Tony Winner Christian Borle & Brian d’Arcy James Will Star in Broadway’s Something Rotten

Tony winner Christian Borle and two-time Tony nominee Brian d’Arcy James will return to Broadway in Something Rotten, reprising their roles from the tuner’s October workshop. The new musical comedy, which features a score by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, will begin performances on March 23 at the St. James Theatre. Opening night for the Casey Nicholaw-helmed production is scheduled for April 22.

Borle won a Tony Award for Peter and the Starcatcher and was nominated for his performance in Legally Blonde. Additional Broadway credits include Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot and Footloose. He has appeared on screen in NBC’s Peter Pan Live! and The Sound of Music Live!, as well as Masters of Sex. James received Tony nominations for Shrek and Sweet Smell of Success. His additional New York stage credits include Giant, Time Stands Still, Next to Normal, The Apple Tree, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Titanic and Blood Brothers. Both Borle and James appeared in the NBC series Smash.

Set in the 1590s, Something Rotten follows brothers Nick (d’Arcy James) and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar known as “The Bard" (Borle). When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self...and all that jazz.

Additional casting and creative team will be announced at a later date. The workshop also featured Beth Leavel, John Cariani, Brad Oscar, Allen Fitzpatrick, Kate Reinders, Jeff Steitzer and Gerry Vichi.