Oceanside Theatre Company Youth Academy Brings Classic Musical Comedy to The Brooks Theater with Once Upon A Mattress
Beloved Family Musical Runs November 14–23 Alongside
OTC’s First-Ever Fall Youth Technical Workshop
(Oceanside) October 29, 2025 – Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC)’s Youth Academy brings laughter and royal fun to the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater (217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA) with the classic comedy Once Upon a Mattress, running November 14–23, 2025. Tickets are $25 for adults beginning November 1. Seniors and military enjoy a $20 rate, and students are $18 throughout the run. Tickets are available now at OceansideTheatre.org or by calling (760) 433-8900.
Directed by Sharon and Anna Duchi, this beloved Broadway favorite is a whimsical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea — filled with quirky characters, show-stopping songs, and a heart full of humor. Written by Mary Rodgers (music), Marshall Barer (lyrics), and Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer (book), Once Upon a Mattress became a Broadway favorite and launched Carol Burnett’s career.
In a faraway kingdom ruled by the overbearing Queen Aggravain, no one can marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a suitable princess — but she’s rejected every hopeful candidate through a series of impossible “royalty tests.” When Sir Harry returns with Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, an unconventional noblewoman from the swamp, chaos and comedy ensue. As the Queen plots a final test involving twenty mattresses and one tiny pea, it’s up to Winnifred and the kingdom to prove that true nobility comes from the heart.
Performance Details:
Performance Dates: November 14 – 23, 2025
Showtimes: Fridays and evenings at 7 pm | Sunday matinee performances at 2 pm
Tickets: $18-25
Venue: Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside
Expanding Youth Opportunities Behind the Scenes: OTC Launches Its First Fall Youth Technical Workshop
Alongside the production, OTC proudly launches its first-ever Fall Youth Technical Workshop, extending its popular summer program to the school year. Led by Nate Cargill, Associate Technical Director at OTC and Technical Director at Oceanside High School, the workshop offers students ages 12–18 hands-on training in lighting, sound, and stagecraft while preparing them to work on a live show. Participants will join the technical crew both backstage and running equipment for Once Upon a Mattress, gaining real-world experience in running lights, sound, and scene changes during performances.
About the Creative Team:
SHARON DUCHI – Director / Musical Director
Sharon has a Master’s in Education from Old Dominion University and has served as Artistic Director of Act One Community Theater in Temecula for over seventeen years. She has directed, musically directed, and produced numerous award-winning productions, including Shrek, RENT, and Little Women the Musical.
ANNA DUCHI – Director / Choreographer
Anna Duchi holds a degree in Theatre Arts and Dance from Humboldt State University and has been in theater since the age of eight. A performer at Legoland California, she has served as Director and Choreographer for OTC’s Youth Outreach Program since 2019 and has worked for theatres including Carlsbad Community Theatre, Act 1 Community Theater, Jefferson Middle School, and Moonlight Youth Theatre.
NATE CARGILL – Associate Tech Director / Instructor, Fall Youth Technical Workshop
A proud Oceanside native, Nate began his theatre career at the Sunshine Brooks Theater twenty years ago. He currently serves as Technical Director for the Oceanside Performing Arts Center at Oceanside High School and Associate Technical Director for OTC at the Brooks. An Army veteran of eleven years, Nate spent over fifteen years working in Los Angeles as a Master Electrician and Carpenter at theaters including the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center and The Orpheum Theatre. He’s passionate about mentoring youth in lighting, sound, props, and set construction.
About Oceanside Theatre Company
Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident company of the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside, is a cornerstone of the Oceanside California Cultural District. OTC presents professional theatre, live music, and visual arts, along with year-round educational programs and youth outreach initiatives. Learn more at oceansidetheatre.org or follow @oceansidetheatrecompany on social media.