Something Rotten!

Something Rotten!
Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway.

Welcome 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".

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.

Something Rotten features large song and dance numbers, and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, each given his or her own special moment in the show to shine.  Throughout its Broadway run, the musical received a show-stopping standing ovation from audiences... in the beginning of the first act!  It’s become clear that “nothing’s as amazing as a musical,” so don’t miss your chance to bring this history-twisting tale to your stage.

Restrictions may apply. Not available in the UK or Australia.

Concert Selections for Something Rotten!

Concert Selections are original Broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Concert Selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes.

Pricing

Pricing is for individual songs only. 

Pricing for Orchestral Suites and other items can be provided on receipt of your Application Form. 

 

Amateur

A$99.50 for 1st five minutes (Base Hire rate) 

A$19.00 per minute thereafter (to a maximum of 40 minutes for Small Rights works)

The minimum Base Hire period is 2 months which is calculated from the date required to the first performance date. 

Extra months are charged at 25% of the hire fee per month or part thereof.  

A 50% discount of the Base Hire fee is available for 2nd and subsequent performances provided the fee is not less than the Base Hire rate (amateur only).

If your order requires immediate processing, a A$44.00 Priority Fee per work is applicable. 

 

Professional

We will provide a quote once we receive your Application Form. 

  • A MUSICAL
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Wayne Kirkpatrick
    Karey Kirkpatrick
    Lyrics by
    Wayne Kirkpatrick
    Karey Kirkpatrick
    Arranged by
    Glen Kelly
    Orchestrated by
    Larry Hochman
    show more...
    Arrangement Details
    Song Type: Show Extraction
    Instrumentation

    2 Keyboard 1/Conductor, 10 PV, 4 Reed(Clarinet, Piccolo, Flute, Alto Sax)Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar 1(Archtop), Guitar 2(Solid Body Electric), Keyboard 2 (synth.), Keyboard 3(synth.), 2 Percussion, Violin(6), Bass(3)

  • RIGHT HAND MAN
    First Performance Fee:
    $175
    Each Additional Performance:
    $100
    Music by
    Karey Kirkpatrick
    Wayne Kirkpatrick
    Lyrics by
    Karey Kirkpatrick
    Wayne Kirkpatrick
    show more...
    Arrangement Details
    Song Type: Show Extraction
    Starting Key
    D♭
    Instrumentation

    Full score, 2 keyboard 1/conductor, 3 piano vocal, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, drums, electric bass, guitar 1(Solid Body Electric), guitar 2(Solid Body Electric), keyboard 2-synth, keyboard 3-synth, 8 violin

Questions & Answers

December 16, 2022
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Availability in NZ

Hi. I received an email previously to say Something Rotten is available for licensing, but this page says it isn't available in Aus/NZ.

Is there a planned date for release in NZ or is it touring professionally here soon?

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August 14, 2022
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Something Rotten in Australia

Hello, I noticed there hasn’t been an answer about when Something Rotten will be available for licensing in Australia since December 2020. Are you able to provide an update?

I am an up-and-coming theatre producer and would love to know what we need to do to get Something Rotten over here, I think it’d be a hit!

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September 09, 2021
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Will there be a Junior version in the future, or could you use help creating one? Our youth theater loves being able to put on a great show with less stress than what comes with a full-length production.
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December 14, 2020
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What is the expected release date for Australia?

Now that Australia is no-longer a Covid 'hotspot', is Something Rotten likely to be re-released? Our regional area has had ZERO community transmissions and have comprehensive Covid Safe Plans in place. Our theatre is open and our company has launched two successful productions in the last 3 months adhering to this plan.

We're very keen to 'Hate Shakespeare'!

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Is Something Rotten available in NZ for 2022?
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April 22, 2020
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Restricted in the US?

Since the website language says that Something Rotten is not available in the UK or Australia, I was wondering what the nature of restrictions on the title would be in the US? Are those restrictions any different for schools/companies in Manhattan?

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February 24, 2020
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Switch gender of Minstrel?

Would it be possible to have the Minstrel played by a woman? This would increase the number of feamle lead/featured roles from 2 to 3, making it much more producable for schools.

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February 19, 2020
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Does MTI have any approved cuts or changes that would make the show more appropriate for a traditional school's audience? I love the show, but I know there are a few lines that my administration would balk at.

When we did SPAMALOT, the company that held the licenses for it offered some alternatives for some of the more racy material.  Any chance MTI will do that for SOMETHING ROTTEN?

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January 30, 2020
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Is Something Rotten too racy for a high school production?

Is Something Rotten too racy for a high school production?

 

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January 24, 2020
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Something Rotten release

It says it releases "Winter 2020". Does that mean January/February 2020 or does that mean it won't be available until December.

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