Fade in on a girl, in an actual Broadway musical! The musical Bombshell from the cancelled NBC hit Smash begins development on a stage show!
They just keep pushing the line! The line between television and reality that is. After the smashing (sorry) success of Bombshell‘s one-night only concert performance to benefit the Actors Fund, NBC and Universal Pictures announced that development on a full stage production of the musical is happening.
Smash, cancelled in 2013, followed the behind the scenes creation of a musical centering on the life of Marilyn Monroe entitled Bombshell. The series took the musical from the first note on a piece of sheet music through to Tony’s night. The musical on NBC never amassed the ratings it needed to survive through season 2, but it did manage to create a cult-like following.
Related: Five steps to get Smash‘s Bombshell on Broadway
One thing the production will not lack is plenty of music to throw into the initial development. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman wrote the score for two musicals within the show which were performed by Katherine McPhee, Megan Hilty, Christina Borle, Bernadette Peters, and Jeremy Jordan, among others. The problem that awaits Bombshell the real musical is the same issue that faced the faux production– a good book.
Aside from the music, the production already has Neil Meron and Craig Zadan (Chicago, film adaption), and choreographer, Joshua Bergasse, the choreographer of the show who went on to choreograph the revival of On the Town. Universal Stage Productions is expected to put up the show and Stephen Spielberg, Smash‘s former executive producer, may have some involvement as well.
What better way to wait out the news of casting, finding a book writer, and advertising for the show’s production than to watch how it all played out on NBC? Grab a drink, prepare to throw it in someone’s face, and pray the creators do not hire anyone like Ellis!
