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2/27/2023

FSU School of Theatre presents comedy broadway hit ‘Something Rotten!’

BY: KELBY SIDDONS , ANNA PRENTISS

Florida State University’s School of Theatre presents “Something Rotten!,” a satirical Broadway tale about artistic rivals in Renaissance England.

The play, which has been called “the best musical comedy in about 400 years” by Time Out New York, will run through March 5 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

“Nothing is as amazing as a musical,” said Dewayne Barrett, the show’s director, veteran Broadway star and internationally accomplished director-choreographer. “Even those who are new to musicals will find reasons to laugh and marvel at this production.”

Barrett said there are deep-cut Shakespeare and musical references for avid theatre-goers, “but more than anything, the show is a celebration of the genre. It’s a master class on the talent and teamwork it takes to create live theatre.”

An ensemble performs on stage wearing renaissance style costumes.
Florida State University’s School of Theatre presents “Something Rotten!” (Kelby Siddons)

Barrett choreographed a cast of 33 performers through show-stopping musical numbers, dance breaks and a tap dance battle.

“I am always blown away by our incredibly talented students,” said Tom Ossowski, co-director and associate professor in the School of Theatre. “We are all incredibly excited to share this show with the Tallahassee community.”

Tickets for “Something Rotten!” are $10-$35 and can be purchased online, by phone at (850) 644-6500, or at the Fine Arts Ticket Office in the Fine Arts Building at 540 West Call Street.

The Fine Arts Ticket Office is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, and one hour prior to each performance. Performance times are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

For tickets and more information, visit tickets.theatre.fsu.edu.


About the play

It’s 1595, and a leather-clad wordsmith with swiveling hips is rocking London: Shakespeare! Meanwhile, down-on-their-luck playwrights, Nick and Nigel Bottom can’t summon a single sonnet. Then, when Nostradamus himself foretells “the future of theatre,” the Bottom brothers hatch a plan to rise to the top. Hilarity ensues in this campy lampoon of the world’s first-ever musical. The high jinks, high kicks and high notes musical lovers expect are all here, plus hilarious satire of the genre from authors Karey Kirkpatrick (“Chicken Run”), Wayne Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell (“Mrs. Doubtfire”), who were Broadway novices themselves when they developed the show that would garner ten Tony award nominations.

 

An ensemble performs on stage wearing renaissance style costumes.
Florida State University’s School of Theatre presents “Something Rotten!,” a satirical Broadway tale about artistic rivals in Renaissance England which runs through March 5 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre. (Kelby Siddons)