Will Chase debuts in B'way's Something Rotten! tonight

Tony nominee Will Chase debuts as The Bard tonight, replacing two-time Tony winner Christian Borle, in Broadway's musical comedy Something Rotten! at the St James Theatre.

Mr Borle played his final performance in the role on 16 July 2016. He will return to the Great White Way and begin previews at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre as Marvin in the upcoming revival of Falsettos from 26 September and will then go on to star as Willy Wonka in the Broadway premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from March 2017.

Will Chase played the role in the first reading of Something Rotten! and also starred alongside Mr Borle in the NBC musical series "Smash." He earned a Tony nomination for 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' and appeared on the Great White Way in 'Rent,' 'Aida,' 'Miss Saigon,' 'The Full Monty,' 'Lennon,' 'High Fidelity,' 'Billy Elliot,' 'The Story of My Life' and 'Nice Work If You Can Get It.' He is also known to TV audiences as Luke Wheeler on "Nashville."

In addition, Josh Grisetti, Leslie Kritzer and Catherine Brunell will also step into the roles of Nigel Bottom, Bea and Portia, respectively, tonight. They replace Tony nominee John Cariani, Heidi Blickenstaff and Kate Reinders, who all played their final performances on 16 July 2016.

The current principal cast of Something Rotten! includes Tony nominee Rob McClure (Nick Bottom), Tony nominee Will Chase (The Bard), Josh Grisetti (Nigel Bottom), Leslie Kritzer (Bea), two-time Tony nominee Brad Oscar (Nostradamus), Catherine Brunell (Portia), Tony nominee David Beach (Brother Jeremiah), Edward Hibbert (Lord Clapham/Master of Justice), Gerry Vichi (Shylock), and André Ward (Minstrel).

Something Rotten! officially opened at Broadway's St James Theatre on 22 April 2015, following previews from 23 March, and is currently booking through to 1 January 2017.

Something Rotten! features music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O'Farrell. The musical comedy is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Casey Nicholaw.

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."

The creative team features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, and hair design by Josh Marquette. Musical direction is by Phil Reno, with arrangements by Glen Kelly and orchestrations by Larry Hochman.

Something Rotten! is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum.

- by Tom Millward