ONLINE PROGRAM
Something Rotten!
Presented in partnership between
THE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY and
STORYBOOK THEATRE.
book by KAREY KIRKPATRICK and
JOHN O'FARRELL
music and lyrics by WAYNE KIRKPATRICK and KAREY KIRKPATRICK
SOMETHING ROTTEN! is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
April 5th to 21st, 2024
Tuesday to Saturdays 7pm
Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
running time:
Two act musical, approx. 120
min with a 15 min. intermission
All SBT show photography by Tim Nguyen
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the Internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under copyright law.
SHOW SUMMARY
Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten! 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.
"This is a big, brash meta-musical studiously fashioned in the mold of Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Producers and The Book of Mormon, loaded with crowd-pleasing showstoppers, deliciously puerile gags and an infectious love of the form it so playfully skewers."
– The Hollywood Reporter
RATING: PG | 12+
Read more about show ratings and recommendations >
Watch the trailer for extraordinary SOMETHING ROTTEN! presented by SBT & TSC:
Production Inclusion Statistics
46.51% FEMALE/NON-BINARY
REPRESENTATION
72.09% MARGINALIZED REPRESENTATION
6.98% BIPOC
REPRESENTATION
39.53% LGBTQIA2S+
REPRESENTATION
42.86% ON STAGE
50% OFFSTAGE
66.67% ON STAGE
77.27% OFFSTAGE
4.76% ON STAGE
9.09% OFFSTAGE
47.62% ON STAGE
31.82% OFFSTAGE
A MESSAGE FROM THE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Something Rotten is the first show to open for The Shakespeare Company since I joined the team. It never would have happened without the dedication and commitment of Haysam Kadri and JP Thibodeau, who forged this co-production long before I showed up. I am so grateful to them for seeing the potential in this play and driving it along. This show captures so many things that I love about The Shakespeare Company and which I hope to see more of in the years to come.
This might be the first musical that The Shakespeare Company has ever produced. Watching some of the rehearsal for this play and seeing the level of skill required from the whole team, and seeing how much fun everybody is having while they’re all working so hard – I am inspired by it all. And watching an ensemble work this well together is always so satisfying. That’s the kind of joy that I want to see in the theatre.
This show pokes fun at Shakespeare. A lot. As a pretty serious Shakespeare nerd, I am delighted to say that I can’t smell a whiff of Bardolatry in this show. I hope we never lose our ability to be irreverent in the face of William Shakespeare.
This is a co-production, which I am keen to engage in more and more. By sharing resources with StoryBook Theatre, we are able to present work that would be outside of our expertise in many ways. Co-production requires cooperation, which is one of the essential qualities of life in the theatre. And StoryBook has been such a great partner.
I am very new to Calgary and very new to my position with The Shakespeare Company, but since my arrival, I have been welcomed with generosity and grace from all parts of the city, and in particular, the theatre community. Nowhere more so, than from the company members of this show. When a “producer” pops into a rehearsal with a team of creatives, they are often met with indifference (they’re not really part of our team) or suspicion (why is the producer here, is there something wrong?), but when I visited the rehearsal rooms for Something Rotten, the cast and crew really made me feel at home. It's difficult to explain how important that was to me and how grateful I am for it.
Of course, that never could have happened without the generosity and grace of the show’s director. JP has crafted a remarkably sophisticated bunch of silliness. It’s been an honour to watch him work and I congratulate him, and the whole team, on a truly wonderful achievement.
Richard Beaune (he/him)
Artistic Producer,
The Shakespeare Company
ABOUT THE CREATORS
KAREY KIRKPATRICK
Karey Kirkpatrick (born December 14, 1964) is an American screenwriter, film director, and producer. His films include Chicken Run, James and the Giant Peach, Over the Hedge, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and more.
In 2011, Karey and his brother Wayne began working on the musical Something Rotten!. In 2015, they were nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre. Karey was also nominated for Best Book of a Musical along with John O'Farrell. They also received a Grammy nomination for "Best Original Cast Recording".
Courtesy of Wikiwand
JOHN O'FARRELL
John O’Farrell is a British author, comedy scriptwriter, and political campaigner. His first book was the comic political memoir Things Can Only Get Better. It was a number one bestseller and remains one of the most popular political memoirs ever written. He is one of a small number of British writers to have achieved bestseller status with both fiction and non-fiction, his books have been translated into over twenty-five languages and been adapted for radio and television. A former comedy scriptwriter for such productions as Spitting Image, Have I Got News For You, Smith & Jones and
Chicken Run, he co-wrote the Broadway musical Something Rotten! and, mostly recently, the musical adaptation of Mrs Doubtfire.
Courtesy of RCW Literary Agency
WAYNE KIRKPATRICK
Wayne Kirkpatrick is an American songwriter and musician born in Greenville, MS, who now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His younger brother is American screenwriter and director Karey Kirkpatrick, and in 2010 they began working together on the musical Something Rotten! In 2015, they were nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (along with many other awards), while Karey was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical with British author John O'Farrell.
Courtesy of IMDB
SONG LIST
ACT ONE
Overture
Welcome to the Renaissance - Minstrel, Jeremiah, Portia, Ensemble
Welcome to the Renaissance (Playoff) - Minstrel, Ensemble
God, I Hate Shakespeare - Nick, Nigel, Ensemble
Right Hand Man - Bea, Nick, Nigel
God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise) - Nick
A Musical - Nick, Nostradamous, Ensemble
A Musical (Tag) - Nick, Nostradamous
The Black Death– Nick, Nigel, Ensemble
I Love the Way – Portia, Nigel
Will Power – Shakespeare, Portia, Nigel, Ensemble
Shakespeare's After-Party – Ensemble
Shakespeare (Incidental)
Bottom's Gonna Be On Top - Nick, Nigel, Bea, Shylock, Shakespeare, Ensemble
ACT TWO
Entr'acte
Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise) – Minstrel
Hard to Be the Bard - Shakespeare, Bard Boys (Ensemble)
Hard to Be the Bard (Playoff)
It's Eggs – Nick, Ensemble
We See the Light – Portia, Nigel, Jeremiah, Ensemble
Nigel's Theme – Nigel
To Thine Own Self Be True – Nick, Ensemble
To Thine Own Self Be True (Part 2) – Nick, Ensemble
Right Hand Man (Reprise) – Bea
Soemthing Rotten – Nick, Shakespeare (As Toby), Royal Famiily (Ensemble)
Intro to Omelette – Nick
Make an Omelette – Nick, Nostradamus, Chefs, Nigel, Shakespeare as Toby, Ensemble
To Thine Own Self (Reprise) – Nick, Nigel
Welcome to America – Nick, Nigel, Bea, Portia, Nostradamus, Shylock, Ensemble
FROM THE
ARTISTIC PRODUCER & DIRECTOR
To our incredible Audience,
As we raise the curtain on 'Something Rotten', I am reminded of what an extraordinary journey it has been to bring this hilarious and heartwarming musical to life. This co-production with The Shakespeare Company marks a momentous occasion in our 48-year history at StoryBook Theatre, and it has been an absolute joy to collaborate with such a distinguished organization.
The cast and crew of 'Something Rotten' represent some of the most talented individuals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Their dedication, skill, and passion for storytelling have brought magic to our stage night after night. It is not hyperbole when I say this will go down as one of the best shows we have ever produced.
Theatre is a collaborative art form that thrives on community support. In these challenging times when arts organizations are facing funding cuts across the board, your presence here tonight means more than you could ever know. Despite social commentary that might suggest otherwise, many small theatres like ours are struggling.
StoryBook Theatre continues its mission because of you – our audience. You're not just spectators; you're part of our theatre family. We urge your continued support in ensuring that theatre continues its vibrant presence in Calgary.
Please consider making a donation or supporting us through volunteer work or sponsorships – no contribution is too small when it comes to preserving and celebrating the arts. Together we can ensure that Calgary remains rich with opportunities for creative expression and cultural enrichment.
Thank you from all at Storybook Theatre & The Shakespeare Company for joining us tonight on this journey into 'Something Rotten'. It's people like you who keep theatre alive - so sit back, relax, enjoy some good laughs, and memorable tunes...and remember: there’s nothing rotten about supporting local theatre!
JP Thibodeau
Director
THE COMPANY
THE CAST
Nick Bottom Joel Schaefer
Nigel Bottom Christopher Sherwood
Nostradamus Hal Kerbes
Shakespeare Tory Doctor
Bea Bottom Gianna Read-Skelton
Portia Taylor Rae Steedman
Brother Jeremiah Joey Gruszecki
Minstrel Nicholas Chamberlain
Tom Snout Liam Brett
Robin Starveling Steven Morton
Peter Quince Thomas Zima
Francis Flute Nikko Angelo Hinayo
Snug Jayden Durksen
Shylock/Announcer/Nostradamus Understudy Ben Jaquish
Lord Clapham Anja Darien
Miranda/Portia Understudy Alisha Brown
Ensemble
Liberty Laferriere, Shayla Fiveland, Julia Bleichert
Jackie Thurber, Alisha Brown, Jocelyn Leiver
THE TEAM
TSC Artistic Producer Richard Beaune
Director, SBT Artistic Producer JP Thibodeau
Musical Director Ethan Vasquez Taylor
Choreographer Greg Pember
Stage Manager Cale Thompson
Assistant Stage Manager Niamh McCallion
Assistant Stage Manager Ryan Thompson
Property Master Danelle White
Set Designer Terry Gunvordahl
Set Assistant DeNeane Osmond
Master Set Builder Josh Bailey
Costume Designer Melissa Mitchell Boychuk
Costume Assistant Darcie Howe
Hair Designer Cat Bentley
Makeup Designer Melody Kielek
Intimacy Director Anastasia St. Amand
Sound Design and Programming Ross WIlson
Sound Operator Aretha Smith
Sound Operator Paul Davies
Lighting Designer Kris Mish
Lighting Operator Jo Ackerman
Artistic Associate Nickolas Bishop
Marketing Director & Graphic Design Jennifer Merio
Marketing Coord. & Graphic Design Emma Luit
Show Photography Tim Nguyen
MEET THE CAST
MEET THE TEAM
SUPPORTERS, DONORS & CONTRIBUTORS
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS
PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTERS
MEDIA SUPPORTERS
DONORS, SUPPORTERS & CONTRIBUTORS
Occasional Notes Productions
Calgary Arts Development
Paul Davies
Teresa O’Regan
Gregory Smith
Clarice Siebens
Lane Olafson
Hesson Persaud
Corinne Spence
Janine Labossiere
Frank Fowler
The Wawanesa Mutual Life Insurance Co.
M.E.G Energy/Kenneth Wilson
Maria Shaw
Blue Spruce Investments Ltd.
Ann Farebrother
Maureen Morris
Ella Quinn
Kirk Schmidt
Melissa Smith
THANK YOU TO...
Jessica Roney
Tammy Vanderbeek
Jolene Anderson
Lisa Litchfield
Ralamy Kneeshaw
Eeva White
Mikee Ames
Rachel Vincze
Rhonda Mottle
Robert Laflamme
Catherine Handford
Gina Bennett
Margaret Harper
The Costume Collective
Morpheus Theatre
Vertigo Theatre
Theatre Calgary
University of Calgary