Theatre World Award winner Josh Grisetti (It Shoulda Been You, Rent at New World Stages, Enter Laughing), Lortel Award winner Leslie Kritzer (The Robber Bridegroom, Elf, Sondheim on Sondheim) and Catherine Brunell (Something Rotten!, Les Misérables, Thoroughly Modern Millie) will begin performances as Nigel Bottom, Bea and Portia, respectively. They will succeed John Cariani, Kate Reinders, and Heidi Blickenstaff, who will play their final performances July 16.
As previously reported, Tony Award nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin, Honeymoon in Vegas, Noises Off) will assume the role of Nick Bottom June 2.
Something Rotten! currently stars three-time Tony Award nominee Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek, Spotlight), two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher), Tony Award nominee Cariani (Fiddler on the Roof), Blickenstaff ([title of show]), two-time Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar (The Producers), Reinders (Wicked), David Beach (It’s Only a Play, Fish in the Dark, Mamma Mia!), Edward Hibbert (It Shoulda Been You, The Drowsy Chaperone), Gerry Vichi (The Drowsy Chaperone) and André Ward (Rock of Ages, Xanadu).
Something Rotten! has music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick. The latter collaborated on the musical's book with John O'Farrell.
Helmed by Tony Award-winning Aladdin and The Book of Mormon director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten! earned ten 2015 Tony Award nominations, including Best Score and Best Musical.
Here's how the musical is billed: “Welcome to the ’90s — the 1590s — long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting and reminders to turn off your cell phones. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar 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. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten! is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun and an irresistible ode to musicals — those dazzling creations that entertain us, inspire us, and remind us that everything’s better with an exclamation point!”
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 West 44th Street.
