Theater News

Tony Winners Christian Borle, Beth Leavel, and More to Perform in Reading of Something Rotten!

The Shakespeare-inspired musical will have its world premiere production next year.

Christian Borle will perform in an industry reading of the new Bard-inspired musical Something Rotten!, directed by Casey Nicholaw.
Christian Borle will perform in an industry reading of the new Bard-inspired musical Something Rotten!, directed by Casey Nicholaw.
(© David Gordon)

An invitation-only industry reading of Something Rotten!, a new musical featuring a score by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirpatrick and a book by Karey Kirpatrick and John O'Farrell, will be held on October 9 and 10 at the New 42nd Street Studios. The reading will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winning Book of Mormon and Aladdin director Casey Nicholaw.

The presentation boasts a star-studded cast including Tony winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher), Tony nominee John Cariani (Fiddler on the Roof), Allen Fitzpatrick (Memphis), Tony nominee Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek), Tony winner Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone), Tony nominee Brad Oscar (The Producers), Kate Reinders (Wicked), Jeff Steitzer (Inherit the Wind), and Gerry Vichi (Curtains). The company will also include Taryn Darr, Eric Giancola, Linda Griffin, David Hibbard, Jenny Hill, Stacey Todd Holt, Aaron Kaburick, Beth Johnson Nicely, Aleks Pevec, Angie Schworer, Michael James Scott, Brian Sears, Brian Shepard, Brendon Stimson, Chelsea Morgan Stock, Ryan VanDenBoom, Marisha Wallace, and Bud Weber.

The musical will have its world premiere production this spring at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Set in Renaissance England, the story follows two brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but find themselves in competition with the biggest star of the era, William Shakespeare. Consequently, they seek out Nostradamus' nephew Thomas, who inspires them to write the first musical. Performances will run from April 29-May 21, 2015. Casting for the production is yet to be announced.