Something Rotten

TICKETS $30 – Thursdays $20

Roth/Resler Theater | 1125 College Ave. Columbus, OH 43209

SAT 3/18 @ 8:00p SUN 3/26 @ 2:00p
SUN 3/19 @ 2:00p THU 3/30 @ 7:00p
THU 3/23 @ 7:00p SAT 4/1 @ 8:00p
SAT 3/25 @ 8:00p SUN 4/2 @ 2:00p

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Directed by Brandon Boring | Musical by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick

Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten. Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years”.

Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

Book By Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell

Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick

Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director – Brandon Boring
Music Director – Allan Finkelstein
Production Manager – Michael Solomon
Stage Manager – Liz Wood
Choreographer – Tonya Kraner
Set Design – Brendan Michna
Set Construction – Michael Bynes
Set Painter – Kat Wexler
Lighting Designer – Kurt Mueller
Wigs – DC Simpson
ASM – Terayai Robinson
Props coordinator – Matthew Phillips
Stage Hand – Ken Keisel
Stage Hand/Dresser – Abby Orwig
Backstage Sound – Newt Harvey
Sound Board Ops – Shannon Daly

ORCHESTRA

Piano – Jeff Hamm
Bass – Tony Ludovico
Guitar – Dan Laney
Violin – Rosemary Cipriani
Reed – Joy Norris
Percussion – Mendell Hibbard
2nd Piano – Chris Slagle
Trumpet – Julie Vish
Trombone – Craig Hamm

Musical Numbers

Act I

“Welcome to the Renaissance” – Minstrel and Company
“God, I Hate Shakespeare” – Nick, Nigel and The Troupe
“Right Hand Man” – Bea, Nick, Nigel
“God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)” – Nick
“A Musical” – Nostradamus, Nick and Ensemble
“The Black Death” – Nick, Nigel and The Troupe
“I Love the Way” – Portia and Nigel
“Will Power” – Shakespeare and Ensemble
“Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top” – Nick and Company

Act II

“Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)” – Minstrel
“Hard to Be the Bard” – Shakespeare and Ensemble
“It’s Eggs!” – Nick and The Troupe
“We See the Light” – Portia, Nigel, Brother Jeremiah, Nick, Ensemble
“Nigel’s Theme” – Nigel
“To Thine Own Self” – Nigel, Nick, Shakespeare and The Troupe
“Right Hand Man (Reprise)” – Bea
“Something Rotten!” – The Troupe
“Make an Omelette” – Nick and Company
“To Thine Own Self (Reprise)” – Nick and Nigel
“Finale” – The Company

Directors Note

In March of 2016, I had the good fortune to see the original Broadway production of Something Rotten. I was immediately taken with the show, but was surprised I was not able to put into words what I liked so much about it. Time and again when people would ask me what was great about it, I would end up simply saying “It’s a musical!” Beyond the reference to the show itself, it was all I could really say. The show is just classical musical theatre comedy. I love the era of modern musicals and have seen many shows that made me examine life and the way I think about myself and the world. But sometimes you just want to sit in a theater and laugh! A show where you cheer for the heroes, root for the lovers, and leave with a song stuck in your head. And that’s what I think you get with Something Rotten.

The scope and scale of this show is the largest I have ever taken on as a director, and at times it was very daunting. Fortunately at every step of the way, this phenomenal cast and crew were there for me. The design and execution of our set was right out of my tudor dreams. The multiple six plus minute dance numbers are brimming with creativity and energy. The lights add the extra sparkle to the emotional beats of the show. And most importantly the work this cast is doing is beyond what I could have even hoped for. The life and joy they pour into every moment. Months of focus and effort to get the show to where it is today. They also brought out the heart in this show. This cast has found moments of emotional honesty that are so easily overlooked in comedies like this. The relationships they have built are beautiful and it has been an honor to watch them work.

Thank you for joining us on this trip back to the Renaissance. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I have. That you leave today with joy in your heart, a laugh on your lips, and a song in your head. If you do, please spread the word. And if someone asks you what is so special about the show, simply tell them “It’s a musical!”

-Brandon Boring

Director, Something Rotten