Sourced from the press release

Set in 1595, Something Rotten! follows the Bottom brothers- Nick and Nigel- as they struggle to make a name for themselves in the shadow of that rockstar playwright we all know: William Shakespeare. Desperate to outshine the Bard, the brothers turn to a soothsayer who predicts the next big thing in theater… musicals! What follows is a side-splitting mashup of Elizabethan absurdity and showbiz satire, complete with tap numbers, rapping bards, and an omelette of surprises (yes, literally).

Leading the Laughs: Spotlight on the Principals

Jacob Phelen stars as the beleaguered and ambitious Nick Bottom. This marks Phelen’s second time donning the codpiece for this role- he first played Nick with GCP in Fresno- and he’s thrilled to reprise it here at the Rose Center Theater, where he made his debut in A Christmas Carol. Past credits include Jack Kelly in Newsies, William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Corny Collins in Hairspray. Audiences can expect sharp wit, bold energy, and a leading man who brings heart and hilarity to every scene.

Nick’s wide-eyed younger brother Nigel will be played by Jeremy Kie Vance, making his RCT debut. A graduate of AMDA and a Disneyland performer, Vance has wowed audiences as JD in Heathers: The Musical, George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, and Young Ben in Follies. As the romantic poet who finds love in all the wrong (and right) places, Vance brings an earnestness and comedic timing that makes Nigel a fan favorite.

Taking the spotlight in a leather jacket and poetic flair is Brennan Eckberg as The Bard himself, William Shakespeare. Eckberg is reprising the role after winning Best Supporting Actor at the MACY Awards for his portrayal in the HBAPA production. Most recently seen as Roger in Rent at Jaxx Theatricals in Hollywood, Brennan is currently honing his craft with the Meisner Technique at Playhouse West. Expect charm, swagger, and a whole lot of Shakespearean rockstar energy.

Playing the resourceful and strong-willed Bea Bottom is returning RCT favorite Tawni Bridenball. Previously seen as Mary Poppins and Cinderella on the RCT stage, Bridenball brings a fierce and funny edge to Nick’s devoted (and occasionally disguised) wife. With a powerhouse voice and impeccable comedic timing, Bea is sure to bring the house down.

• Olivia Aniceto as Portia, a poetry-loving Puritan.

• Chris Caputo as Thomas Nostradamus, the soothsayer with Broadway-sized visions.

• Vincent Aniceto as Brother Jeremiah, Portia’s fire-and-brimstone father.

• Tom Orr as Shylock, a theater-loving moneylender.

• Randall Goddard as Lord Clapham, the foppish theater patron.

• Catherine Dosier, Jillian Matthews, and Colette Peters as the Minstrels, a lively trio that opens the show with wit, flair, and Renaissance charm, guiding the audience through the musical mayhem that follows.

• Scott Juhl as Sir Walter Raleigh, dashing and dramatic nobleman who fancies himself a man of great importance and flair.

The Ensemble includes: Andrew Broome (Snug), Eric Lempinen (Francis Flute), Jeffrey Johns (Robin), Sean Ower (Peter Quince), Ben Tietz (Snout), Nathan Willingham (Horacio), Nathan Andreas, Sofia Aniceto, Cherie Aniceto, Sandy Aniceto, Jaylin Bailey, Taven Blanke, Matthew Candela, Kristin Caputo, Ava Cerami, Kylie Christensen, Ella Collins, Evan DeLaMotta, Nicholas Eristavi, Hannah Fan, Cole Frausto, Kelli Griffin, Jolynn Hallum, Gina Higginbotham, David Hubbard, Kyleah Jackson, Katie Leahy, Josh Martinez, Luke Martucci, Alyssa Manzanares, Kylie Matthews, Savanna Matthews, Jeff Memphin, Hailey Miller, Alyssa Phelen, Brett Popiel, Josh Protzman, Brandon Reyes, Alana Ruhe, Lily Rupe, Madeleine Rupe, Marjorie Stemmler, Puniwai Tietz, SophiaGrace Williams, Karin Williams, and Narumi Yuzawa. Teen Ensemble: Harper Balfany, Ella Cerami, Addison Chang, Ethan Horner, Hailey Ribar, Natalie Sand, Seraphine Tran, Cameron Wynn