Scott Wittman News

This June, 54 BELOW, a new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife opens its doors to the public. The venue, located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway brightest talent.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which played its final performance on Broadway in September, will launch a non-equity national tour in the Fall of 2012, presented by Troika Entertainment. The cast has yet to be announced, but in the mean time, view the just-released trailer below!

The works of the late, iconoclastic downtown theatre star, Warhol favorite and trailblazer of 'glitter rock,' Jackie Curtis will be featured in the dynamic new revue JUKEBOX JACKIE -- conceived and directed by Tony Award winner Scott Wittman and featuring the leading lights of today's downtown scene -- being given its world-premiere production by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) currently in previews prior to its official press opening Wednesday, May 30.

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) will present Hairspray May 25-June 24, 2012.

The works of the late, iconoclastic downtown theatre star, Warhol favorite and trailblazer of 'glitter rock,' Jackie Curtis will be featured in the dynamic new revue JUKEBOX JACKIE -- conceived and directed by Tony Award winner Scott Wittman and featuring the leading lights of today's downtown scene -- being given its world-premiere production by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) with preview performances starting tonight, May 24 prior to its official press opening Wednesday, May 30.

Season 1 of NBC's new series about the making of a musical, SMASH, ended last Monday, May 14, and according to the Hollywood Reporter, the show will cut a few characters for Season 2. Brian d'Arcy James, Will Chase, Jaime Cepero and Raza Jaffrey, who play Frank, Michael, Ellis and Dev resectively, will no longer be regulars when the show returns in 2013.

Season 1 of NBC's new series about the making of a musical, SMASH, ended on Monday, May 14, and according to TVLine, the series is already casting three new regulars fro season two. Jining the line-up next season will be 'Courney'- 'incredibly attractive and confident, but also open-minded and non-judgmental;" 'Danny'- 'a straight, working class fella in his mid-20s and from Brooklyn;' and 'Joe'- "gay, very cute, incredibly open and optimistic."

Season 1 of NBC's new series about the making of a musical, SMASH, ended on Monday, May 14. The show stars Katharine McPhee (American Idol Runner-Up) as the wide-eyed, inexperienced Karen hoping for a big Broadway debut, and her rival Megan Hilty (WICKED, 9 TO 5, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES) as Ivy who has had enough of being in the ensemble and wants to be a real star. This video revisits some of the best moments from season 1 of SMASH from when Karen and Ivy first began their rivalry to when Karen sang 'Don't Forget Me' in the finale.

The past couple of days have been full of announcements about 2012 television pickups. NBC's SMASH will be back, but not until January 2013 with an all new season 2. The cast just attended 2012 upfronts, where they performed pieces from the show. Check out photos, as featured on their Facebook page, below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 'Apocalyptour,' two Sondheim/Lapine productions, Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen visit Northlight, 'The Last Five Years,' Spider Saloff writes and stars, that 'Smash'ing season finale, and more....

SMASH star and American Idol finalist Katherine McPhee recently sat down with CNN and discussed her career thus far and her plans for the future. In this video, McPhee answers reporters' questions regarding a possible Broadway debut and says she thinks it would make sense to be on Broadway in the near future.

The new featured song from last night's season finale of NBC's musical drama series SMASH (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET), is now available from NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Columbia Records on the iTunes store.

Last night NBC aired the season finale of SMASH! In the episode, Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) raced against time to save the show, while Derek (Jack Davenport) made a decision that changed the lives of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty) forever. Ellis (Jaime Cepero) revealed his true colors. But when he finally made his move to save "Bombshell," would it be for or against Eileen (Anjelica Huston)? In the midst of it all, another bombshell went off - this one is in Karen and Dev's (Raza Jaffrey) relationship. Check out the season 1 finale below.

The words we've all been breathlessly waiting to hear - "You're going on as Marilyn tonight," - were finally uttered by the director of the show-within-the-show, Derek (Jack Davenport), on SMASH's "Bombshell" season finale last night: Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) nabbed the coveted role. Despite seemingly all of the bets being placed early in the season against Karen by viewers and critics alike insofar as her likelihood in donning the peroxide wig and beautymark - she seemed a Norma Jean but rarely an expected choice for Marilyn; certainly no match in the classic idea of the screen siren as far as the vivacious and curvaceous Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) was concerned. While many were quick in giving Ivy Lynn the upper hand - or upper skirt, as the case may be - it was evident from the first moment of the series that Karen, the underdog, is who we were largely meant to be rooting for above all others; the naive Iowa girl singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on a stage of glitterring stars, so close and yet so far away. Ivy surely made a fast and furious impression soon thereafter with "The National Pastime" in SMASH's pilot, but Karen had already been quite clearly established as our most central protagonist - perhaps with Julia (Debra Messing) equally as prominent. As the fourteen subsequent episodes have progressed, SMASH has revealed itself to be a true ensemble piece with the emphasis on the collective journey of all of the characters and how that has had an effect on the burgeoning Broadway musical at the show's core, but Karen and Julia still have remained the two given the most screen-time and exposure. Megan Hilty has nonetheless emerged as a force to be reckoned with and her performance in the role is the finest of all on the series, outshining all in her songs and scenes. The various highways, byways and alleyways by which we have journeyed on the road of SMASH from the beginning to last night has unquestionably been leading to the BOMBSHELL first preview performances and the reveal of who would ultimately win the part of a lifetime in the show-within-the-show - and, on that count, the SMASH season finale bared all. And, as if all of that were not enough - cameos from Broadway heavyweights Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas, too!

Don't forget to tune in tonight to the season finale of SMASH! In the episode, Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) race against time to save the show, while Derek (Jack Davenport) makes a decision that will change the lives of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty) foreveR. Ellis (Jaime Cepero) reveals his true colors. But when he finally makes his move to save "Bombshell," will it be for or against Eileen (Anjelica Huston)? In the midst of it all, another bombshell goes off - this one is in Karen and Dev's (Raza Jaffrey) relationship.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's ongoing interview series with the stars and creative team of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH with a Broadway/Hollywood leading man who first made his mark on the stage creating a role in the Tony Award-winning TITANIC after having appeared in BLOOD BROTHERS and CAROUSEL and who has since starred in productions as diverse as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, NEXT TO NORMAL, SHREK and many more - the jovial and multi-talented Brian d'Arcy James. Discussing all aspects of his role on SMASH as well as cluing us in on what we can expect from Monday's highly awaited season finale, d'Arcy James and I also take a look back at his career onstage thus far and he shares fond recollections of working on TITANIC, SWEET SMELL, SHREK, NEXT TO NORMAL, TIME STANDS STILL and THE WILD PARTY Off-Broadway as well as offers his observations of his collaborators and co-stars in each endeavor. Plus, Brian also reveals his other current TV project: his character arc on Showtime's dramedy THE BIG C, starring his TIME STANDS STILL co-star Laura Linney and previous John Benjamin Hickey, that begins this Sunday and continues through the rest of this month. Additionally, we also discuss his upcoming 54 Below concerts June 26-30 - as well as his thoughtful and candid opinions on some of his favorite songwriters and his own songs. Plus, comments on his film roles in HBO's GAME CHANGE, FRIENDS WITH KIDS, an upcoming short film - and much, much more!

SMASH's Megan Hilty recently visited 'Last Call With Carson Daly' and discussed her role in SMASH, her Broadway debut in WICKED, and more.

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) will present Hairspray May 25-June 24, 2012.