College theater programs serve two masters.

They need to pick shows that provide educational opportunities for their students, but they also hope to offer choices that will draw an audience to see those students.

The musical “Once Upon a Mattress” checks both boxes, according to its director Adam Howard, and Youngstown State University Theatre will stage it for a two-weekend run starting Friday.

“Quirky” was the word Howard used to describe “Mattress,” a comedic adaptation of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” featuring music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Barer.

“It’s a very female friendly, female led, sort of beloved, slightly less famous but never forgotten musical,” he said.

While he praised the music, Howard said it’s a rare musical driven primarily by the script, and it has a vaudevillian style to some of its dialogue and songs. It’s also a show with enduring popularity. Since its Broadway debut in 1959 (which made Carol Burnett a star), there have been multiple television adaptations and New York revivals, including a brief run earlier this year with Sutton Foster as Princess Winnifred as part of the Encores! series.

“It’s important to remember, to our students, `Rent’ is an old musical,” Howard said. “We have to make sure not only are they aware of theatrical styles from earlier in the 20th century, but we want to make sure students get a wide range of musical experience to do shows they could actually be up for (professionally) instead of just knowing the shows they like to listen to.”

“Mattress” is set in a kingdom where Queen Aggravain has decreed that no one can marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a bride of royal blood. Sir Harry, in order to marry Lady Larken, goes in search of a princess and brings back Princess Winnifred, who must overcome a series of impossible obstacles created by the queen in order to marry Dauntless and end the wedding ban.

A large turnout for auditions provided a wide range of casting options, Howard said, and he decided to use several music majors in addition to the theater and musical theater students in the cast.

“I’m all for inclusion, I’m all for collaboration,” he said.

The cast features Elise Vargo, Sam Nabring, Mallory Ehrhart, Cyrus Dzikowski, Chloe Downey, Mekhi Dawson, Sam Law, Emalee Chappa, Ben Podnar, Natalie Horvath, Ilse Zijlstra, Grace Beil, Landon Eli, Nathan Franklin and Ryan Bedi.

Howard incorporated one of his student’s extra talents into his role.

“One of the characters is a wizard played by Sam Law, who is an absolute scene stealer,” Howard said. “He’s a magician, and he worked some real magic into the show. For such a small part, he steals every scene he’s in.”

Howard will be doing double duty himself. In addition to directing the production, he will conduct the pit orchestra for each performance. It’s something he’s done before, but it will be the first time he’s conducted a musical at YSU.

“It’ll be nice to get back into the orchestra pit,” he said. “There was a conflict of availability, so I said I’d be happy to conduct one of the weekends, and then we decided I’d conduct both. Being in the rehearsal room all the time, it’s not like I don’t know the queues.”

The orchestra features Saralyn Joiner, flute; Sam Schuster, flute; Julie Douglas, clarinet; Joshua Close, bass clarinet; Brinly Haley, saxophone; EJ Paucar, saxophone; Brandon Brown, french horn; Kaydence Jordan, trombone; Noah Stewart, piano; Julia Mosher, synthesizer (strings); Evan Barrett, synthesizer (harp); Blake Maurice, percussion; Santino Testa, guitar; Atahan Guler, viola; Gavin Nist, cello; Ava Young, cello; and Devin Zerjav, bass.

The production team include Todd Dicken, scenic designer; Jack Trifonoff, technical director; Katherine Garlick, costume designer; and Lisa Howard, choreographer.

“I know Katherine Garlick has always wanted to do costumes for this show, and they’re absolutely gorgeous,” Howard said. “The hats alone look fantastic … In the time I’ve been here, this is the most gorgeous show I’ve seen.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Once Upon a Mattress.”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through April 14.

WHERE: Ford Theater, Bliss Hall, Youngstown State University.

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and YSU alums, $9 YSU faculty and staff and free for YSU students and are available online at www.ysu.tix.com and by calling 330-941-3105.