Something Rotten!

Something Rotten!
Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway.
Restrictions may apply. Not available in the UK or Australia.



Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten.  Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as "the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years".

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." 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 a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, each with their own moment to shine. Throughout its Broadway run, the musical received a show-stopping standing ovation from audiences... in the beginning of the first act!  It’s become clear that “nothing’s as amazing as a musical,” so don’t miss your chance to bring this history-twisting tale to your stage.

Full SynopsisMaterials and Orchestration

Concert Selections for Something Rotten!

MTI is pleased to provide the pre-approved rental materials of select songs for your symphonic concert performance. Please note, MTI is unable to grant the necessary Performance Rights with this material rental. The Performance Rights needed must be obtained separately through the individual song’s respective small rights agency such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. Please email concerts@mtishows.com with any questions.

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Show Essentials

Book by
Karey KirkpatrickKarey Kirkpatrick
John O’FarrellJohn O’Farrell
Music and Lyrics by
Karey KirkpatrickKarey Kirkpatrick
Wayne KirkpatrickWayne Kirkpatrick
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Songs

Welcome to the Renaissance

God, I Hate Shakespeare

Right Hand Man

God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)

A Musical

The Black Death

I Love the Way

Will Power

Bottom's Gonna Be On Top

Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)

Hard To Be The Bard

It's Eggs!

We See The Light

To Thine Own Self

Right Hand Man (Reprise)

Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette

To Thine Own Self (Reprise)

Finale

Full Song List

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Tags

Classic Broadway
Comedy
Period/Historical
Book Musical
Period/Historical
High School Hits

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Questions & Answers

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By TheWiseGuy
June 10, 2018
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Related shows or resources: Something Rotten!
Release Date for Something Rotten

Now that the national tour has ended, will the general release date be soon, or at least will the release date be released soon? It's been almost a month since the tour's last show (and I'd assumed that was the main issue with the release date) but there's still no news.

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By jdonald
June 19, 2017
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Where can I get a script for "Something Rotten'? I just want to enjoy reading it.
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By Tine Luebbeh
May 11, 2017
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Something Rotten
We've never had the opportunity to do a show 'first' - but we would love the opportunity to do so! My students and I took a trip to NYC in Dec 2016 - and went to see Something Rotten.....they've been obsessed with it ever since.
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By fryguymts
March 24, 2017
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Something Rotten
Hello, we would love the opportunity to be a test school, or even the pilate school, for Something Rotten. Thank you for considering Malvern Preparatory School for this opportunity to be one of the first to perform this production. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
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By 5965570
March 06, 2017
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Something Rotten
We will do our annual Musical Theatre performance in December 2017 for the 17-18 school year. I would love to have Pennsbury High School do "Something Rotten". Please be in touch with me as soon as possible with the availability to do this. Thank you very much.
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By KAYTEEBEE
March 01, 2017
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Will there be a Junior verison?
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By John Asselta
March 01, 2017
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Requwest for permission to perform " Something Rotten"
St. Joseph Regional HS was the first non-professional production of "Miss Saigon" in the world as we were a pilot test and are still credited with that in the High School Edition. We would love the opportunity to be the first high school to perform "Something Rotten" next January 2018. John Cariani, who stared in "Something Rotten" on Broadway taught at our theater camp and we took 100 students to see the show a few summers ago. Please let me know if this is a possibility. Thanks - John Asselta
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By margyjwrc
March 01, 2017
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Related shows or resources: OrchExtra®, Something Rotten!
OrchExtra for Something Rotten
Are there plans to create an OrchExtra for "Something Rotten"?
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By HARMONYJEFF
March 01, 2017
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Rights to Something Rotten
I would like to have my school considered to perform Something Rotten first. We were one of the first high schools to do Addams Family and are still contacted by other schools to ask how we did it. We are certain we could do it justice!! Can you let me know how to get on the list to get it ASAP? Thank you SO much!!!!
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By HARMONYJEFF
March 01, 2017
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Related shows or resources: Something Rotten!
Rights to Something Rotten
I would like to have my school considered to perform Something Rotten first. We were one of the first high schools to do Addams Family and are still contacted by other schools to ask how we did it. We are certain we could do it justice!! Can you let me know how to get on the list to get it ASAP? Thank you SO much!!!!
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