Blake Larson as the Jester
Photo Taken By: Alvia Sanchez
Blake Larson as the Jester
Photo Taken By: Alvia Sanchez
Mallory Brownell
January 10, 2023
Once upon a time, in a school far, far away, the noble Palisade Bulldogs have been working on a production to please the humble community of the Grand Valley. Starting in August, our Theatre Dogs have sung, danced, and practiced their way to this moment. The light shining on their face in front of a huge audience, performing in a way that makes the crowd applaud, laugh, and cry. Coming up in February, our theater department will be performing Once Upon A Mattress, which is one no one will want to miss. The musical is based on the famous fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. The story begins in a faraway kingdom long ago. Due to an unhappy curse, the King, Sextimus, is unable to speak. Meanwhile, his terror-of-a-wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken over control of the kingdom. Most importantly, in an attempt to keep Prince Dauntless single, she has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. Further, no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. Will any princess be good enough to lift the curse? Join us on February 16, for opening night to find out. Our incredible leads include Teagan Brannan as Prince Dauntless, Emily Shamblin as Princess Winnifred, and Jae Rogal as Queen Aggravain. The cast has been hard at work, perfecting their performance since October. Blake Larson, a sophomore, is cast as the Jester of this production, and is guaranteed to bring a few laughs to the audience. He’s been doing theater since he was 8 years old, and has been a part of four shows here at Palisade. “This year I really like the musical because it's actually hilarious. The cast and I are having a lot of fun with it, and I’m thinking the audience will too. The plot is silly and lighthearted, and will be a good watch for families.” With that in mind, come watch Once Upon a Mattress and support our theater department. Go Bulldogs!