and "In a Little While," which have become part of the American musical-theater lexicon.
Emmy winner Amy Sherman-Palladino, who worked with Foster on Bunheads, has adapted Once Upon a Mattress for the upcoming Broadway revival. It will be directed by Tony nominee Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods), and feature choreography by Lorin Latarro (The Who’s Tommy).
Once Upon a Mattress
Poster for Once Upon a Mattress on BroadwayRelated: Michael Urie on Why Starring in Broadway's Spamalot Is a 'Little Perfect Kismet Moment' (Exclusive)
Previews for Once Upon a Mattress begin July 31 at the Hudson Theatre in New York City, with an opening night set for Aug. 12. The run is currently scheduled through Nov. 30.
After Broadway, the show — with Foster and Urie — will move to Los Angeles for a four-week engagement at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre. Performances will take place there from Dec. 10 through Jan. 5, 2025.
Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for Once upon a Mattress are now on sale at onceuponamattress.com.
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