Title | Something Rotten! |
Book by | Karey Kirkpatrick & John O'Farrell |
| Music & Lyrics by | Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick |
Director | Jonathan Hadley |
| Music Director | Mark Bruckner |
| Choreographer | Sabrina Duke |
| Stage Manager | Hallie Patterson |
Category | Mainstage, Mabie Theatre |
1st Rehearsal | January 18 (Music Rehearsals) & January 23 (Staging Rehearsals) |
Tech/Dress | February 24-March 2 |
| Performances | March 3-5 & 9-11 |
Roles to be Cast | Age (Presentation) | Gender (Presentation) | Description |
| Nick Bottom | 15+ | Male | The main protagonist of the show. A struggling renaissance writer at the end of his rope. Nigel’s older brother. Incredibly jealous of the success of William Shakespeare and will do anything to beat him. He is responsible for creating the first musical, Omelette, after guidance from the misguided Nostradamus. Seeking a comedic actor who sings - tap dance skill a plus. |
| Nigel Bottom | 15+ | Male | Nick’s younger brother. A sweetly naïve young writer and poet, perhaps a little awkward. He's not very confident, as shown when he doesn't think his work is very good despite the outstanding quality of his writing. He is very gullible and can easily be manipulated. He falls in love with Portia and ultimately finds confidence in himself through art and love. Seeking a comedic actor who sings very well. |
| Bea Bottom | 15+ | Female | Nick’s wife and “Right Hand Man”. She loves and supports him despite his questionable decision making and lack of success. Bea resorts to dressing up like a male to make ends meet for her growing family. She is a strong leader and a powerful woman who is quite persuasive when she wants to be. She ultimately saves the day. Comedic acting a plus. |
| Nostradamas | 15+ | Gender Fluid | A soothsayer who “almost” sees the future correctly. A bit loony. This character predicts that Nick and Nigel will write a musical. Seeking a comedic performer who sings and moves very well. |
| Shakespeare | 15+ | Male and gender fluid | A renaissance rock star. Classic Mick Jagger type performer. William Shakespeare is both the real life author of many plays and rival to Nick Bottom. Shakespeare, also referred to as “The Bard” throughout the show, gets all of the praise and attention from his adoring fans leaving writers like Nick and Nigel in his shadow. Shakespeare is portrayed as a rock star, and all of his sonnets are performed as rock songs during the song Will Power. Seeking a comedic actor with a pop/rock voice style, tap dance skills a plus. (rock tenor) |
| Portia | 15+ | Female | A quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street. Portia is the only daughter of Brother Jeremiah and the love interest to Nigel Bottom. They fall madly in love with each other over their mutual love for Shakespeare and poetry. Portia and Nigel set out to convince Jeremiah and the other puritans that they should be together rather than following the "star-crossed lovers" idea. Comedic actress who sings well. |
| Brother Jeremiah | 15+ | Male | The Puritan father of Portia and secondary antagonist in Something Rotten!. He is very strict and refuses to let her daughter engage in "fulfilling her lustful desires". He shows nothing but disrespect towards everyone, but especially playwrights like Nick and Nigel. A deeply repressed Puritan. He despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly. Seeking a comedic actor who sings. |
| Lord/Lady Clapham | 15+ | Gender Fluid | Lord/Lady Clapham is a flamboyant theatre producer. Comic speaking role. This character may also play Master of the Justice as well as other singing/dancing roles throughout the show. |
| Shylock | 14+ | Gender Fluid | Jewish landlord/tax collector who loves theater more than anything. It was illegal at that time to hire someone who was Jewish, so when Nick is forced to hire Shylock, he has to watch out or he could be hanged. An investor to whom Nick and Nigel are in debt. Comic character |
| The Minstrel | 15+ | Gender Fluid | The Minstrel is a narrator of sorts for the show with the main purpose of introducing the cast and welcoming the audience to the Renaissance time. This performer opens the first act and the 2nd act. The performer playing the Minstrel will also play other roles in the show. |
| Robin | 13+ | Male | Member of Bottom’s theatrical troupe who always plays the female characters (must present as a male). |
| Peter Quince | 13+ | Although these particular characters will present as male, they can be played by either male or female performers | These characters are individual members and characters in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe. |
| Snug | 13+ | Although these particular characters will present as male, they can be played by either male or female performers | These characters are individual members and characters in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe. |
| Tom Snout | 13+ | Although these particular characters will present as male, they can be played by either male or female performers | These characters are individual members and characters in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe. |
| Francis Flute | 13+ | Although these particular characters will present as male, they can be played by either male or female performers | These characters are individual members and characters in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe. |
| Master of Justice | 13+ | Genderfluid | Ensemble |
| Astrologer | 13+ | Genderfluid | Ensemble |
| Psychic Woman | 13+ | Female | Ensemble |
| Haggard Woman | 13+ | Female | Ensemble |
| Eye Patch Man | 13+ | Gender Fluid | Ensemble |
| Foreman | 13+ | Male | Ensemble |
| Messenger | 13+ | Gender Fluid | Ensemble |
| Shakespeare's Valet | 13+ | Genderfluid | Ensemble |
| Bard Backup Ensemble | 13+ | Gender Fluid | Ensemble |
| Miranda and Helen | 13+ | Female | Ensemble |
| 3 Chefs | 13+ | Gender Fluid | Ensemble |
| Sad Little Egg | 13+ | Genderfluid | Ensemble |
| Court Clerk | 13+ | Genderfluid | Ensemble |
| Synopsis | 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" (William Shakespeare). 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. Something Rotten features large song and dance numbers, and an eccentric cast of over-the-top characters, each given his or her own special moment in the show to shine. |
| Notices | Gender Fluid Casting |
| Important Dates/Holidays | 1/22 Seol-nal. 1/22 Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit), 1/22 Tet Nguyen Dan, 2/5 Thaipusam, 2/2 Groundhog Day, 2/12 Superbowl, 2/20 Tsagaan Sar, 2/14 St. Valentine's Day, 2/15 Nirvana Day, 2/20 Presidents’ Day, 2/18 Lailat al Miraj*, 2/18 Maha Shivaratri, 2/21 Mardi Gras, 2/22 Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent), 2/21 Losar, 2/27 Beginning of Lent (Orthodox), 3/6 Magha Puja Day, 3/12 Daylight Savings Begins, 3/12-3/19 Spring Break, 3/7 Purim*, 3/17 St. Patrick's Day, 3/8 Holi Phagwa*, 3/8 Laylat al Bara* * Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day. |
