LEGENDS #10 CAROL BURNETT

In 2017, Broadway Cares selected Carol Burnett to be the yearly Christmas ornament as Princess Winnifred in "Once Upon a Mattress."

What began as a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson entitled "The Princess and the Pea" was adapted for the theater by Mary Rogers (Daughter of Richard) doing the music with lyrics by Marshall Barer.  First playing Off-Broadway in 1959 and then transferring that same year to Broadway where it ran a total of 244 performances at various venues.

The show received Tony nominations for Best Musical as well as a nod to Ms. Burnett as Best Actress in a Musical but neither award came to fruition. (The winning Musical that year was a tie between "Fiorello" and "The Sound of Music" with Mary Martin winning Best Actress for the latter.)

The show has had several incarnations over the years on tour and in stock, with the likes of Ann B. Davis, Dody Goodman and Imogene Coca in the role.  In 1996, Sarah Jessica Parker starred in a Broadway Revival.  And Carol herself switched to the role of the Queen in a later TV production with Tracey Ullman portraying Winnifred.  But Ms. Burnett will always be remembered as the original.

The ornament and the obligatory photo from the show are included below wherein Ms. Burnett sang "Shy."




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