About the artist
The Original Broadway Cast of Something Rotten! recorded the cast album for the 2015 musical comedy created by Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and John O’Farrell. Set in 1590s England, the show follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, struggling playwrights competing in the shadow of William Shakespeare, who resort to a soothsayer’s prophecy of «the musical» to try to outshine the Bard.
The recording is filled with pastiche numbers that lovingly parody Broadway conventions, weaving references to dozens of well-known musicals into an original score. Big ensemble numbers like «Welcome to the Renaissance» and «A Musical» sit alongside character-driven songs such as «Hard to Be the Bard» and «God, I Hate Shakespeare», showcasing the show’s blend of tap-inflected comedy, show-tune bombast, and self-aware humor.
The production received Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and its cast recording is valued by musical theatre fans for capturing the fast-paced wit and meta-theatrical energy that made the show a favorite among genre enthusiasts, even as it remained something of a cult favorite rather than a mainstream crossover hit.