Casting Performers for "Something Rotten" Play

Male Presenting Vocal Range: A2-G4 A struggling playwright who is frustrated with his lack of success. As head of a theatre troupe, he is desperate to outdo Shakespeare and create the next big thing in theater. Nick is driven by his desire to succeed, even if it means resorting to extreme measures. Ambitious, jealous, determined, but also somewhat clueless. Nigel’s older brother.

Male Presenting Vocal Range: Eb3-A4 Nick’s younger brother, Nigel, is a talented but more idealistic playwright who is far less concerned with fame and more interested in writing meaningful theater. He is far more innocent than Nick and has a deep love for poetry. Sweet, sincere, and naive. Nigel represents the artistic side of theater, contrasting with Nick’s more mercenary approach.

Male Presenting Vocal Range: Ab2-Ab4 The Bard! A Rockstar in the Elizabethan Theatre scene and rival to the Bottom brothers. Shakespeare is depicted as an egotistical rock star of the Elizabethan theater scene, boasting of his talent and allure. While he's undeniably talented, he is also self-centered and somewhat pretentious. Arrogant, charming, flashy, and full of himself with a modern, rock-star swagger.

Female Presenting Vocal Range: D3-D5 Nick’s wife. She loves and supports him despite his questionable decision making and lack of success. She dresses up like a man to prove she can be an actor. She is a strong leader and a powerful woman who is quite persuasive when she wants to be.

Female Presenting Vocal Range: G3-F#5 A quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street. Portia is the only daughter of Brother Jeremiah and the love interest to Nigel Bottom. They fall madly in love with each other over their mutual love for Shakespeare and poetry. Portia and Nigel set out to convince Jeremiah and the other puritans that they should be together rather than following the "star-crossed lovers" idea.

Male Presenting A mysterious character who provides Nick with a vision of the future. In this vision, Nick sees Shakespeare’s eventual decline and is given the idea to create the first-ever musical (which he believes will be the next big trend). Mysterious, all-knowing, and slightly eccentric. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Male Presenting Vocal Range: G3-G4 The Puritan father of Portia. He is very strict and refuses to let her daughter engage in "fulfilling her lustful desires". He shows nothing but disrespect towards everyone, but especially playwrights like Nick and Nigel. A deeply repressed Puritan. He despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly.

Male Presenting An extravagant Lord patron of their theater, a lesser Lord. Also doubles as the Master of Justice and Ensemble.

Male Presenting A money lender to whom Nick and Nigel are in debt. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Male Presenting Vocal Range: C#3-A4 A character that narrates some parts of the story and serves as the "guide" for the audience. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Male Presenting An actor in Nick Bottom’s troupe. Sassy, sarcastic, at his wit’s end. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Male Presenting An actor in Nick Bottom’s troupe. Skeptical of Nigel’s flowery writing and hungry for more accessible scripts. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Male Presenting An actor in Nick Bottom’s troupe, Robin plays the female roles in Nick and Nigel’s plays. Also doubles as Ensemble.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.

Ensemble. ​Male & Female Presenting. Strong singers and dancers to play various characters during the Renaissance.