Players Workshop will open the 2025-2026 theatrical season “A Perfect Potpourri of Plays” with the musical farce Something Rotten, on Sept 19-21, 26-28, & Oct 2-5, 2025, at the Workshop, 1431 Grove St.

       With book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten is set in Renaissance England, where Shakespeare is all the theatrical rage; into this come the Bottom Brothers, struggling playwrights determined to beat Shakespeare at his own dramatic game, no matter what!

     The hapless Bottom Brothers are played by Tommy Caruso and Lee Franklin.  The rest of the cast includes J. T. Gorham, Nikki Critser, Adam Fauser, Olivia Keller, Cody Flietner, Njeri Patrick, Jim Beres, Joseph Harmon, and Jim Brand.

      The ensemble is made up of Sofia Ball, Kaitlynn Broeg, Karen Cahill, Brittany Gerst, Kerri Huffman, Michelle Huppenbauer, Anika Morton, Shelley Morton, Denette Parrish, Eva Salvador, Korn Sears, Kendal Sawyer, Marshall Scott, Sara Skinner, Reyanna Thompson, Katie Tur, Kiera Wagler, and Jakob Welch.

     Kent Lewis is the director, assisted by Steve Poling and Kara Ewinger.  Cody Flietner is the choreographer, while Carmen Lachnitt and Jason Guyson are rehearsal music directors.  Robbin Poling is the producer.

     The show is considered to have a PG-13 rating. 

     Performances are at 7:30 p.m., except for 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sept. 21, 28, and Oct. 5.

     For more information, call the Workshop at 319-753-6623, go to www.playersworkshoptheater.com, or check out the Workshop’s Facebook page.

     Something Rotten is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, NY, and all production materials are furnished by MTI.