The UALR Department of Theatre Arts and Dance will open its 2011-2012 season with the musical comedy, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Thursday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 9, at University Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday and 7 p.m. on Friday. Matinee performances will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 general admission and $5 for students. For tickets, call the theatre box office at 501-569-3456.

Composed by Mary Rodgers with lyrics by Marshall Barer, “Once Upon an Mattress” is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, “The Princess and the Pea.”

“The show has had a long history starting in 1959, including off-Broadway, Broadway, national tours, a Broadway revival in the 1990s, and three major television productions,” said Jay Raphael, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. “It has featured tons of stars, but is perhaps best known for giving Carol Burnett her Broadway debut as Princess Winifred.”

Student performers include Sydney Ippolito of Birmingham, Ala.; Memory Apata of Maumelle; Erin Anson of Troup, Tex.; Derrick Herman of Monticello; Kayla Chapin of Heber Springs; Meredith Rideout of Fort Smith; Danny Jimenez of Bentonville; Penn Ross Jackson Jr. of Hot Springs; Jeff Hayes of Sherwood; Aubrey Johnson and Timothy “TJ” Medel of Bryant; Ali Herring, Calvin Chester, Emily Karnes, Pamela Reed, Michael Bartholmey, all of North Little Rock; and Dariane Mull, Christine Woods, Nina Harris, Nicole Jovanovic, Anthony Bryant, and Jeff Hayes, all of Little Rock.

UALR alumna Sarah Etters Clayton and UALR faculty members Jay Raphael and Stephen K. Stone also will be featured in the performance.

“This is the first musical the department has staged since adding dance to its menu,” Raphael said. “The orchestra pit of the University Theatre has been opened and refurbished. ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ promises to be a lavish and unique production.”

Production credits include director and choreographer Rhythm L. McCarthy; designers William Marshall, Yslan Hicks, Jim Spencer and Karen Harris. Musical director is Michael Heavner, Joseph Stafford is technical director and Sara Lyon is lighting director.