Full cast announced for Broadway's Something Rotten!

Producer Kevin McCollum has now announced the full cast to join Broadway and 'Smash' alumni Brian d'Arcy James and Christian Borle in the upcoming new musical comedy Something Rotten!, which will open at Broadway's St James Theatre on 22 April 2015, following previews from 23 March, and is booking through to 6 September 2015.

The full cast of Something Rotten! includes Brian d'Arcy James (Nick Bottom), Christian Borle (The Bard), John Cariani (Nigel Bottom), Heidi Blickenstaff (Bea), Brad Oscar (Nostradamus), Kate Reinders (Portia), Brooks Ashmanskas (Brother Jeremiah), Peter Bartlett (Lord Clapham / Judge), Gerry Vichi (Shylock), Michael James Scott (Minstrel), with Eric Giancola, Linda Griffin, David Hibbard, Jenny Hill, Stacey Todd Holt, Courtney Iventosch, Aaron Kaburick, Austin Lesch, Beth Johnson Nicely, Aleks Pevec, Angie Schworer, Eric Sciotto, Brian Shepard, Chelsea Morgan Stock, Ryan VanDenBoom, Matt Wall, Marisha Wallace and Bud Weber.

In addition, the creative team has also been announced and will feature scenic design by Scott Pask, costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, and hair design by Josh Marquette. Musical direction is by Phil Reno, with arrangements by Glen Kelly and orchestrations by Larry Hochman.

Something Rotten! is billed as a "completely original new musical comedy" and will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, who is currently represented on Broadway by 'The Book of Mormon' and 'Aladdin'. It features music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, with book by Karey Kirkpatrick and author John O'Farrell.

Synopsis: "Welcome to the '90s — the 1590s — long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting and reminders to turn off your cell phones. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar 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! was set to run in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theatre in April 2015, but has since shelved these plans in order to open in the St James Theatre on Broadway following the early closure of Side Show.

- by Tom Millward