The 5th Avenue’s “Something Rotten!”Goes Directly To Broadway; By Passes Seattle Premiere

Seattle and the 5th Avenue’s loss is Broadway’s gain as “Something Rotten!” the new musical will now open in NYC this coming March 2015.

Its Broadway producers are apparently confident they have a hit on their hands with Something Rotten! the new musical that was set to stage its world premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre this spring will now open directly on Broadway.

From the 5th Avenue press release:

Broadway producers announced today that Something Rotten!, an original new musical, will forego its previously scheduled world premiere production at The 5th Avenue Theatre, and open directly at the St. James Theater on Broadway this spring.  Another exciting new musical will be announced shortly to take its place in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s 2014/15 season.

“Although we, as well as our patrons, are disappointed that Something Rotten! will not be on our 5th Avenue stage this season, we are thrilled to have been a part of its development process, and are excited to see it opening so quickly on Broadway,” said 5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong.  “We are also delighted to announce that 5th Avenue patrons holding tickets to see Something Rotten! will actually receive free tickets to the Broadway production.”

Something Rotten! Producer Kevin McCollum said “Seattle is a fantastic theater city and David Armstrong and I have enjoyed working together on many projects over the years.  Largely due to another successful collaboration with David and his team at the 5th Avenue Theatre, an opportunity developed that will now have the production originating in New York.   However, we are excited to welcome subscribers and single ticket buyers to have the first chance to see the new musical at The St. James Theatre in the spring.”

In mid-January, all Something Rotten! ticket holders at The 5th Avenue Theatre will be mailed a voucher valid for a ticket to the Broadway production through September 7, 2015. Additionally, all Something Rotten! ticket holders at The 5th will automatically have their tickets exchanged for performances of the new musical to be announced, and will receive their new tickets with the voucher.

Refunds will be available for those who do not wish to receive tickets to the new 5th Avenue show and see Something Rotten! in New York. Refunds are available by phone at 206-625-1900, or at the Box Office at 1308 5th Avenue in Downtown Seattle.

Hear Ye, Broadway! From the co-director of The Book of Mormon and the producer of Avenue Q comes something original…something fresh…Something Rotten!, a world-premiere musical comedy about the musical comedy that started it all.

Producer Kevin McCollum is proud to announce the Broadway premiere of Something Rotten!, a completely original new musical comedy directed and choreographed by Tony Award^® winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin).  Nicholaw made his professional debut as choreographer of The 5th Avenue’s first new musical, The Prince and the Pauper in 2001, and returned to The 5th in 2011 to direct the world premiere of Disney’s Aladdin.

Something Rotten! features music and lyrics by Grammy Award^® winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe Award^® nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O’Farrell, and will begin previews March 23, opening officially on April 22, 2015 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44^th Street).

Something Rotten! is set in 1590s England and centers on the creation of the world first musical. Casting for the Broadway production has not been announced but a recent reading of the musical included Tony winners Christian Borle (most recently seen with beefed up arms as Smee in the TV production of Peter Pan) and Beth Leavel, with John Cariani, Brian d’Arcy James, Brad Oscar, Kate Reinders,  and local Seattle based actors Allen Fitzpatrick and Jeff Steitzer. Final casting will announced in the coming weeks.