“Something Rotten!” is coming to The Ahmanson Theatre on November 21st through December 31st. Casting is set, so get ready for a completely original new musical 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, “Something Rotten may look odd, but according to critics, it sure doesn’t stink.
Welcome to the ‘90s—the 1590s—long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting, and reminders to turn off your cell phones. 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. Now, doesn’t that sound like a fresh enough concept?
“Something Rotten!” has been nominated for 10 Tony Awards, count em’ 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and comes with three principal cast members direct from Broadway: Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Adam Pascal as Shakespeare and Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom. The touring cast also features Maggie Lakis as Bea, Blake Hammond as Nostradamus, Autumn Hurlbert as Portia, Scott Cote as Brother Jeremiah and Jeff Brooks as Shylock.
Rounding out the ensemble are Lucy Anders, Kyle Nicholas Anderson, Kate Bailey, Daniel Beeman, Brandon Bieber, Mandie Black, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Ian Campayno, Pierce Cassedy, Drew Franklin, Cameron Hobbs, Ralph Meitzler, Patrick John Moran, Joel Newsome, Con O’Shea-Creal, Kaylin Seckel, Sarah Quinn Taylor, Tonya Thompson and Emily Trumble.
Let’s not forget, the award-winning design team of Broadway veterans with Scott Pask on scenery, Gregg Barnes on costume design, Jeff Croiter on lighting, and Peter Hylenski on sound. Hair design by Josh Marquette (hair design), Phil Reno (music direction / conductor), Glen Kelly (arrangements), Larry Hochman (orchestrations), Steve Bebout (associate director), and casting by Telsey + Company/Bethany Knox, CSA.
From the director of “Aladdin” and co-director of “The Book of Mormon” and the producer of “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “In the Heights,” this hilarious new musical comedy tells the story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two playwrights stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar Will Shakespeare. When a soothsayer foretells the next big thing in theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the Bottom brothers set out to write the world’s very first musical. With the most singing, the most dancing and the most gut-busting laughs on Broadway, it’s something wonderful… something for everyone… It’s “Something Rotten!,” “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years” (Time Out New York.)
For more info visit www.centertheatregroup.org
