Neil Meron News

Today on BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE, Richard brings you onstage at the Cherry Lane Theatre, where he caught up with ASUNCION scribe and star Jesse Eisenberg (Academy Award-nominee for The Social Network) and his co-stars Justin Bartha (The Hangover) Camille Mana and Remy Auberjonois. Click below for a candid talk with the group on building ASUNCION, being working actors and why 2013 might take them all to the Philippines.

On the upcoming NBC series SMASH, Katharine McPhee plays an Iowa gal named Karen Cartwright, who auditions for the role of Marilyn on Broadway. The series will premiere on February 6, 2012 on the NBC network. Check ot a behind the scenes photo of McPhee and Hilty below, as featured os McPhee's Facebook page.

Can't get enough of the new music video of Katharine McPhee singing 'Beautiful', soon to be seen on SMASH? Well, neither can we, so we're excited to present an exclusive behind-the-scenes look!

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that star of stage and television, Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty," The Temperamentals) will make his Broadway debut as Bud Frump, beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012, for 6 months through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Urie will co-star with Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges. Urie replaces Christopher J. Hanke, who will play his last performance on Sunday, January 22, 2012 alongside Darren Criss. Tickets for Urie's engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.

Last night, I spoke to two-time Tony-winner Katie Finneran all about her new Fox sitcom I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER, co-starring Jaime Pressly, which premiered yesterday at 9:30 PM. Additionally, Finneran and I discuss her recent role in the terrific live performance film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, co-starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone, and we also take a look back at her two Tony-winning Broadway roles from earlier this decade - the lauded Jeremy Sams revival of the comedy NOISES OFF, as well as Rob Ashford's revival of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Neil Simon PROMISES, PROMISES. Also, Finneran describes the feeling of reaching a career peak such as she has achieved this year - a new Tony Award, the COMPANY film and headlining a sitcom of her own - and also relates how her role as a new mom has influenced her participation on the battle-of-the-generations comedy. All of that - plus, reminiscences of working on DAMAGES, OZ, roles she would like to play in the future (Dolly, Mame and The Baker's Wife included) and much, much more!

Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning smash hit television show 'GLEE', will make his Broadway debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from January 3, through January 22, 2012. He will replace Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Mr. Criss' engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale. Go behind the scenes of his recent photo shoot below!

On the upcoming NBC series SMASH, Katharine McPhee plays an Iowa gal named Karen Cartwright, who auditions for the role of Marilyn on Broadway. The series will premiere on February 6, 2012 on the NBC network. NBC recently released a promo video of McPhee singing the Christina Aguilera song 'Beautiful' for a segment of the show. Now you can catch a behind-the-scenes featurette that explains more about McPhee's character.

America's favorite holiday tradition will return once more to dazzle and enchant millions nationwide with its signature magic. On Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:00 AM, the 85th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® will take to the streets of New York City with a cornucopia of whimsical treats for the whole family. From new giant character helium balloons to out-of-this world floats, the magic begins at the sound of Let's Have A Parade! More than 8,000 participants including a gaggle of clowns, exciting performance groups, pulse-pounding marching bands, celebrities and the one-and-only Santa Claus will kick-off the holidays with the 85th march of unrivaled wonder.

Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning smash hit television show 'GLEE', will make his Broadway debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from January 3, through January 22, 2012. He will replace Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Mr. Criss' engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.

NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10pm. Can't wait until then? Well, neither can we, but lucky for us all - they've revealed a fantastic music video of 'Beautiful' featuring Katharine McPhee and scenes from the show! Is it February yet?

According to Deadline.com, the CW has picked up a new comedy pilot from producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron titled 'Swordfighting.' THepilot was written by Ben McMillan and Josh Greenbaum, and is about 'two young couples who have been best friends and neighbors for years and whose friendship is put to the test when when the two wives reveal they've fallen in love (with each other).'

It's official, NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10pm. The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script. Check out the just released promotional art for the show, as featured by AOLTV, below!

If you're looking for a quick roundup of this week's events on Broadway, look no further: here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Today, Richard talks to Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers of critically acclaimed and award-winning feature films, television movies, series and Broadway productions. The dynamic duo spoke to Richard Ridge backstage before being honored at The New York Musical Theatre Festival Gala earlier this month. HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS and HARRY POTTER star Daniel Radcliffe was on hand to present Neil and Craig with their award and spoke to us exclusively as well about how they got him involved with the production and more!

The New York Times reports that Bernadette Peters and Martin Short are in talks with producers about co-starring as 'Agnes Snow' and 'Michael Snow' in a revival of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's I DO I DO. Talks about the possible revival are in the earliest phases and no readings or workshops have been planned. The producers behind the revival are Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Promises, Promises, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Smash), and Broadway Across America's John Gore and Beth Williams.

It's official, NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10pm, and Grace Gummer has joined a long list of theatre veterans who willl guest star onthe show, according to Variety. Gummer will play the daughter of Angelica Huston and Michael Cristofer's characters.

It's official, NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10pm. The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman - whose latest venture, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, is now running at the Neil Simon Theatre - wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!

On Twitter Watch, Megan Hilty wrote 'There are no words to properly describe how beautiful, generous and kind Miss Bernadette Peters is. We are so so lucky to have her at #Smash The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (HAIRSPRAY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN), wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script. The plot will follow an out-of-town tryout of a Broadway musical, and centers around a songwriting team (Debra Messing and Christian Borle) who write a musical about Marilyn Monroe based on an offhanded remark. They post a showstopping number on YouTube. When it's a viral hit, a producer (Anjelica Huston) who's looking to recapture success long past decides to produce the musical. There are two choices to play Marilyn: Karen (Katharine McPhee), a talented young newcomer, and Ivy (Megan Hilty), a theater veteran. Brian d'Arcy James has also been cast as Debra Messing's character's husband. SMASH will premeiere on NBC on February 6, 2012. '

On Sunday, November 6, stage and screen producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were honored at the Eighth Annual New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) Gala by some of their most famed stars including Daniel Radcliffe - of the pair's hit revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - and the company of the upcoming NBC series Smash, including Debra Messing, Angelica Houston, Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, Jack Davenport, Raza Jaffrey, Michael Mayer, Theresa Rebeck and more.