Bill Mutimer, artistic producing director for Northampton Community College's Summer Theatre program, has announced the Lehigh Valley premiere of the Broadway hit musical comedy, Something Rotten!. The show will be presented by NCC's professional company of actors and production staff, and opens on Wednesday, June 29 for a three-week run.
Something Rotten! follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world of 1595 as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary William Shakespeare. Along the way they get assistance from Nick's wife, Bea, and a soothsayer named Nostradamus (a nephew of the famous prophet).
The book is by John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, with music and lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick; the team's most recent Broadway offering was the musical adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire. The local production is directed by Mutimer, with musical direction by Lucille De Masi Kincaid and choreography by Tina Williams.
Jarrod Yuskauskas, who is familiar to local audiences for roles in Annie, Hello Dolly, Addams Family, Spamalot, and SantaLand Diaries, will be seen as Nick Bottom. He played Rev. Shaw Moore in NCC's season opener, Footloose: The Musical, and is currently appearing in Jeffrey as Sterling.
The Director of the Theatre program at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Yuskauskas will be appearing once again with Meredith Doyle, who plays his wife Bea. Doyle is a former NYC-based actor who appeared with him in Gypsy and My Fair Lady at Muhlenberg College Summer Theatre.
The role of Nigel Bottom will be played by Jake Ziman, a professional actor who recently graduated from Millikin University. Previous roles include Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors and Doody in Grease; he is also slated to appear in NCC's season finale, RENT as Mark.
Ric Stoneback, a NYC-based actor, takes on the role of Nostradamus. Stoneback was in NCC's summer 2018 production of 1776 as Ben Franklin; he has played Samuel Chase in that show in eight productions, including on Broadway. He has numerous TV show credits, including upcoming episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as roles in many movies and commercials.
Something Rotten! will be performed Wednesdays “ Saturdays (June 29-July 2; July 6-9; and July 13-16) at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays (July 3, 10 and 17) at 2 p.m. It will be presented in NCC's Lipkin Theatre with reserved seating.
Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for seniors 65+; and $10 for children. They can be ordered online at ncctix.org; contact the Box Office at 484-484-3412 or