"Smash" Musical being Developed for Broadway

[JamesG]

"Smash" Broadway Musical in Development; Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt & Neil Meron to Produce
by Greg Evans
May 21, 2020


A musical stage adaptation of NBC’s "Smash" is in development for Broadway, with Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron on board as lead producers.

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote more than 20 songs for the 2012-13 TV series, will write the musical’s score, with a book co-written by Bob Martin (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher).

Though no production dates were announced, development on the musical inspired by the series is under way, producers said today, offering a bit of hope to a Broadway industry shut down by the coronavirus at least through Labor Day, and likely longer.





“I am personally thrilled to be a part of this musical and its road to Broadway,” said Spielberg in a statement. “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.”

Spielberg, whose original idea led to the series, continued, “I’m beyond thrilled to be working with this incredible creative team and my producing partners, who began the Smash journey with me over ten years ago.”

https://deadline.com/2020/05/smash-s...on-1202939893/

[TMC]

Smash is closer to becoming a Broadway musical

On Sunday, executive producer Neil Maron shared a series of photos and videos from a live reading of a stage version of the NBC musical drama that aired from 2012 to 2013.

[Chocolate Moose]

The idea was really great. Loved Season 1.

[irehtman]

If the broadway version works, then apply it as a movie film.

[JamesG]

"Smash" is Officially Heading to Broadway
by Nick Caruso
March 22, 2023


"Smash" is ready to take on its biggest stage yet. Announced by lead producers Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg Wednesday, the adaptation of the NBC musical drama is (finally!) set to hit Broadway for the 2024-25 season.

The production will be helmed by five-time Tony-winning director Susan Stroman, with a score by the Tony- and Grammy-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Some Like It Hot, Hairspray), who wrote over two dozen songs for the television show.

Bob Martin (The Prom) and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys) will co-write the book, while the series’ Emmy-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse will reprise his role for the stage adaptation.




Many of Shaiman and Wittman’s numbers (including “Let Me Be Your Star”) will be used in the musical alongside new material written solely for the stage. And though the story will again follow the “harrowing and hilarious process of mounting Bombshell,” the stage iteration will “depart liberally” from the series, according to producers.

“Smash is near and dear to my heart, and it was always my hope that a musical inspired by the show would eventually come to the stage,” said Spielberg in a statement. “We now have an incredible creative team, and I’m looking forward to completing the Smash journey which began with my producing partners over ten years ago.”




Added Greenblatt, who developed the original series: “Speaking for myself and Neil Meron, we’re elated that Steven wanted to join us as we bring Smash to the stage, as we’ve always felt that Shaiman and Wittman’s incredible score belonged on Broadway.

And collaborating with the incomparable Susan Stroman, one of the best directors of musicals, plus first-class bookwriters, Rick Elice and Bob Martin, and our original choreographer, Josh Bergasse, is pure joy.”

https://tvline.com/2023/03/22/smash-...m-series-2024/

[Chocolate Moose]

Lovely!!!

[JamesG]

Smash Announces Spring 2025 Opening Date
by Ryan Schwartz
October 22, 2024


Smash, the Broadway adaptation of the short-lived NBC musical drama, will begin performances on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, and officially open on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre.

The opening date was announced Tuesday by lead producers Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg — all of whom served as executive producers on the NBC cult classic.

EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who played Broadway star Veronica Moore in Season 2 of "Smash", is a member of the Broadway show’s producing team.






“Neil, Steven and I are elated to announce that Smash is definitely coming to Broadway this season, a dozen years after the series ended on NBC!” Greenblatt said in a statement.

“We always knew [Marc] Shaiman and [Scott] Wittman’s fantastic score belonged on Broadway, and our show is a clever, funny adaptation of the series — with a few surprises — that we hope will delight die-hard fans as well as anyone who didn’t see the series.”

Tickets will then go on sale to the general public on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 am ET through Telecharge.






The cast includes:

Tony nominee Robyn Hurder (Moulin Rouge) as Ivy
Two-time Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas (The Prom) as Nigel
John Behlmann (Shucked) as Jerry
Two-time Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) as Susan
Caroline Bowman (Frozen Tour) as Karen
Jacqueline B. Arnold (Moulin Rouge) as Anita
Bella Coppola (Six) as Chloe
Casey Garvin (Some Like It Hot) as “Charlie”
Series star Krysta Rodriguez — not as Karen’s roommate Ana, but as a new character named Tracy.

https://tvline.com/news/smash-broadw...te-1235355546/

[TMC]

Check out the first look at Broadway's Smash adaptation

According to Variety, the Smash Broadway musical "retains the other recognizable elements from the TV show, like messy backstage drama that threatens opening night and plenty of rousing musical numbers — though producers have teased the stage adaptation will 'depart liberally from the series.'"

[JamesG]

I received an ad for Smash in the mail: