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Overview

Synopsis

Welcome to the Renaissance, where the Black Plague has ceded power to the Puritans, farthingales and codpieces are the latest fashion trend, and the biggest celebrity in England is a playwright named William Shakespeare. In the midst of all this excitement, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are trying to keep their acting company afloat. In a desperate attempt to out-Bard the Bard, Nick consults with a soothsayer, who informs him that the future of theatre involves acting, singing, and dancing -- sometimes all at once! As the Bottom brothers strive to write the world’s very first “musical”, they find themselves caught in a bitter battle with the Bard and the play's the thing. Something Rotten! is a hysterical, joyous celebration of everything you love about Broadway.

Show Information

Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2014
Genres
Comedy, Parody, Farce, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings, Spectacle
Time & Place
london, england, 1590s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Nick Bottom

Lead

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Brother Jeremiah

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Beatrice "Bea" Bottom

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Portia

Supporting

Female

Soprano

William Shakespeare

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Nigel Bottom

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Thomas Nostradamus

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Shylock

Featured

Male

Baritone

Minstrel

Featured

Male

Tenor

Lord Clapham / Master of the Justice

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Male Ensemble

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Female Ensemble

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Songs

Act One

  • *Welcome to the Renaissance - Minstrel and Company
  • God, I Hate Shakespeare - Nick, Nigel, and The Troupe
  • Right Hand Man - Bea and Nick
  • God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise) - Nick
  • *A Musical - Nostradamus, Nick, and Company
  • The Black Death - The Troupe
  • I Love the Way - Portia and Nigel
  • Will Power - Shakespeare and Company
  • Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top - Nick and Company

Act Two

  • Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise) - Minstrel and Company
  • Hard to Be the Bard - Shakespeare and Company
  • It’s Eggs! - Nick and The Troupe
  • We See the Light - Portia, Nigel, Brother Jeremiah, Nick, and Company
  • To Thine Own Self - Nigel, Nick, Shakespeare, and The Troupe
  • Right Hand Man (Reprise) - Bea
  • Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette - Nick and Company
  • To Thine Own Self (Reprise) - Nick
  • Finale - Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A type of theatre which draws attention to the nature of theatre and performance, often through a "play within a play"

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