PARK CITY — Everyone loves Shakespeare, right? Well apparently not everyone. On June 3, Park City’s Egyptian Theater opened Something Rotten, a hilarious musical that pokes fun at the legendary bard. Produced by the Ziegfeld Theater Arts, director Jennifer Westfall crafts an irreverent evening of fun that certainly didn’t smell rotten to the audience. With nods to some of Shakespeare’s most famous works, as well as easter eggs from some of the most famous musicals of the last century, Something Rotten feels like a fantastic fever dream with a renaissance backdrop. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Egyptian Theater as the jewel of Park City’s main street.
Something Rotten explores the theatrical journey of Nick and Nigel Bottom, down on their luck playwrights scrambling for a smash success. Overshadowed by their rival Will Shakespeare, Nick turns to a soothsayer to predict the next big thing in theater: musicals! The brothers quickly begin work on the world’s first musical, but Nick’s ambition spirals out of control. It’s up to Nigel to show him the best policy is “to thine own self be true.”
Jonas Stone brought animated expressions and great physicality to the role of Nigel Bottom. Not only could he sing, he enunciated his lines so the often complex language came across more clearly. His body language reflected his character, slouching, straightening, and then embracing who he was as the play progressed. He also generated a great deal of laughter from the audience with his comical body language, such as when he imitated a dog turning circles before laying down.
Colton Ward made for the perfect William Shakespeare. His exuberant flair, expansive movements, and devious facial expressions transformed the historical figure of Shakespeare into more of a 90s rock legend. From his black nail polish down to his tight leather trousers, Ward gave off the roguish charm of a man who lives for the spotlight. He certainly didn’t make it look “Hard to Be the Bard.” Austin Payne played Nostradamus (the soothsayer, or fortune teller) with complete commitment to the goofy character. His dancing and physical movements were bold and unencumbered by doubt or nerves. He caroused around the stage, bringing merriment to the audience with his farcical jokes.
The music of Something Rotten was hysterical. Alexandra Kalaher, music director, highlighted the quality of the actors’ voices. Joan Dunn, who played Nick Bottom’s wife, showed off her ability to project during the songs. She belted out her songs with fervor. Riley Plott played Portia, Nigel Bottom’s love interest. Plott’s voice soared, hitting the notes crisply then fluidly moving on to the next. Her technical skill was evident as her voice worked in tandem with Stone’s.
Tragically, the background music occasionally drowned out the actors singing, or the mics didn’t turn on in time to catch everything. Combining this with the fact that many of the songs had run-on phrases with long words throughout made it a bit difficult to follow everything that was sung.
Choreographer Keely Parry mesmerized with his dance numbers both large and small. From a full chorus kick line to a tap battle to a sultry ensemble piece, there was variety to the types of dance employed. The flexibility of the dancers displayed grace. The movements ranged from striking to saucy, but everyone stayed in sync for the group numbers. The tap dancing numbers were more technically impressive, but the energy of the group numbers often shook the theater floor.
Costume designer Karly Van Komen fit the pieces to the tone of the show. While the cut and style of the costumes was reminiscent of the renaissance, the vivid colors and patterns matched the fanciful nature of the show. Indeed, putting Shakespeare in sexy, tight black leather pants and an open chested ruffled white shirt blended the modern ideas of a showboating goth with the more factual image of the sixteenth century scholar. There was also the volume of costumes used for the show. The chorus had different costumes for many of the songs, including a memorable group wearing white dresses with large round yellow pillows in the middle, looking like a group of sunny-side-up eggs because that was precisely what they were.
Something Rotten is a bit nonsensical, a bit raunchy, and a bit audacious. For fans of Shakespeare, there are dozens of wonderful moments where the Bard’s more famous lines are used out of context. For fans of musical theater, easter eggs from Annie, Shrek, and everything in between can be found. For fans of more explicit humor, there were certainly enough dirty jokes to make a nun (or a puritan priest) blush. This is not a show meant for children, but rather one for adults who wish to enjoy the childish wonder theater can create. Say “Welcome to the Renaissance” and catch this merry show before it’s gone.
Editor’s Note: This is a review of the same production of Something Rotten that recently performed at the Ziegfield Theater in Salt Lake City. You can read our review of the production at that theater here.
MORE INFO: SOMETHING ROTTEN is currently playing at the Egyptian Theater (328 Main St, Park City, UT 84060) performed by the Ziegfeld Theater Arts. Performances are held at 8:00 PM on select evenings, with a 3:00 PM matinee on Saturday June 6. The final performance is at 5:00 PM on June 7, 2026. Tickets for Something Rotten typically range from $45 to $70. Paid parking is available behind the venue at the China Bridge Parking center, or along the street. For the most up-to-date schedule, performance details, and official ticketing, visit the Egyptian Theater website: https://parkcityshows.com/