Courtesy of NBC
Finally, “Smash,” a stage musical adaptation of the NBC series, is headed to Broadway.
Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron, who created the original series, will serve as lead producers on the musical. It is expected to debut during the 2024-2025 season. Additional details, including the cast, have yet to be announced.
Theater veteran Susan Stroman (“The Producers”) directs the production, with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Some Like It Hot,” Hairspray,” “Mary Poppins Returns”), who wrote “ Let Me Be Your Star ” and dozens of other songs for the television show, many of which will be used in the musical. They will also write additional new material.
Bob Martin (“The Prom”) and Rick Elice (“Jersey Boys”) are writing the book. Joshua Bergasse, who choreographed the TV series, will return for the stage adaptation.
Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee and Christian Borle starred in “Smash,” which was created by Theresa Rebeck and ran for two seasons. Like the television series, the stage version will follow the process of mounting the musical “Bombshell,” about the life of Marilyn Monroe. But producers say the Broadway adaptation will “depart freely from the series.”
“‘Smash’ is near and dear to my heart, and I always look forward to a musical inspired by the show coming to the stage,” Spielberg said. “We already have an incredible creative team, and I look forward to completing the ‘Smash’ journey, which began with my production partners over 10 years ago.”
Greenblatt added, “Speaking for myself and Neil Meron, we’re thrilled that Steven wants to join us as we bring ‘Smash’ to the stage, as we’ve always felt that Shaiman’s incredible score and Wittmann belongs to Broadway. And working with the incomparable Susan Stroman, one of the greatest directors of musicals, along with first-class bookwriters Rick Elice and Bob Martin, and our original choreographer Josh Bergasse, was pure joy. .
“Smash” ended in 2012, and Meron says not a week goes by without someone asking when the show will be turned into a musical.
“We think we’ve come up with something that die-hard series fans will love but that will also be exciting for people who have never seen an episode of the show,” Meron said. “And most of all, it will be a valentine to the Broadway musical and the fun rollercoaster ride that brings one to life.”