NEW YORK (AP) – 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 their Tony-winning score for the 2007 musical “Hairspray,” will continue, as will choreographer Joshua Bergasse.
“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.