Jonesborough Repertory Theatre presents 'Something Rotten!'

Dancing eggs, tap numbers and a Tudor makeover take over Jonesborough Repertory Theatre as "Something Rotten!" hits the stage. The community theater will present "Something Rotten!" from Feb. 27 through March 15. The musical comedy, which premiered on Broadway in 2015, was written by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell. Director Jennifer Ross-Bernhardt said the show has been on the company's radar for years. "When this play was on Broadway, a group of us were fortunate enough to see the show with original cast members," Ross-Bernhardt said. "It was just so much fun from the beginning to the end, and so witty and clever. We decided then whenever this show is released, we've got to do this show. It's just perfect for our theater." Jonesborough Repertory Theatre typically stages nine mainstage productions each year, five of which are typically musicals. "Our audiences love musicals," she said. "Typically our shows are very family friendly because we've just learned that's what our audiences like." Set in the 1590s, the musical follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they struggle to write a hit play while competing with William Shakespeare, portrayed as a Renaissance rock star. In a twist, a less-than-reliable soothsayer predicts that the future of theater will include singing and dancing, prompting the brothers to attempt the world's first musical — titled "Omelet" instead of "Hamlet." "The joke is, of course, Nick and Nigel are playwright wannabes," Ross-Bernhardt said. "No one is better than Shakespeare in this era. Shakespeare is portrayed as a rock star. It's very, very funny." She added that audiences should not expect traditional Shakespearean language. "I do not want people to think they're coming to a Shakespeare play because they are not," she said. "It's very contemporary with Shakespeare references, of course, but it's very, very funny." Ross-Bernhardt said the production includes references to roughly 50 other musicals and leans into physical comedy. "We have dancing eggs and omelets on stage during the show because they get it so wrong," she said. "They've missed it by a mile." Preparing a musical requires more time and coordination than a non-musical production, she said. The theater brings together a director, music director and choreographer, with rehearsals typically beginning nine weeks before opening night. "A musical involves dancing, singing," Ross-Bernhardt said. "You'll learn the music first. Then you'll work on your choreography and then the blocking. So everything will come together in a timely manner and an easier manner for the actors." She said this production also makes full use of the theater's intimate space, transformed into a Tudor-style setting. "We have Tudorized our entire stage area and it looks really good," she said. "You almost feel like you're at Disney World in a Tudor mansion or something. They built these beautiful Tudor windows with flickering candles and lanterns everywhere. It really puts you in the moment." Ross-Bernhardt praised the cast and creative team, including choreographer Jessica Shelton and technical staff who helped design the detailed set. "Our cast is incredible for this show," she said. "The singing, the acting, the dancing — she has really outdone herself. There's lots of tap dancing, which is always entertaining." Ross-Bernhardt said the goal of the production is to send people home smiling. "I hope they leave our theater having their hearts lightened," Ross-Bernhardt said. "For two hours, they just laugh and have so much fun and forget all their problems. They come out with a smile on their face. That's what this is all about. You just got to have fun."