D'Arcy James & Borle to star in Something Rotten!

Producer Kevin McCollum has now officially confirmed that Broadway and 'Smash' alumni Brian d'Arcy James and Christian Borle will star in the upcoming new musical comedy Something Rotten!. The production will open at Broadway's St James Theatre on 22 April 2015, following previews from 23 March.

Brian d'Arcy James (Nick Bottom) earned Tony nominations for 'Shrek the Musical' (2009) and 'Sweet Smell of Success' (2002). Other Broadway credits include 'Macbeth,' 'Time Stands Still,' 'Next To Normal,' 'The Apple Tree,' 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' 'Titanic,' 'Carousel,' and 'Blood Brothers.' He also appeared in the NBC series 'Smash' as Frank Houston.

Christian Borle (The Bard) won a Tony Award in 2012 for 'Peter and the Starcatcher' and earned a nomination for 'Legally Blonde' in 2007. Other Broadway credits include 'Spamalot,' 'Mary Poppins,' 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' 'Amour,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' and 'Footloose.' He co-starred with d'Arcy James in 'Smash' as Tom Levitt and also appeared recently in NBC's 'Peter Pan Live!'

Additional casting and creative team will be announced in the coming weeks.

Something Rotten! is billed as a "completely original new musical comedy" and will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, who is currently represented on Broadway by 'The Book of Mormon' and 'Aladdin'. It features music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, with book by Karey Kirkpatrick and author John O'Farrell.

Synopsis: "Welcome to the '90s — the 1590s — long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting and reminders to turn off your cell phones. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar 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! was set to run in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theatre in April 2015, but has since shelved these plans in order to open in the St James Theatre on Broadway following the early closure of Side Show.

- by Tom Millward