Scott Wittman News

NBC and Columbia Records announced that the soundtrack for Bombshell, the musical within NBC's Golden Globe-nominated series television hit 'SMASH' (Tuesdays, 10-11pm ET), will be released on February 12. Bombshell is available now for pre-order.

Today in 2009, Hairspraiy closed at the Neil Simon Theatre after 2,641 performances. Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and 'downtown' rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.

One of the most colorful presences on Broadway in the last decade, and half of the popular Houston-Levitt team, Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) has co-created four Broadway shows. In Season One, Tom's journey to bring the new musical 'Bombshell' to the stage was met with challenges and triumphs - relive the ups-and-downs with SMASH Season One now available on DVD!

Derek (Jack Davenport) is one of Broadway's most brilliant director-choreographers not to mention one of its most seductive and arrogant figures. Season One of SMASH tested Derek's award-winning genius in his quest to bring an untested new musical to the New York stage while juggling personal relationships with the show's leading ladies. Catch Derek's bad-boy tactics in SMASH Season One - now available on DVD!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie, jazz, funk and R&B singer Alex Burgnon and Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris.

In an interview published in today's Entertainment Weekly, Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson revealed that she considers her upcoming guest spot on NBC's SMASH as training for her Broadway debut.

Tony-winner Donna McKechnie will soon grace the stage of 54 Below in a brand new show: a musical déjà vu celebrating the scintillating 70?s in New York City - the heyday of Studio 54. McKechnie, best known the world over for creating the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line, is also well-known for her Broadway appearances in State Fair, On the Town, Company, Promises, Promises and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. For these five very special performances, Donna will salute this remarkable era via the music of Jim Croce, Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, Billy Strayhorn, and Stephen Sondheim, with arrangements and music direction by John McDaniel. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge just chatted with the Broadway legend about the upcoming gig and you can check out the full interview below!

Tonight, December 31, Patti LuPone returns to 54 Below for a special, New Year's Eve engagement at 7PM and 11PM.

Today, in anticipation of the DVD release of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH on January 8, BroadwayWorld is pleased to present this exclusive clip from the extensive behind-the-scenes features available on the complete Season One DVD box set! 2012 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actor In A Musical, Christian Borle, along with SMASH executive producer and lauded theatrical producer Craig Zadan, expound upon some specifics of the hit series in this exclusive look at the bonus content present on the forthcoming DVD set. Enjoy!

TVGuide reports that more original music and lyrics from the award-winning team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman is on the way for the upcoming second season of NBC's SMASH. The site confirms that the duo has 'composed tunes for other faux Broadway shows that will compete with Bombshell for ticket sales as the Marilyn Monroe-themed production nears its premiere.'

Entertainment superstar Liza Minnelli - winner of an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Grammy, an Emmy and multiple Tony Awards - will guest-star as herself in NBC's musical drama SMASH in the upcoming season, and will sing an original song with series star Christian Borle that was written by the show's celebrated composer and lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Minnelli recently appeared on the show's set to shoot a scene with stars Megan Hilty and Christian Borle. Click below to watch footage and interviews the Minnelli and the cast!

Season 2 of NBC's SMASH won't premiere until mid season, but fans will get a chance to relive Season 1's epic Marilyn battle beginning today, January 8, when the show is released on DVD! Until then, BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive look at a Behind the Scenes DVD Bonus Feature with the show's songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman in the recording studio as the show's stars, Will Chase and Megan Hilty, record the love duet, 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. Watch the clip below!

Season 1 of SMASH saw Iowa native Karen Cartwright pursuing her Broadway dream all the while navigating the shark-infested waters of the professional theater world to win the role of a lifetime in the new musical 'Bombshell'. See Karen's battle to become 'Marilyn' on SMASH Season 1 - now available on DVD!

Seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) is an ensemble performer who has spent years pursuing stardom only to be bumped back into the chorus again and again. Will the new Marilyn Monroe musical 'Bombshell' prove to be the show that puts Ivy in the spotlight? Find out when SMASH Season One is released on DVD January 8!

For one night only, find New York's best solo performances in one show. Join Justin Vivan Bond, Lea Delaria, Jackie Hoffman and Natalie Joy as they present highlights of their critically-acclaimed solo performances. JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, LEA DELARIA, JACKIE HOFFMAN & NATALIE JOY JOHNSON! will be performed at Joe's Pub on Sunday, January 13th at 7:00PM.

54 Below will welcome multiple Grammy nominee Maureen McGovern to the stage when she presents an evening featuring songs of the season, some unexpected, and some traditional 'chestnuts.' Broadway audiences know her from?her acclaimed, Drama Desk-nominated performance in Little Woman, 3 Penny Opera, Nine and The Pirates of Penzance as well as off-Broadway's Brownstone, but the world over knows Maureen as 'The Disaster Theme Queen.' BroadwayWorld brings you photos from her concert below!

This holiday season, enjoy the tinsel and the eggnog, but beat it down to 54 Below where Broadway veteran and Tony nominee Maurice Hines triumphantly returns with Tap'in Through Life, his original show featuring the all-woman, nine player big band The DIVA Orchestra, which includes a six-woman horn section. Expect classic tunes such as "Come Fly with Me," "All the Way," "Luck Be a Lady," and "Route 66!" A childhood sensation with his brother Gregory, the tap-dancing duo appeared in New York, Las Vegas, and Europe, and on television, including a remarkable thirty-five appearances on The Tonight Show. A smash in 1978?s Broadway sensation Eubie!, Maurice's critically-acclaimed appearances on the Great White Way include Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown… It's Hot, which he also conceived, directed and choreographed. Jump up the holiday season with Maurice Hines and the fantastic Diva Orchestra and tap your troubles away at this year-end musical party! He gave a special press preview from his upcoming engagement at 54 Below yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you complete coverage below!

Tony-winner Donna McKechnie graces the stage of 54 Below in a brand new show: a musical deja vu celebrating the scintillating 70?s in New York City - the heyday of Studio 54. McKechnie, best known the world over for creating the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line, is also well-known for her Broadway appearances in State Fair, On the Town, Company, Promises, Promises and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. For these five very special performances, Donna (Broadway Royalty!) will salute this remarkable era via the music of Jim Croce, Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, Billy Strayhorn, and Stephen Sondheim, with arrangements and music direction by John McDaniel. She gave a special press preview from her upcoming engagement at 54 Below yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you complete coverage below!

54 Below will welcome multiple Grammy nominee Maureen McGovern to the stage when she presents an evening featuring songs of the season, some unexpected, and some traditional 'chestnuts.' Broadway audiences know her from?her acclaimed, Drama Desk-nominated performance in Little Woman, 3 Penny Opera, Nine and The Pirates of Penzance as well as off-Broadway's Brownstone, but the world over knows Maureen as 'The Disaster Theme Queen.' She gave a special press preview from her upcoming engagement at 54 Below yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you complete coverage below!

Heavy metal icon Dee Snider, lead singer of the legendary 1980's rock band Twisted Sister ("We're Not Gonna Take It," "I Wanna Rock!"), has gone on to success with his own radio talk show, in film and on television, including his recent and forthcoming appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice. But Dee's longtime passion is Broadway, as evidenced by his new CD, Dee Does Broadway, in which he covers everything from West Side Story and Sweeney Todd to Sweet Charity and Chicago. Broadway audiences embraced him during his recent stint in Rock of Ages, and, on this season of The Celebrity Apprentice, his charity of choice is none other than Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Join Dee for two very special performances this holiday season - it's showtunes and Christmas songs like you've never heard them before! He gave a special press preview from his upcoming engagement at 54 Below yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you complete coverage below!