A new stage musical based on the NBC TV series SMASH is heading to Broadway.
Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron, and Steven Spielberg are producing the show, having all worked on the NBC television series.
SMASH has set its sights on a 2024 – 2025 season opening.
The creative team for the show is heavyweight, with five-time Tony Award-winning director Susan Stroman (The Producers, Show Boat, Contact) taking the directing honours.
Susan is about to present the West End transfer of her five-star new staging of Gershwin musical Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End starring Charlie Stemp.
SMASH will have music and lyrics by the Tony and Grammy Award-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Some Like It Hot, Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns), who penned over 20 songs for the TV show – a lot of which will be used in the musical, including the Emmy- nominated “Let Me Be Your Star”, plus they are writing new songs for the show.
The book will be co-written by Tony-nominated Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher) and Tony-winner Bob Martin (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone).
The choreographer of the TV series, Emmy Award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse, will choreograph the stage show.
The stage show’s plot will once again follow the highs and lows of mounting big Broadway show “Bombshell” – a fictional musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe.
Robert Greenblatt said in a press statement: “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.”
Neil Meron said: “Ever since the show ended in 2012, not a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask us when will they see Smash as a musical. We think we’ve come up with something the die-hard series fans will love but that will also be exciting for people who never saw an episode of the show. And above all else it will be a valentine to the Broadway musical and the exhilarating rollercoaster ride of bringing one to life.”
Steven Spielberg, whose original idea led to the NBC series, said: “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. 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.”
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