MTI musical · Broadway Junior
Something Rotten! JR.Script, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Broadway Junior
- Large cast (21+)
- Roles: 3 women · 6 men · 16 any-gender + ensemble
- PG
The printed Something Rotten! JR. script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
Something Rotten! JR. synopsis
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell · Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Travel back to the Renaissance for an hour of musical comedy gold in Something Rotten! JR. Adapted from the Broadway hit that Time Out New York hailed as "the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years," Something Rotten! JR. celebrates one undeniable truth: “nothing’s as amazing as a musical!”
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! JR. features large song and dance numbers, and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, each with their own moment to shine. Don’t miss your chance to bring this history-twisting tale to your stage!
Full synopsis
A banner reading 'SOMETHING ROTTEN!' hangs onstage as Tudor buildings are revealed on a Renaissance-era 1595 South London street ("Welcome To The Renaissance"). A Minstrel and Townspeople laud the societal advances being made, while a group of Puritans, including Brother Jeremiah and Portia, disapprove. The Minstrel explains that, unless you're superstar William Shakespeare, being a playwright is difficult ("Welcome To The Renaissance - Playoff").
Inside the theater, Nick Bottom rehearses with the Troupe, including Tom Snout, Robin, Peter Quince, and Nigel. Their patron, Lord Clapham, announces that Shakespeare has written a version of Richard II, the play the Troupe has been rehearsing, and demands they write a new play by the next day. Nick is frustrated ("Man, I Hate Shakespeare").
Back at home, Nick and Nigel are searching for a new idea when Shylock interrupts to collect Nick's debt. Shylock offers to become Nick's patron, but Nick refuses. Bea offers to get a job to help with expenses ("Right Hand Man"). Bea leaves to find work, Nigel tries to write, and Nick laments his situation ("Man, I Hate Shakespeare - Reprise"). Suddenly, Nick has an idea and heads to Soothsayer Alley, where Nostradamus tells him that the future of theater is… musicals ("A Musical; A Musical - Tag")!
Nigel and Portia meet and fall instantly in love, but Portia is unattainable as Brother Jeremiah's daughter. Nick tells Nigel about the musical and shares his first idea for a show: ("The Black Death"). Brother Jeremiah does not approve, and Lord Clapham ends his patronage, since Brother Jeremiah could jeopardize Lord Clapham's relationship with the Queen. Nick vows to solve the Troupe's money problem.
At the market, Nick and Nigel encounter Bea in disguise. She's gotten a job and is quickly called back to work by the Foreman. Nick leaves to find a new patron. In disguise, Portia enters and recites a verse of Nigel's poetry, impressed by his talent ("I Love The Way"). They are interrupted by a Messenger with an invitation from Shakespeare to attend a recitation in the park. Shylock offers Nick his services as patron yet again and reveals that Nigel is attending Shakespeare's recitation.
The crowd gathers for Shakespeare's dazzling recitation ("Will Power"). Shakespeare spots Nigel and Portia in the crowd ("Shakespeare's After Party 1"; "Shakespeare's After Party 2") and offers to read Nigel's poetry, but Nick accuses Shakespeare of stealing ideas. Brother Jeremiah takes Portia away, and Nigel goes after her. Nick finally agrees to take Shylock as a patron.
In Soothsayer Alley, Nick pays Nostradamus to look into the future for Shakespeare's greatest play: Omelette! Nick dreams of his new life as a famous playwright ("Nick Bottom's Gonna Be On Top").
Shakespeare finds out about Nick's plan from Eyepatch Man, and he vows to investigate.
The Troupe rehearses the musical ("It's Eggs"), and Shakespeare, disguised as Toby Belch, joins the production. Nigel sneaks off to visit Portia.
Nigel reads Portia the sonnet he's written for her. He is worried about approval from her father and his brother, but she encourages him to speak from his heart ("We See The Light"; "We See The Light - Playoff"). Unfortunately, Brother Jeremiah vows to lock Portia in a tower before sending her to Scotland. Taking Portia's advice, Nigel writes from his heart ("Nigel's Theme") and presents the new pages to the Troupe. They are very good, unlike Nick's musical, and Nigel tries to explain his inspiration ("To Thine Own Self Be True"). Nick and Nigel fight, Shakespeare takes Nigel's pages, and Shylock reveals that Omelette The Musical is sold out. Bea encourages Nigel to stick with Nick.
The Troupe performs the musical ("Something Rotten") with a hilarious jumble of musical theater references and a big production number ("Make An Omelette"), complete with EGGS. In the middle of the performance, Shakespeare reveals himself and tells everyone what Nick has done.
Nick is put on trial, where a Master Of The Justice will decide his fate. Bea arrives in disguise to act as Nick's lawyer and puts forth a plea of temporary insanity. Nick agrees and apologies ("To Thine Own Self - Reprise"). Then, Bea calls Shakespeare to the stand ("Shakespeare In Court 1)". Shakespeare convinces the Master of the Justice to banish Nick and Nigel rather than behead them ("Shakespeare In Court 2").
Nick, Nigel, Bea, and Portia leave England for the New World ("Welcome To America").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
Something Rotten! JR. characters & vocal ranges
The Something Rotten! JR. musical has 24 named roles plus an ensemble, for a large cast (21+). Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.
| Character | Written as | Vocal range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minstrel | Not listed | F4–E3 | Opens the show by welcoming the audience to the Renaissance! The Minstrel joins the ensemble for the rest of the show. |
| Brother Jeremiah | Male | G5–E4 | A Puritan and Portia’s father. He sees sin wherever he looks and does not approve of the theater especially Nick and Nigel’s Troupe. |
| Portia | Female | D5–E3 | A Puritan and Brother Jeremiah’s daughter. She is passionate about poetry even though she isn’t technically allowed to read it. |
| William Shakespeare | Male | G5–E4 | The most famous playwright in Tudor England. Though Shakespeare is extremely successful, he’s always on the lookout for inspiration, which sometimes includes borrowing ideas from others. |
| Nick Bottom | Male | F5–G3 | A struggling playwright who dreams – much to his own chagrin – of having a career like Shakespeare’s. Though Nick is artistically frustrated and stressed about leading the Troupe, he means well, even if his actions aren’t always exactly ethical. |
| Nigel Bottom | Male | G#5–C4 | Nick’s sweet younger brother, lacks the confidence he needs to write until he falls in love with Portia. Inspired by her confidence in him, Nigel writes verses worthy of Shakespeare himself! |
| Troupe | Not listed | Not listed | Peter Quince, Robin, Tom Snout, Snug, Francis Flute These fun character parts sing as a group but have no solos. Peter, Robin, Tom, and Francis have spoken lines. |
| Lord Clapham | Male | Not listed | A posh patron of the theater. He abandons the Troupe as their patron once they cross Brother Jeremiah. |
| Shylock | Male | Not listed | Banned from any profession other than moneylending, but theatre is his true love, and he wants nothing more than to become the Troupe’s patron |
| Bea | Female | F3–Eb2 | Married to Nick and loves him in spite of his lack of success in the theatre. She is whip-smart, is resourceful, and always looks on the bright side of any situation. |
| Nostradamus | Female | B4–F#3 | Not the Nostradamus, but his niece, Nancy – can see the future, although with varying degrees of accuracy. Her predictions, for better or worse, lead the Troupe to produce their very first musical. |
| Foreman | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Messenger | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Announcer | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Attendant | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Doorman | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Panicked Woman | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Valet | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Eyepatch Man | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Horatio | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Footman | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Master of the Justice | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Court Scribe | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Clerk | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ensemble | Not listed | Not listed | Townspeople (Solo 1, Solo 2, Solo 3, Solo 4), Puritans (Puritan 1, Puritan 2, Puritan 3, Puritan 4), Crowd (1st Person In Crowd, 2nd Person In Crowd, 3rd Person In Crowd, Astrologers (Astrologer), Psychics, Fortune Tellers, Chorus, Grim Reapers, Eggs (Sad Little Egg), Guards |
Something Rotten! JR. song list
- Welcome to the Renaissance
- Man, I Hate Shakespeare
- Right Hand Man
- Man, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)
- A Musical
- The Black Death
- I Love The Way
- Will Power
- Nick Bottom’s Gonna Be On Top
- It’s Eggs
- We See The Light
- Nigel’s Theme
- To Thine Own Self Be True
- Something Rotten
- Make An Omelette
- To Thine Own Self (Reprise)
- Welcome To America
How to get the Something Rotten! JR. script & Piano/Vocal Score
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