Convos Stories

September 4, 2018

Q&A with “Something Rotten!’s” Karey Kirkpatrick (Book, Music & Lyrics) and John O’Farrell (Book)

Q – Can you talk about the initial idea/concept? K – I think it was a series of conversations that happened over a series of meetings, Christmas dinners, since Wayne [Kirkpatrick, Karey’s brother] and I don’t live in the same town. We...

September 4, 2018

Q&A with “Something Rotten!” music and lyricist Wayne Kirkpatrick

Q – You and Karey [Kirkpatrick, Wayne’s brother] had this initial idea 20 years ago. Can you remember how it surfaced? A – We wish we could. It was such an organic process. We were in musical theater in high...

September 4, 2018

Creating an original musical in “Something Rotten!”

Something Rotten!, the Tony Award-nominated show that’s touring the country this season, is an increasing rarity among Broadway musicals: it’s a completely original work not based on a movie, play, book or other source material. The show originated from an...

September 4, 2018

The silly songs of “Something Rotten!”

Something Rotten! is brimming with countless references from some of the most beloved modern musicals throughout history. Jazz hands out! Below is a list of just some of our favorites from the show-stopping number “A Musical”.  “Some musicals have no...

September 4, 2018

Creating the completely new Broadway musical “Something Rotten!”

Most Broadway newcomers don’t get their first show produced by Tony Award-winner Kevin McCollum, and they don’t typically land Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw as their director-choreographer. But brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick and British comedy writer John O’Farrell, the creators of...

September 4, 2018

Get to know Argus Quartet

Argus Quartet is made up of Jason Issokson & Clara Kim, violins, Dana Kelley, viola, and Joann Whang, cello. First Prize, 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition First Prize, M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition Praised for playing with “supreme melodic control and...

August 27, 2018

The world of “Something Rotten!”

The Renaissance Something Rotten! transports today’s audiences from the seats of a Broadway house across the Atlantic and back through the history book pages to Renaissance England. But what is the Renaissance, and how did it change England in the...

August 20, 2018

Leading the way in performing arts research

What happens when you attend a Purdue Convocations performance? Does it refresh your memory of a novel you read, a favorite lyric, or a historical event? Perhaps you have great discussions about the show with your companions afterward. You know...

August 1, 2018

The unique humor of Broadway’s funniest show

The laugh lines in the Broadway hit Something Rotten! flow from different sources. Some come at the expense of William Shakespeare, the rock star of his day, here played as a world-weary writer who finds being famous so much more...

July 27, 2018

Innovative Performance Fund

The Innovative Performance Fund is an affinity group gathered around a powerful idea to have this work present—here in our community. You can support our work this season with the Pint Crew, and your multi-year support gives us confidence to present...

July 27, 2018

Inspired Giving: Floyd and Patricia Garrott

Floyd and Patricia Garrott are inspired by student experiences. Inspired by the ways live performance can help young people grow, Floyd and Patricia Garrott established an endowment to provide discounted tickets to Purdue students attending performances tied to their course...

July 27, 2018

Inspired Giving: Alan and Gail Beck

Alan and Gail Beck are inspired by innovative performances. Alan and Gail Beck have been staunch supporters of Purdue Convocations for the past 20 years. Their generous donations benefit the Innovative Performance Fund, which brings experimental performances and unique artists...