On Thursday, January 15, actor and director Jeffrey M. Bender led the cast of Once Upon a Mattress in a physical comedy workshop. Mr. Bender's expertise in physical storytelling was shared through various exercises that highlighted the differences between comedy and physical comedy. Students moved around the room with varying energy levels to create original characters and encountered imaginary objects that randomly changed size or became more difficult to work with for no reason. The workshop ended with a round of "Artillery," an exercise in which two actors tried to "outdo" the other with movement and energy. Needless to say, it was a hilarious afternoon, and fun was had by all. Theatre at Pennington's production of Once Upon a Mattress opens February 25, 2026.