The Best Audition Songs for Once Upon a Mattress

When considering audition songs for Once Upon a Mattress, it’s fitting to choose a lighthearted song from classic musical theatre repertoire that aligns with the tone of the show and suits your vocal type. Always refer to the audition notice for specific guidelines.

Because Once Upon a Mattress premiered in 1959, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1940s and 1960s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed to ensure it matches the show’s style.

---

Step 1: Review Audition Info

Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.

---

Step 2: Study the Show

Before auditioning, you should get familiar with the show, and listening to the cast album is a great way to do that. Here’s where you can learn more about Once Upon a Mattress.

---

Step 3: Pick an Audition Song

Before choosing a song, find your voice type and range using the Vocal Guide.

Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Whatever you choose, try to stay open to other casting possibilities.

When you’re ready, choose a song from below that best fits your voice and style.

---

Audition Songs for Once Upon a Mattress

---

✨ Want material that gets you noticed? Explore hundreds of monologues, thousands of songs, and guidance on finding your casting lane in The Theatre Trip Archive on Patreon!

---

Jester

“A Little Gossip” – Man of La Mancha

“Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

“Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning” – This Is the Army

“The Big Black Giant” – Me and Juliet

---

Lady Larkin

“Love Makes the World Go ‘Round” – Carnival!

“Mira” – Carnival!

“Mister Snow” – Carousel

“Yes, My Heart” – Carnival!

---

Minstrel

“Anne of Green Gables” – Anne of Green Gables

“I Love To Cry At Weddings” – Sweet Charity

“Once Upon a Time” – All American

“The Prince Is Giving a Ball / Now’s the Time” – Cinderella

---

Prince Dauntless

“Love, I Hear” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

“Real Live Girl” – Little Me

“The Flower Garden of My Heart” – Pal Joey

“Wondrin’” – Anne of Green Gables

---

Princess Winnifred (Fred)

“A Quiet Thing” – Flora, the Red Menace

“Feelings” – The Apple Tree

“Gorgeous” – The Apple Tree

“You Mustn’t Be Discouraged” – Fade Out – Fade In

---

Queen Aggravain

“If He Walked Into My Life” – Mame

“It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow” – Louisiana Purchase

“The Man in the Moon” – Mame

“Who’s Been Sitting in My Chair?” – Goldilocks

---

Sir Harry

“Asking For You” – Do Re Mi

“There But For You Go I” – Brigadoon

“Wooden Wedding” – One Touch of Venus

“Young and Foolish” – Plain and Fancy

---

🎭 Do you know your casting type? Take our free Character Archetype Quiz to find out if you’re a villain, ingénue, hero, romantic, or a type that’s even more unique!

---

Ensemble (Altos)

“Be Kind to Your Parents” – Fanny

“Distant Melody” – Peter Pan

“I’m Not At All In Love” – The Pajama Game

---

Ensemble (Baritones)

“Comedy Tonight” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

“Shall I Take My Heart” – Goldilocks

“She’s My Love” – Carnival!

---

Ensemble (Basses)

“How to Handle a Woman” – Camelot

“Ridin’ on the Moon” – St. Louis Woman

“What Chance Have I With Love?” – Louisiana Purchase

---

Ensemble (Contras)

“I Never Know When” – Goldilocks

“Never Never Land” – Peter Pan

“The Beast In You” – Goldilocks

---

Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)

“He Was Tall” – Cinderella

“How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” – Finian’s Rainbow

“Sing Happy” – Flora, the Red Menace

---

Ensemble (Sopranos)

“So Far” – Allegro

“The Princess of Pure Delight” – Lady in the Dark

“There’s Music in You” – Cinderella

---

Ensemble (Tenors)

“Geraniums in the Winder” – Carousel

“Old Devil Moon” – Finian’s Rainbow

“That’s the Way It Happens” – Me and Juliet

---

Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Once Upon a Mattress:

• “A Prediction” from The Enchanted Journey

• “Launcelot’s Haberdashery” from A Connecticut Yankee

• “My Windowless Tower” from The Blue Bird

• “The Soul of Sugar” from The Blue Bird

• “Three Great Events” from A Connecticut Yankee

---

Step 5: Audition Prep

Choosing the right song is just the beginning! Strong preparation helps you walk into the room with confidence and ready to show what you can do.

Join Theatre Trip’s free Patreon Tier for:

☑ Your Audition Prep Checklist
☑ Printable Audition Stamp Cards
☑ Updates when new audition tools are added

Grab your free printables here →

---

Once Upon a Mattress Song List

Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Once Upon a Mattress, along with which characters sing in each of them. Unless you have been asked to, do not choose from the below songs for your audition! This is more intended to be used for character research purposes.

* That said, if you’ve specifically been asked to sing a song from the show, you can find the sheet music for the best possible audition songs below.

---

Act 1:

“Many Moons Ago” – Minstrel

“An Opening For a Princess” – Prince Dauntless, Lady Larken, Ensemble

“In a Little While” – Sir Harry, Lady Larken

“On a Stormy Night” – Minstrel

“Shy” – Princess Winnifred, Ensemble

“The Minstrel, the Jester, and I” – Minstrel, Jester, King Sextimus

“Sensitivity” – Queen Aggravain, Wizard

“The Swamps of Home” – Princess Winnifred, Prince Dauntless, Ensemble

“Normandy” – Minstrel, Lady Larken, Jester

“Song of Love” – Prince Dauntless, Princess Winnifred, Ensemble

---

Act 2:

“Quiet” – Queen Aggravain, Minstrel, Jester, Ensemble

“Goodnight, Sweet Princess” – Prince Dauntless, Ensemble

“Happily Ever After” – Princess Winnifred

“Man to Man Talk” – Prince Dauntless

“Very Soft Shoes” – Jester

“Yesterday I Loved You” – Sir Harry, Lady Larken

“Lullaby” – Queen Aggravain, Princess Winnifred, Ensemble

“Finale” – Company

---