After one of the biggest opening nights in recent Park theater history, actors and directors spent the week fine-tuning the show in preparation for its final weekend.

Jodi Hatzenbeller, adviser to the group and director to the show, said the energy of the large opening night crowd helped start the show on a positive note.

“The cast had great energy,” Hatzenbeller said. “The music and technical elements were really strong (as well).”

Still, Hatzenbeller said while the cast can take time to enjoy the first round of performances, it must work during the week to continue to add to the show.

“Part of the challenge for us is to add nuance and switch things up to keep our performances interesting,” Hatzenbeller said.

From the first song of the production, viewers experienced the incorporation of young talent in addition to theater veterans. Sophomore Connor Williams, who starred in “Once Upon a Mattress” in only his second show, said this mixture provided for a beneficial dynamic within the group.

“It was nice to have the veterans there to help me and the other actors,” he said.

While the group is focused on the upcoming performances, Williams said it was reassuring to see the improvement they made between preview performances and opening night.

“We really cleaned up our transitions, and got our energy up in act two where we were struggling,” he said.

The final shows will take place Nov. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. with the matinée finale Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for adults.

Hatzenbeller encouraged everyone who has not seen the show to not only catch a performance, but also support the cast through engaging with the music and laughs.

“We’re really looking for a responsive audience,” Hatzenbeller said. “We’d much rather have a small, engaging crowd than a larger one that just sits there.”