For their spring musical, the Tyler Junior College departments of music, theatre and dance will take a Shakespearean spin with the comic farce, “Something Rotten.”
The show runs 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 23-26 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, in Wise Auditorium located in the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors ages 65 and up, students and active military. The show is not recommended for young children.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the performing arts center box office. Box office hours are 1-6 p.m. weekdays. For reservations, call 903-510-2212. Beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, tickets can be purchased online at TJC.edu/PerformingArts/Tickets.
Created by Grammy-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, “Something Rotten” has been hailed by audiences and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations, and was called “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years” by Time Out New York.
Set in 1590s England, the story revolves around brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but find themselves overshadowed by 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 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 thine own art.
“Something Rotten” features splashy musical numbers and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, with each given their special moment to shine.
Characters, cast members and their hometowns: Nick Bottom, played by Robbie Wilt of Tyler; Bea Bottom, played by Maddy Kimble of Winona; Nigel Bottom, played by Edmund Davies of Whitehouse; Portia, played by Addi Saxton of Tyler; Shakespeare, played by Colby Raasch of Argyle; Brother Jeremiah, played by Timothy Wright of Longview; Nostradamus, played by Juan Hernandez of Tyler; Minstrel/Ensemble, played by Manny Matatila of Arlington; Lady Clapham, played by Jordan Miller of West Monroe, Louisiana; Shylock, played by Dylan Preston of Ferris; Robin Goodfellow/Ensemble, played by Jackson Holmes of Whitehouse; Tom Snout/Ensemble, played by Ian Martin of Tyler; Peter Quince/Ensemble, played by Ryan Lounsbury of Whitehouse; Snug/Ensemble, played by Nick Ellis of Tyler; Troupe Members/Ensemble, played by Levi McCaskill of Tyler and Devin Myers of Tyler.
Ensemble players: D’Avianna Crockett-Bickman of Tyler; Avery Broussard of Colmesneil; Olivia Domain of Ferris; Audrey Lassanske of Chandler; Savannah Mack of Gilmer; Trinity McCarley of Mabank; Liah Severino of Keller; Maria Sarri of Thessaloniki, Greece; and Skyler Strickland of Hughes Springs.
Faculty production staff: Rebecca Faulds-Howard, stage director and costume design; Charles Praytor, music director; Carolyn Hanna, choreographer; Denise Weatherly-Green, stage director and set and property design; Jacob L. Davis, lighting design; Bryce McWilliams, sound; and Dr. David W. Crawford, theatre management.
Student production staff: Gracie Johnson of Krum, stage manager and assistant director;
Shay Van Leer of Lindale, assistant stage manager/directors’ assistant; and Matthew Craig of Brownsboro, assistant director.
For more information on upcoming TJC cultural arts events, go to TJC.edu/PerformingArts.