Ralph Meitzler Brings His Charismatic Performance to South Florida
March 29 to April 13, 2025
Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
By Kayla McGee, Nova Southeastern University
A little bit of history, a lot of laughs, and a whole lot of “rotten” fun. The Broadway hit musical, Something Rotten!, is bringing its blend of historical humor and catchy tunes to South Florida from March 29 to April 13, 2025. The production will be held at the Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Actor Ralph Meitzler steps into the shoes of Shakespeare and gives him the spotlight he deserves.
“Just like the king in Hamilton, there is this type of swagger that is free, sexy, a little gay, and, you know, super, super fun for me to play with, and he is a rock god,” said Meitzler.
After a missed opportunity when the show first came to the stage, Meitzler had the chance to watch his friends perform and decided he wanted to be a part of the production.
“As soon as I could get a ticket, I went and saw it because I had so many friends in it, and I was like, yep, I should have done this, so I’m going to,” said Meitzler.
He would later become the Shakespeare understudy for the Broadway 1st National Tour.
Meitzler shared how special it was to understudy not just a leading role, but also Broadway icon Adam Pascal.
“The second Broadway show I saw was Aida, and I loved Adam Pascal,” he said. “And now, I had the chance to understudy him.”
Meitzler’s passion for storytelling is at the heart of his roles because it goes beyond entertainment.
“It’s super important because we need this, especially now. We need not only just comedy, but we need a release. We need an outlet,” said Meitzler.
Meitzler talks about the unique storytelling in the musical, where each character contributes to the larger narrative.
“I’m a storyteller, so I think that makes a difference, and I think the exciting thing about these roles is telling their stories. They are funny stories, but there’s also tragedy in their funny story. But we don’t talk about that,” said Meitzler.
While this perspective shapes much of his craft, Meitzler says that actors may have to change their mindsets for certain roles.
“Don’t miss an opportunity. Don’t miss a chance. I have to flip that,” said Meitzler. “The brothers don’t want to miss an opportunity, don’t want to miss a chance. If my competitor is thinking that, I have to make sure there is no opportunity for them to try to miss.”
To ensure no one misses the opportunity to see the show, Slow Burn Theatre Company is including an open-captioned performance on Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m. This feature makes the production accessible to a diverse audience with humor for people of all ages.
“It’s an adult show that kids will love because the humor will go over their heads like Shrek. Shrek is brilliantly funny, and kids love it,” Meitzler said.
Slow Burn Theatre Company ensures accessibility for all, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and self-expression — a sentiment echoed by Meitzler as he emphasizes the need for both comedy and authenticity in today’s world.
“It’s very exciting to thine ownself. Be true. Even Shakespeare has to be true to himself,” Meitzler said. “That is a great message: Be open to everyone because everyone should be true to themselves. And I hope we continue to think that way in this current climate.”
Kayla McGee is a student reporter in NSU’s feature writing course in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.
