The fictional creation of the first musical is what drives a farce that Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre is staging.
Rated PG-13, “Something Rotten!” runs July 29 to Aug. 7 at Oak View Center’s Erica Heilmann Theatre in Oak Lawn.
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Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 29-30 and Aug. 5-6; 3 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 7.
“It is set in the Renaissance time period and it is essentially two brothers who set out to write something that is better than William Shakespeare so they set out to write the world’s first musical before musicals were ever invented,” said Laura Hilger, director of “Something Rotten!”
The original Broadway production of “Something Rotten!” was nominated for several Tony Awards including best musical and best book of a musical for Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell.
That production also was nominated for a Tony for best original score for Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, who (along with songwriters Gordon Kennedy and Tommy Sims) previously won the Grammy Award for song of the year for Eric Clapton’s “Change the World.”
“This show is so funny. It is so witty and so clever. The music is very catchy. The dancing that you will see onstage is unlike anything you have seen at a community theater in a very long time. You don’t need to have an understanding of Shakespeare or of theater to enjoy the show,” said Hilger of Orland Park.
“Those that do have an understanding of Shakespeare and do have background in theater will find all of the Easter eggs hidden with the script and it will make coming to see ‘Something Rotten!’ a musical scavenger hunt.”
Described as a “mashup of 16th century Shakespeare and 21st century Broadway,” “Something Rotten!” features more than 50 actors including residents of Chicago, Frankfort, Lemont, Mokena, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Westmont and Madison, Wisconsin.
“I am just amazed every single day walking into rehearsal at the energy and the positivity and the passion that is coming from this cast. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before,” said Hilger, who is also director of speech and theater at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights.
“I will show up to rehearsal an hour earlier than rehearsal’s called and walk in to various cast members there early running over their dances, running over their lines, running over the music just on their own time.
“We are putting in so much work in the rehearsal process and the cast is taking it into their own hands and making sure they are putting in everything they are capable of to make this show something special. This is exactly what it has become.”
The crew for “Something Rotten!” includes Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Lansing, Oak Lawn and Tinley Park residents.
“I’ve been doing their Broadway Jr. program. I did their teen shows. I’ve been a part of many adult productions, but this is my first time directing on that stage, which is something so special to me. I feel so grateful to have been selected to direct this show,” Hilger said.
“Erica Heilmann was one of my biggest role models growing up so I just truly feel honored to be able to direct a show in the Erica Heilmann Theatre after growing up and getting a huge part of my passion from watching her direct and interact with people at every stage of life whether kids, teenagers or adults.
“She truly did raise an entire community of theater lovers, artists and people who have gone on to do this professionally and people that just do it in the community. She has inspired hundreds. It takes a very special person to have that type of impact.”
The Oak View Center space where Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre performs was renamed the Erica Heilmann Theatre and officially dedicated in 2020.
The late Heilmann directed Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre’s Broadway Jr. early 2000s production of “Footloose,” which was Hilger’s first show and featured choreography by Dawn Farrell, who is also choreographer for “Something Rotten!”
“I was a second-grader. I was just in the ensemble,” said Hilger, who was signed up for the production by her mother, Lynn Hilger, who was friends with Angela Mehalek, who worked with Broadway Jr. then.
“That’s all it took. After that I was hooked.”
‘Something Rotten!’
When: July 29-Aug. 7
Where: Oak View Center’s Erica Heilmann Theatre, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn
Tickets: $23 adults; $22 ages 60 and older or 12 and younger (rated PG-13)
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Information: 708-857-2200; facebook.com/oaklawncommunitytheatre
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.