Wireless Mics and Projection for Something Rotten!
Show guide · Full-length · 10 principals plus a dancing chorus · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 12 channels. 10 body mics for the principals plus 2 spares. Cover the dancing chorus with 3 area mics at the stage edge, and keep them up for the big tap number.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Something Rotten!
Who gets a mic
MTI lists 10 named roles, and all of them sing or deliver jokes over music: Nick Bottom, Nigel Bottom, Bea, Portia, Shakespeare, Nostradamus, Brother Jeremiah, Lord Clapham, Shylock and the Minstrel, who opens the show. That is 10 body mics plus 2 spares, for 12 channels.
Borderline roles: Lord Clapham and Shylock have smaller parts, and MTI notes they can come out of the ensemble. On a 10-channel budget, let them play to the area mics and keep the spares. Do not drop the Minstrel; he sings the opening alone.
With a bigger budget, add body mics for two or three featured troupe members who carry solo lines in "Welcome to the Renaissance", "A Musical" and "Make an Omelette", for about 15 channels.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Nick Bottom | Hairline, beige | Hat and heavy singing; dances in "A Musical". |
| Channel 2 | Nigel Bottom | Hairline, beige | Wig or long hair; tender duets with Portia. |
| Channel 3 | Bea | Hairline, beige | Disguises as a man; hats and quick changes. |
| Channel 4 | Portia | Hairline, beige | Puritan bonnet; mic sits at the hairline. |
| Channel 5 | Shakespeare | Headset, beige | Rock-star dance numbers; headset survives the moves. |
| Channel 6 | Nostradamus | Headset, beige | Leads the tap number; very active. |
| Channel 7 | Brother Jeremiah | Hairline, beige | Puritan hat; comic lines over music. |
| Channel 8 | Lord Clapham | Hairline, beige | Period wig; area mics can cover on a budget. |
| Channel 9 | Shylock | Hairline, beige | Hat; area mics can cover on a budget. |
| Channel 10 | Minstrel | Hairline, brown | Sings the opening number alone; often in a cap. |
| Channel 11 | Spare | Headset, black | Fast swap for a sweaty dancer's headset. |
| Channel 12 | Spare | Hairline, beige | Covers any hairline in the plot. |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The troupe and townspeople sing and dance in nearly every big number, including the full-company tap in "A Musical" and the finale. Three area or choir mics along the stage edge cover them; set them for voices, not taps. Give a troupe member a body mic when they have a featured solo over the band.
Show notes from our team
- The tap number. "A Musical" is a long full-company tap and dance number. Tape headsets and hairlines twice, use sweat covers, and keep area mics set for voices so the taps do not swamp the lyrics.
- Shakespeare's rock concert. "Will Power" plays like a rock show with screaming fans. Keep Shakespeare well above the band and pull down area mics near shouting fans so his lyrics stay clear.
- Bea's disguises. Bea changes into men's clothes, hats and facial hair. Run her mic at the hairline away from the beard glue and rehearse each quick change with the mic on.
- "Make an Omelette". The Act Two show-within-a-show puts most principals and the full troupe on stage at once. Pre-set levels for every principal and leave their channels open rather than chasing lines.
Projection
The London street, the Bottom brothers' theater, the Globe, Nostradamus's lair and the show-within-a-show all suit projected scenery, and projections let you play up the Renaissance jokes. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Something Rotten! Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 12-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does Something Rotten! need?
- Plan on 12 channels: 10 body mics for Nick, Nigel, Bea, Portia, Shakespeare, Nostradamus, Brother Jeremiah, Lord Clapham, Shylock and the Minstrel, plus 2 spares. Add three area mics at the stage edge for the chorus.
- Does the Something Rotten! ensemble need mics?
- Yes. The troupe sings in almost every big number, so place three area or choir mics along the stage edge. Give a body mic to any troupe member who sings a featured solo over the band.
- How do we mic the tap number in Something Rotten!?
- Keep everyone's body mics on and set the area mics for voices, not feet. Taps usually carry on their own. Add a floor mic only if the taps get lost, and tape every mic twice for the choreography.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Something Rotten! this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Something Rotten! is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
