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.

This title is currently restricted. Expected general release is UNKNOWN.

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.

Full Synopsis Materials and Orchestration

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 2^nd 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

From
Something Rotten!

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

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Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

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)

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RIGHT HAND MAN

From
Something Rotten!

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
Karey Kirkpatrick

Wayne Kirkpatrick

Lyrics by
Karey Kirkpatrick

Wayne Kirkpatrick

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Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

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

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WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE (BROADWAY ORCHESTRATION)

From
Something Rotten!

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Music by
Wayne Kirkpatrick

Karey Kirkpatrick

Lyrics by
Wayne Kirkpatrick

Karey Kirkpatrick

Orchestrated by
Larry Hochman

show more...show less...
Arrangement Details
Song Type: Show Extraction
A show extraction is taken directly from the licensed show materials. No edits have been made to the song.

Starting Key
Am

Estimated duration
4 min 46 sec
Instrumentation
(1x) FULL SCORE, (20x) PIANO/VOCAL SCORE, (2x) REED 1 (Soprano Recorder, Alto Saxophone), (2x) REED 2 (English Horn, Tenor Saxophone), (2x) REED 3 (Bassoon, Baritone Saxophone), (1x) HORN, (1x) TRUMPET 1, (1x) TRUMPET 2, (1x) TROMBONE, (2x) GUITAR 1 (12-String Acoustic [cue only], Solid Body Electric), (1x) GUITAR 2 (Solid Body Electric), (3x) PERCUSSION (Mark Tree, Finger Cymbal, Timpani, Tambourine (no skin), Bell Tree, Triangle, Cowbell, Chimes, Concert Bass Drum, Vibraslap, Bongos, Suspended Cymbal), (1x) DRUMS, (1x) KEYBOARD 1, (1x) KEYBOARD 2, (17x) VIOLINS, (7x) VIOLA (Viola, Violin), (6x) CELLO, (1x) BASS (Electric)

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Show Essentials

Book by

Music and Lyrics by

Songs

God, I Hate Shakespeare

Right Hand Man

God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)

A Musical

The Black Death

I Love the Way

Will Power

Bottom's Gonna Be On Top

Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)

Hard To Be The Bard

It's Eggs!

We See The Light

To Thine Own Self

Right Hand Man (Reprise)

Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette

To Thine Own Self (Reprise)

Finale

Full Song List

Price

Upcoming

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Show History

Questions & Answers

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By smpsm8027

July 25, 2024

Login to flag as inappropriate
Related shows or resources: Evil Dead The Musical, If/Then, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia!, Something Rotten!, Sweeney Todd

inquire about license

Dear MTI,

Hello, I am Mia Park at Our Musical Story (OMS)

OMS is amateur theater company in South Korea. It was newly established in 2023, and in July 2023, it obtained a license from MTI and conducted the musical "Next to Normal".

I would like to proceed with the performance by obtaining a license from MTI again this time, but I am inquiring about the license on the website because there is an error.

1. IF/THEN
2. EVIL DEAD
3. KINKY BOOTS
4. MAMMA MIA!
5. SWEENEY TODD
6. SOMETHING ROTTEN!

I would like to inquire about the acquisition of 6 musical licenses above. If you have an email that we can contact directly and contact the person in charge, please forward it.

All the best of success, Have a greet day.

Sincerely Mia Park

Answer this Question

See 1 answer

By Nedcase

December 16, 2022

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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See 1 answer

By Alice_Clapperton

August 14, 2022

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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By heymoonkid

September 09, 2021

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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By Bobelander

December 14, 2020

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'!

Answer this Question

See 1 answer

By jrldrummond@hotmail.com

August 06, 2020

Is Something Rotten available in NZ for 2022?

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This question has no answers

By CMTS

April 22, 2020

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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By MATH163658

February 24, 2020

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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By reisert

February 19, 2020

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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See 1 answer

By Dawn Whitehurst

January 30, 2020

Is Something Rotten too racy for a high school production?

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Something Rotten!

Concert Selections for Something Rotten!

Pricing

God, I Hate Shakespeare

Right Hand Man

God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)

A Musical

The Black Death

I Love the Way

Will Power

Bottom's Gonna Be On Top

Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)

Hard To Be The Bard

It's Eggs!

We See The Light

To Thine Own Self

Right Hand Man (Reprise)

Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette

To Thine Own Self (Reprise)

Finale

Media

Questions & Answers

inquire about license

Availability in NZ

Something Rotten in Australia

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.

What is the expected release date for Australia?

Is Something Rotten available in NZ for 2022?

Restricted in the US?

Switch gender of Minstrel?

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.

Is Something Rotten too racy for a high school production?

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