One of the main highlights of winter at Loomis Chaffee is the annual winter musical. This year, the Norris Ely Orchard (NEO) Theatre presents Something Rotten, a musical comedy about brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but struggle to find success in the theatrical world. It is a story full of love, hilarity, and contemporary theatrical elements, promising plenty of laughs.

"During the rehearsal process, I manage scheduling, prop organization, and the blocking of actors' movements on stage, as well as serving as the director’s notepad in a figurative way," Boden Bubb ’25, stage manager for the production, said.

The stage manager’s role extends beyond calling cues for sound, lighting, and set pieces; it also includes responsibilities that ensure the show runs smoothly. Mr. David McCamish, the director of the show, figuratively referred to Bubb as the “captain of the ship.”

Holding a fast-paced musical requires a tremendous amount of work that is not shown to the audience. Bubb brings up the uniqueness of Something Rotten while mentioning the rest of the team in different areas.

“What makes this production particularly unique from a technical perspective is the sheer complexity and integration of its many moving parts,” Bubb said. “Our production features approximately 200 lighting cues, 50 projection cues, and 25 set changes, each requiring precision and synchronization with the live orchestra.”

Communicating transitions and set change cues with the live orchestra is crucial. These cues, tightly timed to the music, must be executed with split-second accuracy to maintain the show’s dynamic flow.

Enhancing the technical elements of the play complements the actors’ abilities to perform at their best, elevating the play to a glamorous spectacle. However, With a lot of technical demand to handle, bringing all the additional layers of visual storytelling to life is not possible without support from the whole team. The stage crew, for instance, relies on feedback from the cast to ensure they don’t make a disruption on the performance.

Bubb said, “Whether it's a lighting shift that's too sudden or a set change that needs fine-tuning, their insight helps me make adjustments.”

It is hard to forget the fantastic choreography that truly makes the audience tap on their feet and clap along to the music. Ms. Kate Loughlin, the show’s choreographer, incorporates a dance style that blends seamlessly with the comedy.

"Tap dancing and jazz are the two main styles," Ms. Loughlin said. The dancing in the show follows the natural flow of a musical comedy and it delivers a sensational experience for both the actors and the audience through these styles. I came up with my own movements and formations that helped [to] tell the story or illustrate the lyrics of the songs."

Drawing inspiration from the original Broadway choreography, Ms. Loughlin wanted to convey the message and the tone of the song through the live movements as much as possible.

Undoubtedly, the core component of the musical is the actors. Sophie Singer '25 and Sonia Barinskaya '25 reflected upon their experience in the production.

"My role is Bea, the protagonist’s wife. She is strong, confident, brave, and kind, and playing her has been a great experience," Barinskaya said.

Having participated in multiple other musicals, Singer found similarities and differences that connect her character in Something Rotten to her past roles.

"I'm playing Portia, and it's very different from any role I've played before,” Singer said. “Portia is a Puritan, which means she's deeply religious, and she's also quite naïve. It's a unique role, and it's been fun to explore her complexity."

Both actresses claimed that the supportive environment offered by the cast enables them not to ‘think too hard, but to relish [the experience].’

"I love coming into the theater because I know that these people aren't going to judge me, and I can just do what I want… and what I love, and they will support that," Barinskaya said.

Singer echoed Barinskaya’s perspective regarding the welcoming ambiance. "We're all really tight-knit, and it's great to get to know all these people—especially the freshmen that come in—and it's just a community that is a safe space [where] everyone can… just act,” she said.