When it was announced that the NBC television show Smash was being turned into a musical, Broadway fans wondered what that would entail. The TV show was about a group of artists trying to make a Marilyn Monroe biomusical called Bombshell. So were the Smash creators going to bring Bombshell to Broadway? Was it going to be a word-for-word recreation of the TV show? In advance of the show's first preview on Broadway March 11, 半岛体育 got some hints. Watch the video above for more.
"Although I love the TV show Smash, it was a bit of a melodrama. Whereas here, we have a full-out comedy," says the musical's director/choreographer Susan Stroman.
Smash features music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy, and two-time Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote over two-dozen songs for the television series, many of which are being used for the stage show alongside new compositions. Those songs are being supported by an entirely new book, written by Rick Elice and Bob Martin.
The show follows a group of Broadway artists, ranging from actors to composers to directors to producers, who are trying to create a Marilyn Monroe biomusical. Elice admits that making a Broadway musical isn't always fun and laughs, but as he deadpanned: "You lean into the pain."
Adds Martin, smiling: "Tragedy plus time equals comedy...Pain is funny if it's somebody else's pain."
Though many of the characters in this new musical share names with characters from the TV show, the cast promises they're different entities. "The TV show has already been done. We're doing something that's very different than what you've seen before," says Caroline Bowman, who plays an actor in the show named Karen.
There are also newly created characters, adding an additional layer of surprise for fans of the TV show. Said Bella Coppola, who plays a new character named Chloe: "What you get from the show is the music that you love, you get the choreography that you love, but you get a new exciting story with new characters. And I feel like it's a blend of both worlds."
Company of Smash
Susan Stroman and Joshua Bergasse
Brooks Ashmanskas and Robyn Hurder
Rick Elice and Bob Martin
John Behlmann and Krysta Rodriguez
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Casey Garvin and Caroline Bowman
Kristine Nielsen and Bella Coppola
Jacqueline B. Arnold and Nicholas Matos
Neil Meron and Robert Greenblatt
The cast of Smash also includes Robyn Hurder as Ivy Lynn, Brooks Ashmanskas as Nigel, Krysta Rodriguez as Tracy, John Behlmann as Jerry, Kristine Nielsen as Susan Proctor, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Anita, Casey Garvin as Charlie, and Nicholas Matos as Scott.
READ: Robyn Hurder Is Putting Her Smack on Smash
The company also includes Wendi Bergamini, Sarah Bowden, Deanna Cudjoe, Daniel Gaymon, Merritt David Janes, Megan Kane, David Paul Kidder, McGee Maddox, J Savage, Jake Trammel, and Katie Webber. Swings Jacob Burns, Chelle Denton, Ndaya Dream Hoskins, Ian Liberto, Libby Lloyd, and Connor McRory round out the company. Casting is by Bernard Telsey and Kristian Charbonier.
The creative team also includes scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Brian Ronan, projection designer S. Katy Tucker, orchestrator Doug Besterman, dance and incidental music arranger Sam Davis, music supervisor Stephen Oremus, and music director Paul Staroba. Hair and wig design are by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup design is by Joe Dulude II. 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as general manager. Johnny Milani is production stage manager.
Smash is based in part on the NBC series created by Theresa Rebeck; executive producers included Steven Spielberg, Neil Meron, Craig Zadan, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Rebeck, David Marshall Grant, and Joshua Safran. The show was produced by Universal Television.
Smash is being produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, Meron, and Spielberg. Also on the producing team is EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who appeared as a guest star on an episode in the series' second season.
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