Draft:Smash (musical)
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| Smash | |
|---|---|
| Music | Marc Shaiman |
| Lyrics | Scott Wittman |
| Book | Rick Elice Bob Martin |
| Basis | Smash created by Theresa Rebeck |
| Premiere | March 11, 2025: Imperial Theatre, New York |
Smash is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and a book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin. It is based on the 2012-2013 NBC television series of the same name created by Theresa Rebeck.
Pre-production history
[edit]In June 2015 the original cast of the NBC series reunited in a concert co-directed by Joshua Bergasse, who also choreographed the show, and Scott Wittman. Tickets for the event were made available to fans after donating to a Kickstarter campaign to fund the concert and were sold out in just an hour.[1] Series leads Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee were joined by Christian Borle, Debra Messing, Will Chase, Jaime Cepero, Brian d'Arcy James, Ann Harada, Jeremy Jordan, Donna McKechnie, Leslie Odom Jr. and Wesley Taylor for the evening.
In May 2020, shortly after a virtual cast reunion during a live-streamed concert, it was announced that a musical based solely on the plot of the series was in the works for a Broadway production. Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, and Neil Meron, who produced the series, were announced as attached as producers, with Bob Martin and Rick Elice penning the book to Wittman and Shaiman's score, and Joshua Bergasse returning to choreograph.[2] Of the announcement, Spielberg stated, "Smash is near and dear to my heart, and it seems fitting that a new musical inspired by what we did on the show would eventually come to the stage. I'm beyond thrilled to be working with this incredible creative team and my producing partners, who began the Smash journey with me over 10 years ago."[3]
On May 20, 2022, a first reading followed by a week-long workshop occurred of "SMASH: The Musical," with a script by Martin and Elice, music and lyrics by Wittman and Shaiman, and produced by Spielberg, Greenblatt, and Meron. According to Shaiman, while there are no "concrete plans" to bring the musical to Broadway, he was hopeful it would premiere on Broadway "sooner than later." Among the performers were Megan Hilty and Krysta Rodriguez, both of whom were actors in the television series, Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, Daniel Breaker, Kristine Nielsen, Maddie Baillio, and Christian Thompson, with Stephen Oremus as musical director.[4][5][6]
On March 22, 2023, it was announced that Smash would officially open during the 2024–25 Broadway season with five time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman directing and Joshua Bergasse choreographing, music and lyrics by Shaiman and Wittman, and a book by Elice and Martin.[7] On January 4, 2024, it was announced that Smash would have a six-week workshop starting that month, with a cast formed by Brooks Ashmanskas, Alex Brightman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Bella Coppola, Nihar Duvvuri, Casey Garvin, Robyn Hurder, Kristine Nielsen, Krista Rodriguez, and Jonalyn Saxer.[8]
In October 2024, it was announced that Smash would begin performances at the Imperial Theatre on March 11, 2025 with an official opening on April 10. Confirmed cast members included Robyn Hurder as Ivy, Caroline Bowman as Karen, Brooks Ashmanskas as Nigel, Krista Rodriguez as Tracy, John Behlmann as Jerry, Kristine Nielsen as Susan, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Anita, Bella Coppola as Chloe and Casey Garvin as Charlie.[9]
Differences between series and stage versions
[edit]The stage version of Smash differs from the original series, despite many of the characters, notably Ivy and Karen, appearing in the stage show. On stage Ivy is no longer a member of the ensemble looking for her big break as Marilyn, but a seasoned and famous performer of the level of Sutton Foster or Patti LuPone.[10] Ivy's main competitor for the role of Marilyn in the series, Karen, is playing her understudy in the stage version and several other characters appear in the new Broadway show with different names, Julia is Tracy, book writer and lyricist; Tom is Jerry, composer of the show and married to Tracy and Derek is Nigel, director and choreographer of Bombshell.
Synopsis
[edit]The show follows the behind the scenes creation of the new musical Bombshell, based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, with lead star Ivy Lynn playing the role.
Cast and characters
[edit]| Character | 2024 workshop | Broadway |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy | Robyn Hurder | Robyn Hurder |
| Nigel | Brooks Ashmanskas | Brooks Ashmanskas |
| Jerry | Alex Brightman | John Behlmann |
| Tracy | Krysta Rodriguez | Krysta Rodriguez |
| Susan | Kristine Nielsen | Kristine Nielsen |
| Karen | Caroline Bowman | |
| Anita | Jacqueline B. Arnold | |
| Chloe | Bella Coppola | |
| Charlie | Casey Garvin | Casey Garvin |
Musical Numbers
[edit]- Let me be your star
- The National Pastime
- Second Hand White Baby Grand
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking
- The 20th Century Fox Mambo
- Don't Forget Me
- Let Me Be Your Star (reprise)
References
[edit]- ^ ""Smash" Stars Reunite for Tonight's Broadway Bombshell Concert". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Coleman, Nancy (2020-05-21). "'Smash,' NBC's Short-Lived Musical Drama, Eyes the Stage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (2020-05-21). "Steven Spielberg-Produced Musical 'Smash' Headed for Broadway". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Evans, Greg (23 May 2022). "'Smash' Musical Could Hit Broadway "Sooner Than Later", Says Composer Marc Shaiman; First-Look Photos Of All-Star Reading Unveiled". Yahoo News. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ Tomeo, Marissa (22 May 2022). "SMASH: THE MUSICAL Has First Reading; Teases Future Broadway Run". Broadway World. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (3 Feb 2022). "Musical Adaptation of SMASH Plans for Workshop This Summer". Broadway World. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (March 22, 2023). "Let It Be Your Star: Smash Confirms Broadway Bow". Playbill. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (January 4, 2024). "'Smash' Broadway Musical to Mount Six-Week Workshop (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (October 22, 2024). "Let Them Be Your Stars: Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman Will Lead Smash On Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Vizcaíno, Jeffrey (February 4, 2025). "Robyn Hurder Is Putting Her Smack on Smash". Playbill.com.