Justin Guarini Returns to Broadway in Once Upon a One More Time

American Idol season 1 alum Justin Guarini will return to Broadway this spring in the new musical Once Upon a One More Time. Guarini joins co-stars Briga Heelan and Aisha Jackson in a production built around the pop catalog of Britney Spears. The show blends classic fairy-tale characters with contemporary pop music, creating a fresh and playful theatrical experience that will open at the Marquis Theatre.

Guarini and his fellow cast members will reprise their roles as Prince Charming, Cinderella, and Snow White in what Entertainment Weekly described as the “ultimate revisionist history.” The company first developed the piece with a run at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., from November 2021 to January 2022. That earlier engagement allowed the creative team and cast to refine the material before bringing the production to Broadway. Previews at the Marquis Theatre begin May 13, with an official opening night set for June 22.

Written by Jon Hartmere and directed and choreographed by the duo Keone and Mari Madrid, Once Upon a One More Time imagines what happens when beloved storybook heroines discover a provocative new selection in their book club: Betty Friedan’s landmark feminist book, The Feminine Mystique. The premise sets up comedic and thought-provoking encounters between familiar characters—from Cinderella and Snow White to the Little Mermaid—and modern ideas about identity, agency, and sisterhood.

The musical’s soundtrack features some of Britney Spears’ most recognizable hits, including “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops… I Did It Again,” “Lucky,” “Circus,” “Toxic,” and “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Those songs are woven into the storytelling, reimagined to suit the show’s narrative while keeping the energy and hook-driven pop that made them global hits.

Once Upon a One More Time marks a notable Broadway return for Justin Guarini, whose stage credits include appearances in American Idiot, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and the major touring and Broadway production of Wicked. Beyond theater, Guarini has maintained a presence in television, voice work, and commercial performance: he recently appeared as the character “Lil’ Sweet” in a series of commercials for Dr. Pepper and provides the voice for Cat Burglar in Disney Junior’s animated series SuperKitties.

On social media, Guarini celebrated the news with a playful message: “We Bibbity Bobbity Did It! Huge thanks to everyone involved with this project and for making the magic finally happen on Broadway! Can’t wait for you all to meet ‘Prince Charming!’” His post underscores the cast and creative team’s enthusiasm for bringing the show to a wider audience on Broadway.

For theatergoers and fans of pop-driven musicals, Once Upon a One More Time promises a combination of catchy, familiar songs and a contemporary twist on fairy tales. The production aims to balance broad musical appeal with topical themes, using Britney Spears’ catalog to explore characters’ journeys in a comedic and sometimes surprising light. With experienced writers, directors, and a cast that has already developed chemistry in an earlier regional run, the Broadway staging will be the company’s chance to present the show on one of the world’s most visible theatrical stages.

As previews begin in May and opening night approaches in June, audiences can expect a lively, music-forward production that reinterprets classic stories for today’s theatergoing public. Justin Guarini’s return to Broadway and the use of mainstream pop hits make this musical a noteworthy addition to the season’s lineup, blending celebrity-driven material with storytelling that invites conversation about identity, friendship, and cultural change.