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Up Next at The Cat

Once Upon A Mattress

Many moons ago in a far-off place, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples  could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses  came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could  pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the  “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, showed up. Would she be  able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince and help Lady Larken  and Sir Harry to the altar? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by  turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin  on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea provides some side-splitting shenanigans. For after all, a princess is a delicate thing.


This show is open to those 16+


Registration: July 25th- 10 am

Evaluations: August 16 and 17-  7pm-9pm

First Rehearsal: August 26th- 7 pm

Performances: November 6-22, 2026


Registration Opens July 25th

Donate TO The 2026 Season

Donate Here

Carmel Apprentice Theatre

The Carmel Apprentice Theatre draws together theatre veterans coming to play that role of a lifetime, with apprentices curious to perform for the first time in their life. Fearless artists and shy apprentices will perform alongside each other to create great theatre, great community and great fun.

Participate in a Production

You don’t have to audition to be cast in our shows! Just register and you can be a part of our show*. At Evaluations, you will have the chance to show us what you can do, and tell us what you would like to do in the show.


Rehearsals will generally be three or four days a week. Some set, prop, and costume work days will be scheduled as well (likely Saturdays).


*Previously, Carmel Apprentice Theatre was a tuition-based program. However, thanks to a generous grant from the Carmel Arts Council, the tuition fee to participate in our productions has been eliminated! Thank you for helping us give community members more access to our programs!

Check out our youth program

Meet The Director

Gena King

Gena King is an active, professional performer, director and educator in the Indianapolis area. She always endeavors to tell a personal narrative through character development and design. Leaving powerful impressions through honest performances and sincere conviction, Gena King is multifaceted. Her most recent work being with the Chicago Children’s Theatre. She is excited to bring her ideas to her home of Indianapolis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

When it comes to casting a show, we know that we may never satisfy everyone. After all, there can only be one Maria in The Sound of Music! 


We are committed to being fair when assigning roles. A common pitfall (and one that is very easy to fall into) for some community theatres is they can feature the same select group of returning performers repeatedly. As an accessible community theater, we are committed to featuring different participants from one show to the next. At times, that means featuring new participants in highlighted roles or featuring returning participants who simply haven’t been featured before. 


Any participant can be considered for any role in any show, regardless of their race, gender, age, ability/disability, experience, talent-level, etc. Rather than focusing on the size of your role, we encourage you to take whatever part you’re cast in and use it as a springboard for an unforgettable experience. After all, at the end of the program, you won’t be measuring your benefits in how many lines you had or how many solo, but rather by the fun you had and the experiences you shared with old and new friends!


Yes! Our program is designed to be flexible. Prior to Launch Day, participants will have the opportunity to list up to three rehearsal conflicts. 


Once rehearsals start, participants may miss up to two additional undisclosed rehearsals. After that, it is up to the discretion of the creative team whether or not a participant’s role must
be reassigned.


Part of our creative team’s responsibility is to make sure each and every participant is cast to maximize his or her potential to shine. Even if you’re a little rusty at first, give yourself a few weeks of rehearsal and you’ll fall right into the swing of things.


One thing that makes us unique is that you don’t have to audition to be cast in this show! All you have to do is register and show up. 


On Launch Day, our creative team will conduct a company assessment to determine what your strengths are. So if you love to dance, you might be cast in the dance ensemble. If singing is your strongest suit, you could be given a solo. Some performers will be more featured and others less so but the important thing is that everyone will have an equal amount of fun.


We’re allergic to actor’s egos too. The Carmel Apprentice Theatre is a space where you can escape the pressure and competition of everyday life. This is about fun, community, and creativity. Come play with us and recapture the joy and uninhibitedness of your youth.


No. While there is no audition required to get into our show, those seeking a principal role must sing, act, and dance for the creative team on Launch Day, after which our creative team will assign all of the parts. Those who are not interested in being featured are not required to be assessed.


Warm up your voice, stretch your legs...and if we’re doing a musical, listen to the soundtrack!


It means our predetermined cast size is full. However, we frequently expand after evaluations because we see all this wonderful talent and want to include everyone. So, come to evaluations! We try to find a spot for everyone, we just can't guarantee it once the waitlist starts.


Contact Us

If you are interested in more information about the next show, have any questions, or would like to be involved with The Carmel Apprentice Theatre, send us a message!

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The Cat
254 Veterans Way

Carmel, Indiana 46032


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