Welcome to the Renaissance and this joyous musical farce. Struggling London playwrights, Nick and Nigel Bottom, are desperate for a hit, but all anyone is talking about is that rock-star, The Bard, William Shakespeare. After consulting a local soothsayer, they think they’ve finally found the solution. “Do a play where the actors talk, sing, and dance, sometimes all at once.” It’s time to invent THE MUSICAL, and finally put that insufferable Shakespeare in his place! Something Rotten!, on Broadway in 2015 and 2016, is a salute to all things Broadway.
David Young, Department Head and Director of the show, laughed as he thought about how many other musicals are referenced in the show’s big production number, “It’s A Musical.” “It’s been great to work on,” said Young, as he prepared for rehearsal, “the audience will love recognizing the salutes to many other musicals and their characters.”
The students are preparing to be professional performers so they bring their “A” game to every rehearsal. Elijah Milburn, a senior from Meade County who stars as Nick Bottom said, “The best part of working on the show is seeing how brilliant everyone is every single day. Everyone involved in this show is working to make it as fantastic as it can possibly be, and I’m impressed over and over again with the cast and production team’s talent and dedication.”
Do you love Shakespeare? You will love Something Rotten! Do you hate Shakespeare? You, too, will love Something Rotten! Chris Morse, a junior from Madisonville, described it as, “A hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first century musicals.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for students and seniors and can be purchased at wku.showare.com or at the door.
Over 15,000 people were entertained by the WKU Department of Theatre and Dance last year. The department presents over twenty different productions every year, including four Mainstage productions, two Mainstage dance concerts, three student-choreographed dance concerts, a Children’s Theatre Series, a Studio Series of student-directed works, and a Next Stage Series of showcases and works in progress.
More information about the WKU Department of Theatre and Dance can be found at www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance on Instagram @wkutheatredance or by calling the department at 270-745-5845. You can also like us on Facebook to see upcoming events and department news.
-submitted by WKU Department of Theatre and Dance