About SOMETHING ROTTEN

"Something Rotten!" is a musical comedy with a book by John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, and music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Set in 1595, it follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who struggle to achieve success in the theatrical world while competing with the wildly popular playwright William Shakespeare. The musical opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on April 22, 2015, ran for 708 performances, and received ten Tony Award nominations, winning one for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Borle).

The story begins with the Bottom brothers running a failing theatre troupe in London. They are rehearsing for their play Richard II when their patron, Lord Clapham, announces that Shakespeare is producing the same play. Outraged, Nick and Nigel seek a way to surpass Shakespeare. Nick consults a soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus, who predicts that the future of theatre involves acting, singing, and dancing all at once, inspiring the brothers to create the world’s first musical.  Along the way, they encounter humorous obstacles, including rivalries, romantic entanglements, and the challenge of pleasing their patrons.