"Smash" will debut on Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).
"Smash" is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of
the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and
schemers who all have one common desire =96 to be a "smash."
The series centers on the process of creating a Broadway musical based
on the life of Marilyn Monroe =96 written by the successful songwriting
duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, "Legally Blonde: The
Musical") and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, "Will & Grace").
Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband
Frank (Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James, "Shrek The Musical").
A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced
Midwestern beauty Karen (Katharine McPhee, "American Idol") =96 who is
trying to find fame in the big city against all odds =96 and stage
veteran Ivy Bell (Megan Hilty, "9 to 5: The Musical"), who's determined
to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break.
A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner, Anjelica Huston, "Prizzi's
Honor") discovers the "Marilyn" project and jumps on board with a
brilliant director, Derek (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean"
films) =96 whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric
amorality.
Jaime Cepero ("Porgy and Bess") stars as Ellis, and Raza Jaffrey ("Sex
and the City 2," "MI-5") stars as Dev.
The series stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy
and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg ("ER," "Schindler's List").
The pilot was written by acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Theresa
Rebeck ("Mauritius," "NYPD Blue").
David Marshall Grant ("Brothers and Sisters"), Craig Zadan and Neil
Meron (Oscar-winning "Chicago," "Hairspray") and Darryl Frank and Justin
Falvey ("United States Of Tara," "The Borgias") also serve as executive
producers.
Original songs are written by Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman
and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can"), who serve as
executive producers as well.
"Smash" is a production of Universal Television in association with
DreamWorks Television and Madwoman in the Attic.
The pilot was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer ("Spring
Awakening," "American Idiot").