Something Rotten
Be a Part of Our BIG 2026 Summer Musical Comedy!
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell
Music and Lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick
Open Auditions:
Saturday, April 25, 2026 – 1:00 PM
or
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – 6:30 PM
Dance ensemble-only Auditions:
Wednesday, April 29 – 6:30 PM
The Waldo Theatre
916 Main St., Waldoboro
(Please enter via the front doors)
Director: Soren Barker
Musical Director: Merle MacFarlane | Choreographer: Niall Lessard
Producer: George Bates
The creative team that brought you The Waldo’s 2025 smash hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee now takes you to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten. Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as "the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years."
SYNOPSIS
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.
CHARATER ROLES
This show will have a big cast comprising featured character roles, singers, dancers, and ensemble members. All auditioners will be considered for all relevant roles.
We hope EVERYONE will turn out to audition!
Character Role | Description |
|---|---|
Shylock | Jewish landlord/tax collector who loves theater. |
Lord/Lady Clapham | A flamboyant theatre producer. Comic speaking role. |
Francis Flute | Member and character in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe |
Snug | Member and character in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe |
Peter Quince | Member and character in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe |
Tom Snout | Member and character in Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe |
Robin | Member of Bottom’s theatrical troupe who always plays the female characters (must present as a male). |
Minstrel | A narrator of sorts for the show with the main purpose of introducing the cast and welcoming the audience to the Renaissance time |
Brother Jeremiah | The Puritan father of Portia and secondary antagonist |
Bea | Nick's wife |
Portia | Nigel's girlfriend, and the daughter of Brother Jeremiah |
Nostradamus | A soothsayer who “almost” sees the future correctly |
Shakespeare | A Renaissance rock star |
Nigel Bottom | Nick’s younger brother. A sweetly naïve young writer and poet |
Nick Bottom | The main protagonist of the show. A struggling Renaissance writer at the end of his rope |
The large cast will be rounded out by various ensembles of singers, dancers,
townspeople, Shakespeare groopies, writers, Puritans, and more!
PERFORMANCE DATES
Evening: Friday August 21 | Saturday August 22 | Friday August 28 | Saturday, August 29
Matinees: Sunday, August 23 and Sunday, August 30
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Character Roles
All auditioners should prepare a 1-minute comedic monologue (memorization not required) as well as a 60 to 90 second musical theater song. Please bring an appropriate backing track (Bluetooth-enabled). (No live accompaniment will be available and a cappella auditions are discouraged.) Remote/virtual auditions are not possible.
Dance Ensemble
For those interested in being a part of just the dance ensemble (rather than a character role), auditions will be held on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30pm. The audition will likely involve learning and demonstrating a 16 or 32 count dance piece. Dancers with tap experience are strongly encouraged to audition!
Something Rotten rehearsals are expected to begin in early to mid-May and will continue 2-3 times weekly until the show opening. Tech week will begin Sunday, August 16, with rehearsals on all or most evenings leading up to opening night.