July 10, 2026
Article by Toby Scofield
Pictures by Rachel Scofield
Take a step back in time to the Renaissance with Pickerington Community Theatre’s production of Something Rotten!, a musical comedy set during the height of William Shakespeare’s popularity. Packed with references to beloved Broadway musicals, the show offers plenty of inside jokes for theater enthusiasts while remaining accessible to anyone who enjoys catchy songs, energetic dancing and laugh-out-loud comedy.
“I think it is a hilarious take on what it means in Renaissance England to be considered kind of a nobody and what it takes to become a somebody,” said F. Scott Harvey, who plays Shylock in the production. “You hilariously navigate the landscape of modern musical theater in a setting of Shakespearean Renaissance England, and it is so hilarious! The music is wonderful.”
The musical follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, played by Ben Marteney and Kian Simcox, as they struggle to make a name for themselves in the theater world. Their ambitions are complicated by the overwhelming success of Shakespeare, portrayed by Matthew Benedek, whose popularity overshadows every other playwright in England.
Adding to their troubles, their patron, Lord Clapham, played by Andy Weibel, threatens to withdraw his financial support, putting the entire theater troupe at risk. Along the way, audiences meet an unforgettable cast of characters while enjoying romance, witty humor and spectacular musical numbers.
“The story is also very sweet and heartwarming, and it’s all about new beginnings — starting over with family because family matters most,” Harvey said. “This is a show worth coming out for no matter what the weather is.”
Like Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre, seating inside the Violet Woods Event Center is limited. Advance tickets are available through Pickerington Community Theatre’s website. Admission is $21 for adults and $19 for children younger than 12 and adults 55 and older.
Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. July 10, 11, 17 and 18, with 2 p.m. matinees July 12 and 19. The production runs approximately 2 hours, 35 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
“It’s gonna be amazing,” Harvey said. “You’re gonna enjoy the music, you’re gonna enjoy the dancing, and it is hilarious!”
