SOMETHING ROTTEN! Returns to Stratford Festival Stage

Stratford Festival will revive SOMETHING ROTTEN! for its 2026 season following the musical’s popular 2024 run. Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, the production stars Starr Domingue, Henry Firmston, Jeff Lillico, and Mark Uhre. Performances begin May 29 at the Festival Theatre.

Following its 2024 engagement at the Stratford Festival, SOMETHING ROTTEN! will return to the Festival Theatre for the company’s 2026 season.

Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, the musical comedy stars Starr Domingue as Bea Bottom, Henry Firmston as Nigel Bottom, Jeff Lillico as William Shakespeare, and Mark Uhre as Nick Bottom.

Featuring music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, SOMETHING ROTTEN! follows playwright brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they attempt to compete with the popularity of William Shakespeare in Renaissance London. Their pursuit of theatrical success takes a turn after consulting an eccentric soothsayer who predicts the future of musical theatre.

The production also stars Dan Chameroy as Nostradamus, Juan Chioran as Brother Jeremiah, Steve Ross as Shylock, and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Portia.

Additional cast members include Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Michelle Bardach, Alex Batycki, Carla Bennett, Devon Michael Brown, Wade Pierre Buller, Jeremy Carver-James as Minstrel, Jarret Cody, Nehassaui deGannes as Lady Clapham, Christine Desjardins, Josh Doig, Jordan Goodridge, Alexandra Gratton, Bonnie Jordan, Alex Kelly, Amanda Lundgren, Gracie Mack, Anthony MacPherson, Jordan Mah, Jamie Murray, Stephen Patterson, Ali Powell, Brian Ross, and Jason Sermonia.

“Every time I stage a show on Stratford's thrust stage, I re-imagine the entire production,” Feore said in a statement. “This leads to new discoveries, ensuring that even if you've seen Something Rotten! before – even here – you've never seen it like this.”

Laura Burton returns as music director for her 47th season at the Stratford Festival. The creative team also includes set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, lighting designer Bonnie Beecher, sound designer Haley Parcher, and fight and intimacy director Anita Nittoly.

Additional artistic staff includes associate director Monique Lund, associate choreographer Anthony MacPherson, assistant director and choreographer Bethany Kovarik, associate Costume Designer Rebecca Chaikin, assistant lighting designers Mathilda Kane and Sruthi Suresan, assistant sound designer Adam Campbell, associate conductors James Smith and Darryn de Souza, and associate fight director David Chinchilla.

The stage management team is led by Cynthia Toushan, joined by assistant stage managers Maria Fewer-Muncic, Tiffany Fraser, and Caitlin Mears, with Krista Blackwood serving as production stage manager and Katherine Hunter as production assistant. Robbin Cheesman serves as technical director.

SOMETHING ROTTEN!

SOMETHING ROTTEN! officially opens May 29 and runs through October 31, 2026 at the Festival Theatre. Tickets are available through Stratford Festival or by calling 1-800-567-1600.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Direction of a Play - Top 3

1. Duncan MacMillan, Jeremy Herrin - Every Brilliant Thing

19.3% of votes

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3. Whitney White - Liberation

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