Fade in on a show...! After years of fan anticipation, Smash is finally making its way to Broadway, bringing the drama, glamour, and chaos of creating a musical to life on stage. Based on the cult-favorite NBC series, Smash offers a behind-the-scenes look at the passion, rivalries, and heartbreak that fuel Broadway. Both a love letter to the theater and a gripping backstage drama, Smash promises to dazzle audiences with its wit, heart, and electrifying performances.
What’s the show about? At the center of Smash is the creation of Bombshell, a fictional Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. Tensions soar as two actresses compete for the starring role: Karen Cartwright, a fresh-faced dreamer, and Ivy Lynn, a seasoned Broadway veteran. Meanwhile, the creative team navigates its own struggles, from composer Tom Levitt’s perfectionism to book writer Julia Houston’s personal crises. The result is a musical journey that explores ambition, artistry, and the emotional highs and lows of showbiz.
Based on the Emmy-nominated NBC series that aired from 2012 to 2013, Smash builds on the show’s legacy. Created by Theresa Rebeck and produced by Steven Spielberg, the series became a fan favorite for its inside look at Broadway’s cutthroat world. The show’s original music, composed by Tony and Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Some Like It Hot), earned acclaim for songs like “Let Me Be Your Star,” “Don’t Forget Me,” and “The 20th Century Fox Mambo”—all of which are featured in the Broadway production, alongside brand-new numbers. If you loved the TV series, it's exactly what you want. And if you didn't... they changed everything.
Directed by Tony-winning Susan Stroman (The Producers, Crazy for You), the Broadway adaptation boasts a star-studded cast. Robyn Hurder (Moulin Rouge!) takes on the role of Ivy Lynn, while Caroline Bowman (Wicked) portrays Karen Cartwright. Supporting them is Brooks Ashmanskas (The Prom) as Tom Levitt, Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening) as Julia Houston, and John Behlmann (Tootsie) as the ruthless director Derek Wills. An ensemble of powerhouse performers brings the musical-within-a-musical, Bombshell, to dazzling life.
Whether you were captivated by the NBC series or are discovering this behind-the-curtain drama for the first time, Smash promises to be a spectacular celebration of what makes Broadway shine. Don’t miss the chance to see this long-awaited musical—grab your tickets and let Smash “be your star”!
Smash is tragically afraid of being bad - and worse, it wants to be respectable. Funnily enough, back in Smash’s open workshops last year, the show ended in a major character’s death. That is, to be clear, an insane way to end a musical comedy. It’s also way more compelling than the ending the Smash creative team has put onstage after all the rewrites, one that risks nothing.
The second act of ‘Smash’ hinges on which actress will end up playing Marilyn on opening night. Frankly, we don’t care, because the show is loaded with many songs for each of them to sing. Too many. In the second act, the female empowerment anthems become numbing, since each is delivered as a showstopper. How many times can a show be stopped before it actually stops?
2025 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Brooks Ashmanskas |
2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Brooks Ashmanskas |
2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Robyn Hurder |
2025 | Drama League Awards | OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL | Susan Stroman |
2025 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Joshua Bergasse |
2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Brooks Ashmanskas |
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