Stratford Festival: Something Rotten, Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Directed by Donna Feore, choreography by Donna Feore, with Starr Domingue (Bea Bottom); Henry Firmston (Nigel Bottom); Jeff Lillico (Shakespeare); Mark Uhre (Nick Bottom); Dan Chameroy (Nostradamus); Juan Chioran (Brother Jeremiah); Steve Ross (Shylock); Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane (Portia), set and costumes by Michael Gianfrancesco. May 20, 2026, Festival Theatre, Stratford, ON. Continues until October 31, 2026; tickets here.
Something Rotten! is a musical about a musical, and there’s nothing rotten about it.
Written by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, this musical debuted on Broadway in 2015. Even though it was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, it had a surprisingly short two-year run with just over 700 performances.
Stratford Festival
But at Stratford, a stage renowned for both Shakespeare and musical theatre, the musical that is a parody of these very two genres has found a new life.
This marks the first time the festival has remounted a musical, and in just two years. After its wildly successful debut in 2024, Something Rotten! is back by popular demand, featuring an almost identical cast, but with even more hype.
Director and choreographer Donna Feore, well-known for producing numerous successful musicals at Stratford, is helming both Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! in its 72nd season. In fact, this is the first time the festival has ever presented two musicals sharing the same stage in the same season.
The Story
Set in Renaissance England, the story follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, whose theatre company is on the brink of closure because they are losing business to their most fierce rival, none other than William Shakespeare.
Desperate for ideas to write their next do-or-die play, Nick secretly consults the soothsayer Nostradamus — not the famous one, but his much less gifted nephew Thomas — who predicts that the future of theatre involves performers acting, singing and dancing at the same time — in other words, musicals.
To further outdo Shakespeare, Nick tries to steal the Bard’s next big hit idea. The fortune teller sees eggs, ham and a danish in his vision, and a breakfast-themed musical “Omelet” is born.
The Production
Laugh out loud humour is what keeps this fast-paced, action-packed production rolling. There is a joke that gets the audience howling every minute, with a few unsubtly risqué ones finding their way into this sexed-up production. Even when it’s plain silly, like in Nick’s first musical idea of the Black Death, it is equally hysterical.
One by one, references to a litany of modern musicals, from The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and Cats, to Les Miserables, Annie and Chicago and more, pop up in the dialogue and as short musical motifs. Even The Beatles cannot escape a funny stab.
And, even those of us who failed English literature in high school will get the riffs on Shakespearean works like The Merchant of Venice and of course, Hamlet.
The Cast
Mark Uhre lends his honeyed tenor and good looks to the ambitious Nick Bottom, who aspires to fame and fortune, and is singularly focused on getting ahead of the competition. With a buttery voice and boyish charm, Henry Firmston provides a nice contrast as the earnest and idealistic Nigel. The pair light up the stage with a few convincing scenes of sibling rivalry.
Dan Chameroy is perfectly cast as the befuddled Thomas Nostradamus. His over-the-top character and witty one-liners draw raucous laughter at each appearance. Steve Ross, another Stratford veteran, also shines as Shylock despite his smaller role.
With his charming British accent, Jeff Lillico dazzles as Shakespeare, a rock star dressed like Mick Jagger with swagger, who has a following of Bard Boys and ladies swooning all over him.
Starr Domingue is a vocal powerhouse whose character of Bea, Nick’s wife, is both no-nonsense and sympathetic. Juan Chioran is effective as the pompous Puritan Brother Jeremiah who forbids his daughter Portia (Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane) from seeing Nigel, with whom she has developed an instant mutual attraction thanks to their shared love for poetry. Sinclair-Brisbane is another powerful soprano, but a more timid and innocent sound would better fit her character.
This show about the Renaissance is actually a rock music party and tap dancing extravaganza. The principals and the talented ensemble together execute Feore’s elaborate choreography (with nods to Bob Fosse) with remarkable energy and precision. The scene in which Nick and Shakespeare spar with words and tap-dance at the same time is simply scintillating.
The set and costumes by Michael Gianfrancesco are a delightful sight. His creations range from colourful, sumptuous period pieces to ridiculous yet hilarious dancing egg costumes.
Final Thoughts
The performers are all serious triple threats. What’s more, the same cast also stars in Guys and Dolls, and for 35 times this season, they perform both shows on the same day.
Something Rotten! is Broadway at its funniest, a total riot. This feel-good show is a must-see for all, even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of musicals or Shakespeare.
And remember this adage from the wise: “When life gives you eggs, make an omelet.”
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