Western Connecticut State University will offer “Something Rotten! A Very New Musical” in its MainStage Theatre at the university’s Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC), 43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury. The famed musical comedy runs from Oct. 13 – 22. Tickets can be purchased in advance at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

While on Broadway, the show was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.” Now WCSU will stage its own lively version of this modern classic in its state-of-the-art VPAC, telling the tale of a “hilarious mashup of 16^th century Shakespeare and 21^st century Broadway” through song, dance and fine acting.

“’Something Rotten!’ is a true musical comedy; it’s extremely funny and clever and wholly original in concept,” said Russell Garrett, guest director and choreographer for the production. “The show’s creators have taken a wild idea that takes place in Elizabethan England, thrown in some factual references of the time period and its biggest playwright, William Shakespeare, given it a completely contemporary treatment in style and music, and whipped it all up in a blender to create a near farcical concoction,” he said. Garrett is a Broadway and National Tour company actor, an experienced stage director and an educator.

Garrett feels that if audiences want to laugh then “Something Rotten!” is the show for them. “It is also a type of show that WCSU hasn’t presented in a while – a big, splashy, dance-heavy, musical comedy,” he said. Dr. Justin P. Cowan, associate professor and department chair of WCSU’s Department of Theatre Arts, serves as music director.

Showtimes are Friday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 20, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. Ticket prices online at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com are $32.00 plus fees for General Admission; $25.00 plus fees for those aged 65 and over; $20.00 plus fees for group tickets and for non-WCSU students; and $10 plus fees for WCSU students.

“Something Rotten!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All ticket sales are final, and if available at the door, tickets will be slightly higher in price. For more information on other events at WCSU’s Visual and Performing Arts Center, go to www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events/.

For more information about “Something Rotten!” contact Eric Gomez at gomeze@wcsu.edu or WCSU Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.