Something Rotten! 2015

Run Time:
Two hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission
Ages: 12+
Opened: April 22, 2015
Closing: January 08, 2017

Something Rotten! - 2015 - Broadway History , Info & More

St. James Theatre (Broadway)
246 West 44th St. New York, NY

The time is Renaissance England, where two brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottom, are desperate to write a hit play. But how can they when the competition is the biggest star of the era, everyone's favorite bard: William Shakespeare? So they seek out the soothsayer Nostradamus. But not the Nostradamus, his nephew Thomas, who gives our heroes a completely original idea from the future - write a play with songs. And thus, the first ever musical is born. But not without much mayhem, madness, and musical mishaps. There is indeed Something Rotten! - and it will have audiences rolling in the aisles.

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PREVIEW Something Rotten! - 2015 - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Something Rotten!

Theater Review: Something Rotten! Feels Fresh
8 / 10

Anything you've ever liked in a musical comedy (and a few things you haven't) are here, just waiting to sing-and-dance you into submission...It's total silliness, of course; Nicholaw keeps the lights bright, the sound loud, and the plot moving at a furious boil...As light as the material may be, it's no easy achievement, and quite a surprise coming from a group of writers with no experience on Broadway...For every freshman infelicity...there are a dozen smart lyrical jokes, nicely set on tunes that do only as much as they need to in order to keep the momentum going...a more fundamental problem -- the only one, really -- is too deeply entwined in what makes the show work to have ever unwound it. I refer to its relentlessness, the will to conquer at any cost, like Mel Brooks on steroids.

'Something Rotten' theater review
8 / 10

You could describe 'Something Rotten!' as 'Shakespeare in Love' meets 'Spamalot'...With all its showmanship and silliness, 'Something Rotten!' begins on an extremely promising note, sustains it throughout act one, and then falters in act two, where attempts are made to resolve the haywire plot...Even so, 'Something Rotten!' is a great deal of cartoonish fun, especially for musical theater fans who can appreciate the inside references...Its cheery songs are enjoyable and hummable...The cast is comprised of musical theater veterans who deliver larger-than-life performances. Borle is especially hilarious, portraying Shakespeare like a narcissistic rock star, and James gives a sympathetic turn in the leading role.

STAGE TUBE: Celebrate the Final Broadway Curtain Call of SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by BWW News Desk - January 2, 2017

There's also nothing as amazing as capturing the final Broadway curtain call of a beloved show for the whole world to see. 

STAGE TUBE: SOMETHING ROTTEN Releases Teaser Video for Renaissance Cover of What You Own from RENT
by Ashlee Latimer - December 31, 2016

Turns out, whether you're living in America at the end of the millennium, or at the end of the Renaissance, it's all about the material goods, and Shylock Productions has released a new music video to remind us all. Accompanied by traditional Renaissance instruments, such as the lute and the recorder, Adam Pascal, Josh Grisetti, and Rob McClure (who currently star in the musical as Shakespeare and the Bottom brothers) give the popular RENT anthem, What You Own an old-new twist. 

BWW Preview: SOMETHING ROTTEN! a Premier Broadway Show Coming to Pittsburgh
by Dylan Shaffer - December 27, 2016

The Renaissance is vibrant, new, and alive in Something Rotten!, a fantastic and 'very new' musical redolent of the great works of theatre past. The show will have you laughing, crying, and quite possibly giving a standing ovation - in the middle of an act.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: Flashback to SOMETHING ROTTEN'S Broadway Run!
by Nora Dominick - January 1, 2017

Before we bid farewell to Something Rotten! BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of our favorite videos from its magical and hilarious run. Check them out below!

Exclusive Photo Coverage: SOMETHING ROTTEN Gets Help from a Friend for Carols For A Cure
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - December 11, 2016

The holiday season is not complete without the perfect music to accompany it. 'Broadway's Carols for a Cure' is the latest compilation album that embodies the spirit of the season like nothing else can. A project born completely out of love, 'Broadway's Carols for a Cure' pairs the casts from famous Broadway musicals with songs that are both classic and new. The result is pure gold that will make you reach for the 'repeat' button over and over again.

Rob McClure, Adam Pascal and Josh Grisetti Will Tour the Country with SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by Nicole Rosky - November 17, 2016

Producer Kevin McCollum  just announced casting for the National Tour of Something Rotten!, the ten-time Tony-Award nominated smash hit musical comedy. Three of the current Broadway principals will be reprising their roles on tour: Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Adam Pascal as Shakespeare and Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom.

New Bard on Board- Adam Pascal Joins SOMETHING ROTTEN! Tonight
by Nicole Rosky - November 7, 2016

Ten-time Tony Award-nominated smash hit musical comedy Something Rotten! will welcome Tony Award nominee and original Broadway rock star Adam Pascal (Rent, Aida) as 'William Shakespeare' beginning tonight, November 7, through Something Rotten!'s final Broadway performance on January 1, 2017.

STAGE TUBE: Rockin' Through the Renaissance with New SOMETHING ROTTEN Star, Adam Pascal!
by Nicole Rosky - October 15, 2016

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, ten-time Tony Award-nominated smash hit musical comedy Something Rotten! will welcome Tony Award nominee and original Broadway rock star Adam Pascal (Rent, Aida) as 'William Shakespeare' beginning Monday, November 7, through Something Rotten!'s final Broadway performance on January 1, 2017.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! Has Found Its New Bard- Adam Pascal Will Join Cast as Shakespeare
by Nicole Rosky - October 11, 2016

Ten-time Tony Award-nominated smash hit musical comedy Something Rotten! will welcome Tony Award nominee and original Broadway rock star Adam Pascal (Rent, Aida) as 'William Shakespeare' beginning Monday, November 7, through Something Rotten!'s final Broadway performance on January 1, 2017.

Eric Sciotto Will Step in as Shakespeare in SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by Nicole Rosky - October 4, 2016

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s current cod-piece clad Shakespeare -- Will Chase -- will depart the show on October 9, and will be replaced temporarily by understudy Eric Sciotto. Sciotto will assume the role through October 23. A permanent replacement has not yet been announced.

Exclusive Podcast: 'Behind the Curtain' Welcomes Tony-Nominated Funnyman Brad Oscar
by Behind the Curtain - October 3, 2016

One of Broadway's greatest clowns, two time Tony nominee Brad Oscar, swings by Shetler to kibbitz with Rob & Kevin about his amazing career on Broadway.

BWW Interview: Josh Grisetti, the SOMETHING ROTTEN Star Encounters the Deity
by Joseph F. Panarello - September 27, 2016

The SOMETHING ROTTEN star discusses his show as well as his visit with the Supreme Being

Will Chase Will Wave Good Morrow to the Bard This Fall in SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by BWW News Desk - September 16, 2016

Following the solemn news of SOMETHING ROTTEN's closing last night, the Broadway musical's current cod-piece clad Shakespeare -- Will Chase -- took to Twitter today to announce his own departure date. No word yet on his replacement.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: SOMETHING ROTTEN! To Play Final Broadway Performance January 1st, National Tour to Follow
by A.A. Cristi - September 15, 2016

The 10-time Tony Award nominated hit musical comedy Something Rotten!, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe Award and Tony Award nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Tony Award nominees Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O'Farrell will conclude its critically acclaimed engagement on Broadway on January 1, 2017 following 742 performances.

VIDEO: A Backstage Visit With SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Brad Oscar
by Michael Dale - August 25, 2016

After making his initial Broadway appearances in ASPECTS OF LOVE and JEKYLL & HYDE, Brad Oscar's breakthrough Tony-nominated performance as demanding playwright Franz Liebkind in THE PRODUCERS helped make him one of musical theatre's most sought-after funnymen.

BWW TV: Will Power Takes Over Bryant Park with the Help of SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by Nicole Rosky - August 11, 2016

This week's final installment included a performance by the Broadway cast of Something Rotten!, including: Catherine Brunell, Will Chase, Josh Grisetti, Leslie Kritzer,Rob McClure, Andre Ward, Matt Allen, Max Clayton, Eric Giancola, David Hibbard, Jenny Hill,Leah Hofmann, Aaron Kaburick, Tari Kelly, Beth Johnson Nicely, Brian Olgilvie, Aleks Pevec,Eric Sciotto, and Marisha Wallace. Watch highlights below, as they perform 'God, I Hate Shakespeare,' 'Right Hand Man,' 'I Love the Way,' and 'Will Power.'

SOMETHING ROTTEN's Will Chase Shows Off His Elizabethan Resume
by Michael Dale - August 9, 2016

Though Will Chase is currently making 'em swoon as the rock star bard, his mug is put to good use in a clever Elizabethan resume.

VIDEO: SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Rob McClure Sings a Sweet, Jazzy Arrangement of Rodgers & Hart's 'Manhattan' at Feinstein's/54 Below
by Michael Dale - August 8, 2016

Earlier the summer, the SOMETHING ROTTEN! star made his New York solo concert debut.

VIDEO: A Backstage Visit and Q&A With SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Josh Grisetti
by Michael Dale - August 3, 2016

The new SOMETHING ROTTEN! star talks about making the role his own, his "Game of Thrones" fandom and seeing the first West End preview of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.

Photo Flash: Will Power! First Look at Will Chase, Rob McClure and More in Broadway's SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by BWW News Desk - July 28, 2016

Something Rotten!, the ten-time Tony Award-nominated smash hit musical comedy, recently welcomed four new cast members to Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Joining Rob McClure (Nick Bottom), who boarded the cast last month, are Will Chase (Shakespeare), Catherine Brunell (Portia), Josh Grisetti (Nigel Bottom) and Leslie Kritzer (Bea). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the new company in action below!

VIDEO: Something Fresh at SOMETHING ROTTEN! New Cast Members Take Their First Bows
by Michael Dale - July 19, 2016

The hit musical comedy welcomes four new cast members who took their first bows Monday night.

Welcome to the Renaissance! Meet the New Company of SOMETHING ROTTEN!
by Nicole Rosky - July 19, 2016

Everything is changing at the St. James Theatre! As BroadwayWorld previously announced, the smash hit musical comedy Something Rotten! has recently welcomed a slew of new principal cast members for its second year on Broadway.  The production now stars  Will Chase (Shakespeare), Catherine Brunell (Portia), Josh Grisetti (Nigel Bottom) and Leslie Kritzer (Bea), who were welcomed to the Renaissance yesterday July 18, and Rob McClure (Nick Bottom), who joined the cast just last month. Get to know the new cast below!

Catch SOMETHING ROTTEN's Will Chase in Premiere Performance of 'Will Power'
by Rebecca Russo - July 18, 2016

There's a new Shakespeare in town, as Will Chase took over the role of Something Rotten!'s rock star bard tonight. Check out a clip of Will rocking out to 'Will Power' below:

TWITTER WATCH: SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Christian Borle and Will Chase's Changing Of The Bard
by Michael Dale - July 18, 2016

Christian Borle hands the rock star collar to the new Shakespeare in town, Will Chase.

Something Rotten! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Welcome to the Renaissance
God, I Hate Shakespeare
Right Hand Man
God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)
A Musical
The Black Death
I Love the Way
Will Power
Bottom's Gonna Be On Top
Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)
Hard To Be The Bard
It's Eggs!
We See The Light
To Thine Own Self
Right Hand Man (Reprise)
Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette
To Thine Own Self (Reprise)
Finale
Something Rotten! has had 2 productions including Broadway which opened in 2015 and US Tour which opened in 2017.
Something Rotten! has been nominated for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, Best Choreography for Casey Nicholaw, Best Costume Design of a Musical for Gregg Barnes, Best Direction of a Musical for Casey Nicholaw, Best Orchestrations for Larry Hochman, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Karey Kirkpatrick.
Something Rotten! has been nominated for several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for Casey Nicholaw, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Casey Nicholaw, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Outstanding Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Orchestrations (Drama Desk Awards) for Larry Hochman, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Brian d'Arcy James and Christian Borle, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical (Drama League Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Choreography (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Casey Nicholaw, Outstanding Costume Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Gregg Barnes, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Casey Nicholaw, Outstanding Lighting Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jeff Croiter, Outstanding New Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Something Rotten!, and Outstanding Set Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Scott Pask.
Welcome to the Renaissance
God, I Hate Shakespeare
Right Hand Man
God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)
A Musical
The Black Death
I Love the Way
Will Power
Bottom's Gonna Be On Top
Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)
Hard To Be The Bard
It's Eggs!
We See The Light
To Thine Own Self
Right Hand Man (Reprise)
Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette
To Thine Own Self (Reprise)
Finale

Videos