Something Rotten! Celebrates First Anniversary and Shakespeare's Birthday Event Lineup

Something Rotten! will celebrate its first year on Broadway with a series of events this weekend in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death on April 23, 1616.

On April 22 at 12:30pm Something Rotten! cast member Eric Sciotto will kick off the sixth annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Sonnet Slam at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. The Sonnet Slam, a free event will feature 154 readers of all ages performing all 154 of Shakespeare’s Sonnets in numerical order. Broadway stars Michael Urie, Dana Ivey, and many more are set to participate.

Other events (both on April 22) will include an in-person $15.95 ticket lottery at the St. James Theatre and a post-show photo opportunity, giving audience members the chance to be part of photo immediately following the conclusion of the show.

Something Rotten!, written by Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick, and John O'Farrell, is a tribute to musical theater set in 1590s England. It follows Nick and Nigel Bottom, a pair of brothers who are desperate to write a play, but are stuck in the shadow of William Shakespeare. When they're told by a local soothsayer that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, they set out to write the world's first musical. Direction and choreography are by Casey Nicholaw.

The production currently stars three-time Tony Award nominee Brian d’Arcy James, two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle, Tony Award nominee John Cariani, Heidi Blickenstaff, two-time Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar, Kate Reinders, David Beach, Edward Hibbert, Gerry Vichi, and André Ward.

For tickets and more information, click here.