While gathered together at a reading group for fairy-tale princesses, Cinderella makes a desperate wish for a story beyond Grimms' Fairy Tales.

The book emboldens the likes of Snow White, the Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and the Princess and the Pea to gain a new perspective on themselves, as they realize waiting around to be rescued or kissed by a prince isn't the only road to "happily ever after".

Left alone in the palace between scenes, Cinderella invites Prince Charming to scroll club, a reading group for the princesses to discuss each other's fairytales.

Though the other princesses find Little Mermaid's story romantic, Cinderella questions if she should give up her voice and live--all that she has--to save her prince and if that is really happy ever after.

reveals that she has escaped Story's End to Flatbush with Betty Friedan's ideas and encourages Cinderella to read the book but keep it hidden.

Snow White volunteers to go help get the book back, even though it is dangerous to enter another princess's story, and the two sings a song celebrating their friendship ("Brightest Morning Star").

enters with copies of The Feminine Mystique for everyone, and as they read, they become empowered and ready to Flatbush, a place beyond Story's End that they associate with women's freedom ("Scream & Shout" / "I Wanna Go").

The Stepmother attempts to indirectly suggest to the Narrator to replace Cinderella with one of her daughters, but he decides to try to remain as true to the fairytale and call Prince Charming.

Back at the palace, the Narrator offers Cinderella an ultimatum: marry Prince Charming or be banished to Story's End.

[13] Prior to the cancelation of the Chicago engagement, producers announced casting Briga Heelan as Cinderella and Justin Guarini as Prince Charming,[14] with direction and choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid, the acclaimed husband-wife duo whose choreography work includes Disney's Us Again, Beyond Babel, and music videos & appearances for Justin Bieber, BTS, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Flying Lotus, and Kendrick Lamar.

[15] In an interview on the podcast Turning Cole Into Diamonds, actor Kevin Trinio Perdido (Prince Mischievous) confirmed that the production remained slated for a Broadway debut in 2022, even without Chicago previews.

[16] When theater operations resumed following the Covid-19 pandemic, the show announced a new world premiere run, at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., from November 30, 2021 to January 3, 2022 at Sidney Harman Hall.

Once Upon a One More Time seems a most unlikely cultural mash-up, reframing Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and a bevy of other storybook characters in an enlightened, modern context.

Filling out their story is a narrative inspired by Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking The Feminine Mystique, Spears’s songbook, the choreography of a pair of hip-hop-savvy directors — and American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini as Prince Charming.

"[2] In a 2021 interview, star Briga Heelan spoke about "how the show explores the content of the stories we pass on, and the effect they have on the aspirations of the listeners.

Our show speaks to the legacy and the history of these princess stories.” Justin Guarini added, "People are going to come expecting a jukebox musical light, and they’re going to be very pleasantly surprised when they recognize that this is an emotional journey, a beautiful story of discovery and redemption.

And they take on a whole new life.”[2] Reviews of the Washington, D.C. production praised the cast's exuberant performances, as well as the musical's clever and timely script.

[18] BroadwayWorld wrote "the show's high-energy numbers are so full of sharp choreography and powerful vocal performances, you'll want to keep dancing and singing, even after these numbers are over.”[19]The Washington Post lauded Briga Heelan's "winning caliber of poise in her portrayal of Cinderella… and the cast, nearly two dozen strong, meets the material with the zest demanded of them,” but also expressed concern that the production is "vibrating on hyperdrive" and "packs in too many songs.

"[20] Some critics debated the show's aim to appeal to multiple generations - DC Metro Theater Arts critic John Stoltenberg wrote, “Once Upon a One More Time wakes up centuries of bedtime stories, and I predict it will be an intergenerational smash.” [21] Maya Phillips of The New York Times wrote "The audience cheered at the clever pairings of songs with plot points, like an unfaithful prince singing “Oops!

Briga Heelan, Justin Guarini, Aisha Jackson, and Lauren Zakrin all reprised their respective roles as Cinderella, Prince Charming, Snow White, and The Little Mermaid.

Tony nominees Jennifer Simard and Adam Godley replaced Emily Skinner and Michael McGrath as the Stepmother and the Narrator.

Britney Spears expressed her love and approval of the show, and it had been made public that the licensing for using her music was reached after her conservatorship.

[24] The Broadway production received mixed reviews, lauding the design elements, choreography and acting, but criticizing the weak plot and dated book.