Kicking off the Arts Center’s blockbuster ’24-’25 season is the hilarious and wildly entertaining hit musical, Something Rotten, running through October 27
This big, boisterous tap-happy musical is one of the wittiest shows ever written. The comedy, which is packed with musical theatre references and show-stopping moments, is directed by Whitaker Gannon, who also was at the helm of the Arts Center’s 2023 season opener Clue, as well as Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Little Shop of Horrors, and Red.
The stage is set for a riotous journey back to the Renaissance, where two struggling playwright brothers, Nick (Drake Leach) and Nigel Bottom (Chris Graham) find themselves in the shadow of the illustrious William Shakespeare (John Alejandro Jeffords). But wait! This isn’t your usual Shakespeare fare … trust us on this!
Shakespeare, in this history-twisting tale, is clad in skin-tight black leather, bringing sexy rock star swagger, while the ladies swoon over his … um, sonnets. Meanwhile, the Bottom brothers crave their own writing acclaim, the Bard be damned.
Desperate to break free from Shakespeare’s overwhelming success, Nick seeks the help of a soothsayer, Nostradamus (Francis Kelly), in hopes of predicting the future of theatre, giving Nick a jolt of inspiration.
Nostradamus, however, was a bit… off. His predictions, it turns out, are hysterically inaccurate, leading Nick and Nigel down a chaotic path of mishaps and misadventures. What he does accurately foretell is that the future of theatre will involve singing, dancing, and acting at the same time. With this newfound intel, Nick then sets out to create the world’s first musical!
But amidst the scandalous excitement of creating their show, the Bottom brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self … and all that jazz.
“We had so many audience members recently request that we produce this show,” said Jeffrey Reeves, the Arts Center’s president and CEO. “Most of these patrons had seen the show on Broadway and couldn’t say enough about it. It’s a wonderful piece for our season opener – it’s a big, over-the-top musical comedy with a dazzling set, incredible dancing, and a brilliant score.”
More than 7,000 actors submitted for roles to be part of this production when the casting notice went out earlier this summer. Following video submissions for around 1,000, in-person auditions were held for approximately 200 actors over the course of several days in New York City, resulting in a top-notch cast.
Casting was interesting for the Arts Center creative team, which included Gannon, Arts Center GM/VP Richard Feldman, music director Dan Gibson, choreographer Jason Holley, and associate choreographer Ashley McManus.
“Naturally, we needed triple-threat talent in acting, singing, and dancing,” Gannon said, “but we also needed actors to fit very distinct comedic roles. Oh, and be incredible tappers. Fortunately, we had an amazing pool of professional actors who auditioned. Our cast is absolutely stellar!”
Rounding out the creative team is the scenic designer Curt Tomczyk, sound designer Marlo Griffith, costume designer Andy Wallach, and lighting designer Annmarie Duggan. Stage managing the show is veteran Ginger James, with Jennie Davies as assistant stage manager.
With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun and an irresistible ode to musicals.
The musical is onstage now and runs through October 27. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the website at tickets.artshhi.com or by calling (843) 842-2787. Parental discretion advised due to language and innuendo.
