Hibbert. Morrison, O'Hare Join TV's Mattress
"This is a part I never thought I'd play," O'Hare told Broadway.com. "It wasn't on my radar. When they offered it, I was like, 'What?! OK, OK, I'll do it!' I did the show in high school, back when I was doing musicals--before I discovered my black turtleneck. I played the jester and the minstrel. They combined the roles for me because they had no tenors. I really have not thought about the show since. I never really considered it a career option!"
Deschanel is known for her work on the big screen. Her film credits include Mumford, Almost Famous, The Good Girl, The New Guy, All the Real Girls, Whatever We Do, Elf and the upcoming Eulogy, Winter Passing and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Hibbert has appeared on Broadway in Alice in Wonderland, Me and My Girl, Marlene, The Green Bird and Noises Off. His off-Broadway credits include Dandy Dick, Privates of Parade, Candide, Jeffrey and My Night with Reg. He is known to television audiences for his work on Frasier.
Morrison is currently reprising the role of the Link Larkin in the Los Angeles mounting of Hairspray. He earned an Outer Critics Award nomination for his performance in the New York production of the musical, which he left on January 11, 2004. Before Hairspray, Morrison appeared on Broadway in Footloose and The Rocky Horror Show. He was announced to star in the fall premiere of The Opposite of Sex at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco but has had to withdraw for Mattress.
O'Hare recently appeared in Assassins at Studio 54 for which he earned a 2004 Tony nomination. He won a 2003 Tony Award for his acclaimed supporting turn in Take Me Out. He has also appeared on Broadway in Racing Demon, Cabaret and Major Barbara. His off-Broadway credits include Take Me Out, Helen, Woyzeck, Silence, Cunning, Exile, Vienna Lusthaus, Ten Unknowns, Devils The Arabian Nights, Lonely Planet and Hauptman for which he received a Drama Desk nomination and Fringe First Award. As we previously reported, O'Hare will star as Oscar, the love interest for Christina Applegate's Charity, in the upcoming Broadway revival of Sweet Charity.
Smothers is best known as half of the comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, which have had numerous television specials and performed all over the world. His film credits include Silver Bears, A Pleasure Doing Business, Serial, There Goes the Bride, Pandemonium and Speed Zone!.
The new television version of Once Upon a Mattress, directed and choreographed by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, is set to begin filming in Vancouver in September.
