Playhouse Will Get Off to a Silly Start with ‘Something Rotten’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Playhouse’s centennial season will move to its home stage this weekend with the comic musical “Something Rotten.”

The season got off to an auspicious start in August with its Broadway-caliber production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Powers Auditorium.

“Something Rotten” will mark the first show of the season on the Playhouse’s home turf – it’s venerable Glenwood Avenue theater.

A hilarious theater spoof set in Shakespearean times, “Something Rotten” has earned a Tony Award and multiple nominations.

It’s also a very appropriate choice for the Playhouse’s centennial season for a more subtle reason.

“What I love so much about this show is that it has all these homages to other shows that I grew up loving,” said Emma Wason, who is directing the production.

Wason, who has been involved in theater since she was a child, can easily pick up on every reference to other musicals in “Something Rotten.”

But she says folks who are not deeply immersed in theater will easily understand it and love it.

Wason also pointed out that many of the old musicals that “Something Rotten” is winking at have been performed over the past century on the Playhouse stage.

John Cox, president of the Playhouse board of directors, said the theater wanted to start its centennial season off with a musical and a lot of laughs. With its zany sitcom style, “Something Rotten” certainly fits that description.

The musical was written by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick.

It is set in London in the year 1595, where struggling theater operators Nick and Nigel Bottom hit upon what they believe will be the next big thing in theater: the musical.

They set about to outshine the reigning superstar of theater at the time, William Shakespeare.

“Something Rotten” debuted on Broadway in 2015 and ran for over 700 performances. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and took home one.

The Playhouse production has an enormous cast.

Principal actors are Al McKinnon and Zavier Rubante as Nick and Nigel Bottom, respectively; Liam Burk as William Shakespeare; and Tyler Stouffer as Nostradamus.

Significant roles are also played by Rachel Franek, Rachael Conrad, Kaleb McFarland, Ethan Hess, David Leach and Terry Shears.

Troupe members are portrayed by Tyler Alexander, Nate Chapline, Samuel Long, Arcale Peace and Alec Topocer.

The female ensemble consists of Brooke Fordham, Keri Jennings, Allyson Kremm, Jessica Ludovici, Alyssa Moore, Carly Moritz, Maggie Mutchler, Patricia Shears, Savanna Wade and Maria Ceraolo.

Featured dancers are Concetta Ceraolo, Madeline Grayham, Ava Hite, Gigi Infante, Alex Mahan, Faith McCleary, Phoebe Voorhies, Sloane Voorhies, Maddie Wason and Hannah Watts.

The children’s ensemble is Vincent Ceraolo, Livi Infante, Hope McCleary, Emarie Voorhies and Julianna Wason.

The opening night performance will be preceded by a season opening party. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets can be purchased for $19 at youngstownplayhouse.org.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and 27-28; and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29. Tickets range from $17 to $22 and are available at the website or by calling 330 259 9651.

Pictured at top: Zavier Rubante and Al McKinnon in a scene from The Youngstown Playhouse production of “Something Rotten.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.