Something Rotten!

June 13-28, 2025
Week 1: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 2: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 3: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell
Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick

What's it about?

The musical Something Rotten! is a comedic musical that tells the story of the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who are playwrights living in Elizabethan England. The plot is set in 1595, when the Bottom brothers are struggling to compete with the wild success of their contemporary, William Shakespeare. Desperate to write a hit play, Nick consults a soothsayer who foretells that the future of theater will be "a musical." This leads the brothers on a hilarious journey as they attempt to create the world's first musical.

What's to love about Something Rotten!?

Something Rotten! is a parody that lovingly pokes fun at Shakespeare, Broadway musicals, and theater history. It features an energetic score with show tunes that pay homage to classic Broadway while incorporating anachronistic modern references and humor.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 2015 and was nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It's known for its clever, laugh-out-loud comedy, over-the-top production numbers, and celebration of the theatrical arts. Something Rotten! offers audiences a thoroughly entertaining story about the birth of an entirely new art form.

Content Advisory

Narrative Complexity: Ages 13+

Some key details about the appropriate age range for Something Rotten!:

The humor and satirical take on Renaissance-era England and the theater world is likely to be most appreciated by high school students, college-aged viewers, and adults.
Most acceptable for mature pre-teens and teenagers with parental guidance.
The sophisticated wordplay, musical theater references, and adult-oriented jokes are aimed at a more mature audience compared to a family-friendly musical.

A lot or a little?

A guide to help you decide if this show is right for your family.

Positive Message: ★★★

Celebrating uniqueness and originality: The story revolves around the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to emerge from the shadow of the wildly successful playwright William Shakespeare. The show encourages embracing one's own creative voice rather than trying to imitate others.
The importance of following your passions: Nick and Nigel face pressure to give up on their theatrical ambitions, but the story champions their determination to pursue their dreams and create something new.
Challenging societal expectations: The musical pokes fun at the rigid social structures and artistic conventions of the Renaissance era. This satirical lens promotes thinking outside the box and not being constrained by traditional norms.
The transformative power of the arts: At its core, Something Rotten! is a love letter to the performing arts and the ability of music, comedy, and storytelling to bring people together and inspire them.

Diverse Representation: ☆☆☆

The show features a predominantly white principal cast, reflecting the Renaissance-era English setting.

Sex and Romance: ★☆☆

The show features a central romantic subplot between the two main characters, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, and their respective wives, Bea and Portia.
There are some suggestive jokes, innuendos, and flirtatious moments between the couples, but nothing overtly sexual or graphic.
One of the musical numbers, "I Love the Way", is a romantic duet between Nick and Bea that explores their marital relationship in a lighthearted way.

Violence and Scariness: ★☆☆

There are no major violent scenes or acts of physical violence depicted in the show.
Some mild, comedic stage combat and exaggerated physical humor is depicted.
The tone is lighthearted and farcical, rather than dark or violent.

Adult Language: ★★☆

There are occasional uses of mild profanity, such as "hell", "damn", or "ass", but the language is not excessive or pervasive.
Any sexual innuendos or risqué jokes tend to be suggestive rather than overtly vulgar or crude.
The humor leans more towards witty, Shakespearean-style wordplay than relying on shock value or strong language for laughs.

Drinking, Drugs, Smoking: ★☆☆

There are brief background references to drinking wine or ale, in keeping with the Renaissance-era English setting. However, there are no scenes of characters getting visibly intoxicated or drinking to excess.

★★★ = There's a lot of this.
★★☆ = There's some of this.
★☆☆= There's a bit of this.
☆☆☆ = Don't expect this.