Ten St. Thomas students will be in the spotlight this weekend in “Once Upon a Mattress,” the St. Catherine’s spring theater performance.

The musical is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.”

“We thought that (the show) would showcase the talents of our students. It was a period piece, and we liked that idea,” Teresa Lyons Hegdahl, assistant music and theater professor and musical director, said.

St. Thomas freshman Shannon Kelly plays Princess Winnifred and said her character is lovable but different from what the kingdom is accustomed to.

“She’s loud. She’s quirky. She’s funny,” Kelly said. “She doesn’t follow the conventional rules, but she’s very kind and lovable.”

Along with vocal and physical warm ups, Kelly studied Carol Burnett’s comedic work, the original “Princess Winnifred,” to help get her into character.

“She’s played the part before, and she’s also really funny,” Kelly said. “I warm myself up trying to think of the loudest and awkwardest and quirkiest version of myself that I can be.”

Sophomore Willie Hustead plays the oppressed Prince Dauntless. Hustead said his character is not given much authority within the kingdom.

“He doesn’t get a say in anything,” Hustead said. “But now, we finally see him being able to fall in love and assume some control within his own life.”

Hustead said Lyons Hegdahl helped the actors with character development.

“The main goal is to get the internal monologue, what the goal is behind each line,” Hustead said. “Which is really what sets you into character.”

Sophomore Meghan Lowe will play the Nightingale of Samarkand, the opera diva.

“I really think about being really big with my voice and character,” Lowe said. “I get to wear some armor and be this really operatic person. I visualize being big and out there.”

It is a “real pleasure” for Hustead to be working and performing alongside St. Kate’s students.

“It’s great to continue the tradition of the St. Thomas theater department in its own capacity, and it’s a lot of fun with St. Thomas and St. Kate’s students,” Hustead said.

Joining Kelly, Hustead and Lowe from St. Thomas are senior Caitlin Heaney, juniors Tony Bennek, Joe Feely and Tom Reusz, sophomore Lindy Fischer, and freshmen Mary Janisch and Steven Sauro. St. Thomas alumni in the cast include Benjamin Byers-Ferrian and Andrew Menke.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Kate’s.

Lowe said she looks forward to the audiences’ reactions during the shows this weekend.

“We love it of course, but we’ve been in it for a couple months,” Lowe said. “I’m really excited to work with the audience and see what they think of it and how they enjoy it.”

Bjorn Saterbak can be reached at sate3878@stthomas.edu.