TV's "Smash" could be made into real stage show
The glitzy, fictional Broadway musical featured in the TV show "Smash" might actually find its way to a stage.
Universal Stage Productions said Monday it will develop "Bombshell," a musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe, into a live show. No casting was announced, and a book writer will be announced shortly.
The original songs on the TV show by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, whose credits include the Tony-winning score for the 2007 musical "Hairspray," will continue on the stage adaptation, as will original choreographer Joshua Bergasse, who has gone on to choreograph "On The Town" and "Gigi."
"Smash" was a production of Universal Television. The series on NBC lasted two seasons and starred Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle and Debra Messing. The songs included "Let Me Be Your Star" and "Hang the Moon."
"There is still a lot of love for 'Smash' and a rabid fan base out there, and we're thrilled to be able to keep the dream alive as we work towards bringing 'Bombshell' to theatre audiences," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement.
In the show -- created by playwright Theresa Rebeck, who left after the first season -- viewers watched the long process of casting, composing, mounting and rehearsing a Broadway-bound musical. In the second season, a gritty, low-tech off-Broadway show called "Hit List" competed with "Bombshell" for the Tony Award.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced "Smash," will lead the producing team of "Bombshell" and Steven Spielberg, the executive producer of the TV show, will also be involved in the stage version.
Lately, there's renewed interest in the musical drama, said Hilty, who portrayed seasoned Broadway veteran Ivy Lynn in the series.
"The fan-base has grown so much since the show got canceled, which is sad," Hilty (laughing) told CBS News. "Where were you years ago?!"