CCM Musical Theatre presents farcical musical comedy "Something Rotten!"

The hilarious, fast-paced romp opens on Oct. 20; tickets are on sale now

Story by CCM Graduate Student Lucy Evans

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music continues its Musical Theatre Series with the hit Broadway show, Something Rotten!. Originally premiered in 2015 and nominated for 10 Tony Awards, the raucous Renaissance farce runs Oct. 20-23 and Oct. 27-30, 2022, at CCM’s Patricia Corbett Theater. As The New York Times put it, Something Rotten! is “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.”

All the world’s a stage and playwrights Nick and Nigel Bottom are having a hard time breaking onto it. It’s the late 16th century, and the Bottoms are desperate to beat a certain theatrical superstar — known as “The Bard” — to the next big thing. According to the local soothsayer, that thing is called a “musical,” and it involves singing, dancing and acting — all at the same time! Determined to make a name for themselves, the brothers set out to write just that. Zany antics, hilarious miscommunication and lots of big dance numbers ensue as the brothers chase their dream.

“This is a show which pokes fun at musical theatre in the best way,” says Director and Choreographer Diane Lala. In addition to zany misadventures, audiences can expect clever references, a catchy score and a whole lot of tap dancing.

“Some of the circumstances are outrageous,” Lala acknowledges, but at its core, “it is a story of two brothers.” According to Lala, “anyone who wants to have a good time with heart” will love Something Rotten!. With musical direction by Matt Walsh, this wacky crowd-pleaser is guaranteed to entertain, reminding audiences to be true to thine own self — and all that jazz.

Preview Photos

All photography by Mark Lyons. View complete cast and crew credits here.

CCM Musical Theatre Series presents Something Rotten! on runs Oct. 20-23 and Oct. 27-30, 2022, at CCM’s Patricia Corbett Theater. Tickets are on sale through the CCM Box Office.

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

Arrangements by Glen Kelly
Orchestrations by Larry Hochman
Originally produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum
Broadway Global Ventures CMC Mastro/Goodman Jerry & Ronald Frankel Morris Berchard
Kyodo Tokyo Inc. Wendy Federman Barbara Freitag LAMS Productions Winkler/DeSimone
Timothy Laczynski Dan Markely Harris/Karmazin Jam Theatricals Robert Greenblatt
and Jujamcyn Theaters

Developed in association with the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, David Armstrong,
Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director and
Bill Berry, Producing Artistic Director

SOMETHING ROTTEN is presented through arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

  • Director and Choreographer | Diane Lala
  • Musical Director| Matt Welsh
  • Scenic Designer | Joshua Gallagher
  • Lighting Designer | Natalia Carlson*
  • Costume Designer |  Glenn Breed
  • Sound Designer | Patrick Kiernan*
  • Wig, Hair, & Make-Up Designer | Kelly Yurko
  • Production Stage Manager | Morgan Piper*
  • Props Manager| Hattie Fann*
  • Intimacy Director | Greg Eldridge

*CCM Student

  • Minstrel | Jamal Stone
  • Brother Jeremiah| Jackson Reagin
  • Portia | Alli Bossart ^, Haley Root * 
  • Shakespeare | Garrett Van Allen
  • Nick Bottom | August Bagg *, Nick Pattarini ^
  • Nigel Bottom | Jett Blackorby *, Andrew Burke ^
  • Lord Clapham/ Master of Justice| Declan Smith
  • Shylock| Sarah Pansing
  • Bea| Rose Messenger *, Abby Tucker ^ 
  • Nostradamus | Spencer Stanley
  • Ensemble | Delaney Benson, Jenna Bienvenue, Benjamin Cheng, Ryan Dever, Joshua Devine, Alloria Frayser, Nick Gundrum, Nate Jones, JT Langlas, Kassi McMillan, Sarah Pansing, Coty Perno, Grace Rusnica, Sasha Spitz, Julia Yameen
  • Swings | Andy Bakun, Ranease Brown, Grace Capeless, Indya Lincicome
  • Minstrel Understudy | Coty Perno
  • Brother Jeremiah Understudy | Ryan Dever
  • Shakespeare Understudy | Benjamin Cheng
  • Lord Clapham/ Master of Justice Understudy| Ranease Brown
  • Shylock Understudy| Joshua Devine 
  • Nostradamus Understudy | Nate Jones
  • Assistant Director | Makayla Shipe
  • Dance Captain | Delaney Benson
  • Tap Captain | Alloria Frayser

* Performs October 21, 22 (evening), 27, 29 (matinee), 30 
^ Performs October 20, 22 (matinee), 23, 28, 29 (evening)

All of CCM's ticketed events will have digital programs instead of printed programs. QR codes will be displayed at events to give access to the digital programs to patrons. The programs are also accessibile through the link below. Programs for events will be shared shortly via the website below before the event date.

Performance Times

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 *ASL interpreting is available during Friday, Oct. 28 performance
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30

Location

Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Village 
University of Cincinnati

Purchasing Tickets

Single tickets prices are $39.50. Student discounts and group rates are also available. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-box office.

Learn about additional ticket options for current CCM students.

Directions and Parking

CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. For detailed driving directions, visit ccm.uc.edu/directions.

Parking is available in UC's CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. 

CCM OnStage patrons can add pre-paid parking to their checkout carts when purchasing tickets. Pre-paid parking is date/performance specific. CCM Garage parking rates for a performance or special event is usually available for $10-15. Learn more about parking at UC's CCM Garage.

For additional information on parking at UC, please visit uc.edu/about/parking.

 

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust

Scholarship and Resident Artist Supporter

 

The Corbett Endowment at CCM

Dance Department Supporter

All-Steinway School Supporter

 

William L. Gasch Endowment Fund for Dance Excellence

Rachelle Bruno & Stephen Bondurant

Ellen K. Bastron

Dance Department Supporters

 

Bacchus Legacy Fund

Hawks Nest Private Wealth Scholarship Fund

Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer

Ric Sweeney & David Askew

Ken and Toni Kanter

Henry and Sandy Spitz

Greg Mathein

Jim & Linda Miller

Marty & Anne Pinales

Musical Theatre Department Supporters

 

GLP German Light Products

Dick & Chris Russell

Upstaging, Inc.

Theater Design & Production Supporter

 

The Estate of Genevieve Smith

Opera Production Supporter

 

Rafael and Kimberly de Acha

Opera D’Arte Supporter

 

The Friedlander Family

Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth

Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren

Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen

Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld

Elizabeth Stone

Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman

Mrs. Theodore W. Striker

Ariel Quartet Supporters

 

The Friedlander Family

Karl Zipser

Chamber Music at CCM

 

Elizabeth Ann Leman Muennich MD, PhD, in memory of John Leman

Jan Rogers

Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation

Choral Studies Supporters

 

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn

Philharmonia Supporters

 

Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation

Starling Pre-Collegiate Supporter

Starling Strings Supporter

 

Holly Brians Ragusa and Damon Ragusa

Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson

Thom Miles and Roberta Gary

Strader Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Dr. Stephen G. Schaeffer

Organ Department Supporters

 

Keyboard Club of Cincinnati

L. Ried Schott

Carl Rhodes & Lori Luchtman-Jones

Piano Department Supporters

 

Kevin and Nancy Rhein

Wind Studies Supporters

 

Willis Music

LINKS Instrument Donation Supporter

 

Supporters listed as of August 2026


Featured image at the top: A promotional graphic for CCM's production of Something Rotten!. Design by Mikki Graff. Photo by Mark Lyons.

Headshot of Lucy Evans

Lucy Evans

CCM Graduate Assistant, Marketing + Communications

Lucy Evans is an artist diploma student studying Opera-Vocal Performance at CCM. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and was recently an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera.

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, visit ccm.uc.edu/onstage.  

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