# Smash (2025 musical)

Smash is an American musical with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin. Based on the television series of the same name, the musical includes songs from the TV series and original songs written for the stage. Like the television series, the musical follows the creation of a musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The show is expected to open at the Imperial Theatre on April 10, 2025.

## Development

In May 2020, shortly after a virtual cast reunion during a live-streamed concert, it was announced that a musical based solely on the plot of the series was in the works for a Broadway production. Spielberg, Greenblatt, and Meron are all attached as producers, with Bob Martin and Rick Elice penning the book to Wittman and Shaiman's score, and Bergasse returning to choreograph. Of the announcement, Spielberg stated, "Smash is near and dear to my heart, and it seems fitting that a new musical inspired by what we did on the show would eventually come to the stage. I'm beyond thrilled to be working with this incredible creative team and my producing partners, who began the Smash journey with me over 10 years ago."
On May 20, 2022, a first reading followed by a week-long workshop occurred of "SMASH: The Musical," with a script by Martin and Elice, music and lyrics by Wittman and Shaiman, and produced by Spielberg, Greenblatt, and Meron. According to Shaiman, while there are no "concrete plans" to bring the musical to Broadway, he was hopeful it would premiere on Broadway "sooner than later." Among the performers were Hilty, Rodriguez, Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, Daniel Breaker, Kristine Nielsen, Maddie Baillio, and Christian Thompson, with Stephen Oremus as musical director.

## Productions
### Broadway (2025)

On March 22, 2023, it was announced that Smash would officially open during the 2024–25 Broadway season with five time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman directing and Bergasse choreographing, music and lyrics by Shaiman and Wittman, and a book by Elice and Martin. On January 4, 2024, it was announced that Smash would have a six-week workshop starting that month, with cast members Ashmanskas, Alex Brightman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Bella Coppola, Nihar Duvvuri, Casey Garvin, Robyn Hurder, Nielsen, Rodriguez, and Jonalyn Saxer. Smash began performances at the Imperial Theatre on March 11, 2025 with an official opening scheduled for April 10. Announced cast members include Hurder as Ivy, Caroline Bowman as Karen, Ashmanskas as Nigel, Rodriguez as Tracy, John Behlmann as Jerry, Nielsen as Susan, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Anita, Bella Coppola as Chloe, and Casey Garvin as Charlie.

## Characters and original cast

| Character | Reading | Reading | Staged Reading | Broadway |
| Character | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Ivy Lynn | Megan Hilty | Robyn Hurder | Robyn Hurder | Robyn Hurder |
| Nigel Davies | Brooks Ashmanskas | Brooks Ashmanskas | Brooks Ashmanskas | Brooks Ashmanskas |
| Tracy Morales | Krysta Rodriguez | Krysta Rodriguez | Krysta Rodriguez | Krysta Rodriguez |
| Jerry Stevens | Daniel Breaker | Alex Brightman | Alex Brightman | John Behlmann |
| Susan Proctor | Kristine Nielsen | Kristine Nielsen | Kristine Nielsen | Kristine Nielsen |
| Karen | Maddie Baillio | Kerry Butler | Jonalyn Saxer | Caroline Bowman |
| Chloe | Bonnie Milligan | Bonnie Milligan | Bella Coppola | Bella Coppola |
| Anita Molina Kuperman | Beth Leavel | Vanessa Williams | Yvette Nicole Brown | Jacqueline B. Arnold |
| Charlie | — | — | Casey Garvin | Casey Garvin |
| Scott | Christian Thompson | Justin Cooley | Nihar Duvvuri | Nicolas Matos |