Broadway'sSmashBegins Rehearsals! Go Behind-the-Scenes as the New Musical Readies for the Stage (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenny Anderson

A new musical is making its way to Broadway, and it looks to be aSmash!

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, rehearsals officially began forthe highly anticipated stage adaptation of the fan-favorite NBC series, itself about the making of a fictionalMarilyn Monroebio musical calledBombshell.

Performancesofficially begin at the Imperial Theatre in New York City on Tuesday, March 11, ahead of an opening on Thursday, April 10.

Susan Stroman and Krysta Rodriguez.Jenny Anderson

It’s not the same Ivy audiences met on the series, however. Book writersRick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher) and Bob Martin (a Tony winner for writingThe Drowsy Chaperone) have crafted a new story for the stage, ditching the dramatic backstage battle element between Hilty’s Ivy andKatharine McPhee’s Karen Cartwright in favor of a lighter, comedic tale.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The cast and creative team of ‘Smash’ on Broadway.Jenny Anderson

Surrounding Hurder is a stellar cast of Broadway greats. Two-time Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas playsBombshell’s director/choreographer ‘Nigel;’ stage veterans Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening, The Addams Family, Into the Woods) and John Behlmann (Shucked, Tootsie, Significant Other) areBombshell’s songwriting and book-writing team ‘Tracy’ and ‘Jerry;’ and two-time Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen mixes things up as acting coach ‘Susan.’

Rounding out the cast is Jacqueline B. Arnold as play producer ‘Anita;’ Nicholas Matos as her assistant, ‘Scott;’ Bella Coppola as assistant choreographer ‘Chloe;’ and Caroline Bowman and Casey Garvin as two members ofBombshell’s cast: ‘Karen’ and ‘Charlie,’ respectively.

All posed together on the first day of rehearsal, alongside members of the creative team like Tony Award-winning director Susan Stroman, Emmy Award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse, costume designer Alejo Vietti, andSmashproducers Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron.

Tony, Emmy and two-time Grammy winnersMarc Shaiman and Scott Wittman(Hairspray,Mary Poppins Returns,Some Like It Hot) were there, too. They’ve composedSmash’s score, made up of songs that have become treasured musical theater tunes over the years (among them, “The 20th Century Fox Mambo,” “They Just Keep Moving the Line” and the Emmy-nominated “Let Me Be Your Star”).

Marc Shaiman and Joshua Bergasse.Jenny Anderson

Smashpremiered on NBC in February 2012 and ran for two seasons. It’s currently streaming on Peacock.

Back in March, EGOT winnerJennifer Hudsonannouncedshe was joining the producing team of the Broadway musical, alongside lead producers Greenblatt, Meron andSteven Spielberg.

It was a full-circle moment for Hudson, who appeared as a guest star on season 2. “That show meant so much to me, and apparently it meant a whole lot to others as well,” Hudson, 43, said on her self-titled talk show, explaining that her her role as fictional actress Veronica Moore on the series was the first time she got to experience a taste of what it would be like to be on Broadway.

Tickets toSmashare now on sale.

source: people.com