What happens when you take one part “Spamalot,” one part “Book of Mormon,” and add a rhyming couplet (or two) with a large splash of thrilling dance routines? You get the hilarious musical comedy that brings Shakespeare to glorious, vibrant life … “Something Rotten!”

Set in 1595, “Something Rotten!” follows the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two struggling artists struggling to succeed in the Elizabethan theatrical world – constantly in the shadow of The Bard himself, the Renaissance rockstar of the literary world. Written by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! went on to garner 10 Tony nominations for the 2015 Broadway season and played for over 700 performances before spawning numerous national and international tours and productions.

“I saw Something Rotten! on Broadway when it first came out and immediately thought " I must produce this show for Maine State Music Theatre,” says MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark. “The show is the most hilarious I have seen in years – and I’ve seen a lot! It’s got great music and is full of amazing tap dance sequences. It is exactly what people want in this day and age.”

Director/Choreographer Marc Robin continues, “Audiences should expect to laugh and find joy in the Celebration of Musical Theatre at the heart of this production.”

“Something Rotten!” will open with preview performances on Wednesday, Aug. 9 and an official opening on Thursday, Aug. 10 at the Pickard Theatre at Bowdoin College, 1 Bath Road. Performances continue through Aug. 26.

Featured in the cast are Tyler Hanes (Shakespeare), Bryant Martin (Nick Bottom), Jordan DeLeon Nigel Bottom), Lucy Godinez (Bea), Carolyn Anne Miller (Portia), and Blake Hammond (Nostradamus). The ensemble of “Something Rotten!” consists of Alicia Babin, Kelly Bolick, David Buergler, Michael Di Liberto, Stephane Duret, Kevin Earley, Stephanie Maloney, Mateo Melendez, Dennis O’Bannion, Michael Olaribigbe, J.P. Qualters, Hannah Hubbard and Eric Rivas.

MSMT’s production and creative team of “Something Rotten!”-  Marc Robin (director/choreographer), Ben McNaboe (music director), Erik Wakar (associate music director), Tim Markus (production stage manager), Chuck Kading (scenic design), Paul Black (lighting), Shannon Slaton (sound design), Kevin Koski (costume design), Kevin Foster (wig and hair design).

Tickets for “Something Rotten!” can be purchased only by calling the Box Office at 207-725-8769 or visiting www.msmt.org.