NEWS RELEASE
STRATFORD FESTIVAL
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This year at the Stratford Festival, it’s hard to be the Bard! The Stratford Festival begins its 2024 season with Something Rotten! directed and choreographed by Donna Feore led by Starr Domingue, Henry Firmston, Jeff Lillico and Mark Uhre.
The story follows the Bottom brothers, two struggling playwrights in Renaissance London, who need to make a hit. That’s easier said than done when your chief competition is local rockstar William Shakespeare. The Bottom brothers’ plan: write the world’s first musical! This rollicking song-and-dance extravaganza, which was nominated for 10 Tony Awards during its smash Broadway run, sends up the Bard and Broadway and everything in between. Best of all, it can be enjoyed without CliffsNotes!
“On a stage as renowned for musicals as for Shakespeare, the opportunity to smash the two together into one magical event is irresistible,” says Feore. “Something Rotten! is both a tribute to, and a very clever riff on, what we love best about musicals and the Bard.”
Something Rotten! features Starr Domingue as Bea, Henry Firmston as Nigel Bottom, Jeff Lillico as Shakespeare, Mark Uhre as Nick Bottom, Dan Chameroy as Nostradamus, Juan Chioran as Brother Jeremiah, Steve Ross as Shylock, and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Portia, with Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Michelle Bardach, Carla Bennett, Devon Michael Brown, Jeremy Carver-James, Jarret Cody, Josh Doig, Jordan Goodridge, Alexandra Gratton, Bonnie Jordan, Alex Kelly, Heather Kosik, Bethany Kovarik, Amanda Lundgren, Gracie Mack, Anthony MacPherson, Jordan Mah, Kevin ‘Koovy’ McLachlan, Jamie Murray, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah and Jason Sermonia.
The Music Director is Laura Burton, marking her 45th season at the Stratford Festival. Feore and Burton are joined by Set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Lighting Designer Bonnie Beecher and Sound Designer Haley Parcher.
Something Rotten! officially opens on May 28 and runs until October 27 at the Festival Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
The 2024 season also features Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, London Assurance, La Cage aux Folles, Wendy and Peter Pan, Salesman in China, Cymbeline, Hedda Gabler, The Diviners, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Get That Hope. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.
The 2024 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis. Proud 2024 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group and RBC.
Support for the 2024 season of the Festival Theatre is generously provided by Daniel Bernstein & Claire Foerster.
Production Co-Sponsor is RBC.
Production support is generously provided by John & Therese Gardner, Robert & Mary Ann Gorlin, The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation, and Riki Turofsky & Charles Petersen.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
Eric Abel Ensemble
Gabriel Antonacci Ensemble
Michelle Bardach Understudy
Carla Bennett Ensemble
Devon Michael Brown Ensemble
Jeremy Carver-James Minstrel
Dan Chameroy Nostradamus
Juan Chioran Brother Jeremiah
Jarret Cody Swing
Josh Doig Swing
Starr Domingue Bea
Henry Firmston Nigel Bottom
Jordan Goodridge Ensemble
Alexandra Gratton Swing
Bonnie Jordan Ensemble
Alex Kelly Ensemble
Heather Kosik Swing
Bethany Kovarik Ensemble
Jeff Lillico Shakespeare
Amanda Lundgren Ensemble
Gracie Mack Ensemble
Anthony MacPherson Ensemble
Jordan Mah Ensemble
Kevin ‘Koovy’ McLachlan Ensemble
Jamie Murray Ensemble
Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah Lady Clapham
Steve Ross Shylock
Jason Sermonia Dance Captain, Ensemble
Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane Portia
Mark Uhre Nick Bottom
ARTISTIC CREDITS
Director Donna Feore
Choreographer Donna Feore
Music Director Laura Burton
Set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco
Lighting Designer Bonnie Beecher
Sound Designer Haley Parcher
Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly
Assistant Director Monique Lund
Associate Choreographer Stephan Dickson
Assistant Choreographer Julius Sermonia
Assistant Set Designer Freddy Van Camp
Associate Costume Designer Rebecca Chaikin
Assistant Lighting Designer Linas Kairys
Assistant Lighting Designer Sruthi Suresan
Associate Sound Designer Kurt Conway
Assistant Sound Designer Adam Campbell
Associate Conductor James Smith
Associate Fight Director David Chinchilla
Stage Manager Cynthia Toushan
Assistant Stage Manager Erin Fitzgerald
Assistant Stage Manager Tiffany Fraser
Assistant Stage Manager Théa Pel
Production Stage Manager Krista Blackwood
Production Assistant Lourdess Sumners
Technical Director Robbin Cheesman
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