Scott Wittman News

On the February 13th episode of NBC's new musical drama series SMASH entitled 'Callbacks', Ivy (Megan Hilty) and Karen (Katharine McPhee) jump through hoops for the brilliant but temperamental director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) as they pursue the role of a lifetime.

Get SMASH-ed. Last night, NBC unveiled the most sparkling, dazzling jewel of many a TV season with the hotly anticipated debut of the new musical dramedy series SMASH. Hatched from an idea by mega-mogul Steven Spielberg and given life by playwright Theresa Rebeck, director Michael Mayer and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, SMASH follows the journey of the auditioning actors and creative team of a new Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe from inception to final presentation on opening night and follows the highs and lows of making a hit show on the Great White Way. While I have only viewed the first four episodes, I can tell you that this show certainly knows where it is heading and heads will unquestionably turn with each new surprise and dramatic twist along the way - and that's to say nothing of the simply stupendous presentation of original songs by Shaiman & Wittman for the musical-within-the-show and spirited, inventive covers of pop hits, new and old, ranging from Adele to Blondie to Bruno Mars and beyond. In just the first four episodes alone, SMASH manages to pack more sheer entertainment value into its running time than virtually any other show on network TV - besides GLEE, that is. Ah, yes: GLEE. Comparisons will be made - and most critics have already made them - but, the truth of the matter really is that there is more than enough room on network TV for two music-themed shows that tell their story through song from time to time. After all, on SMASH, there are a lot dramatically justified reasons to break out into a song - or four. Plus, there's certainly a big enough audience out there to justify AMERICAN IDOL, THE VOICE, THE X FACTOR and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT - to name just the network reality competition shows focusing on performance-based entertainment - so why can't GLEE and SMASH happily co-exist on TV together? As SMASH shows, if there can be two Marilyns in a Marilyn Monroe musical, then anything is possible. The possibilities are as vast and numerous as the possible subjects for a new Broadway musical - endless. Endless, too, is the enjoyment and entertainment value SMASH potentially can provide for many more seasons to come. All that is needed, wanted and so desperately desired is an audience - so, let SMASH be your star.

According to published reports, 'One Life to Live' star Thorsten Kaye has signed on to guest star on NBC's SMASH, which premieres tonight. Kaye will play a love interest for Anjelica Huston's character, Eileen.

An upcoming restaurant and club, 54 Below, hopes to become a new staple for performers and patrons alike.

NBC has released promotional photos as well as a sneak peek of the 'Mr DiMaggio' episode of its highly anticipated drama series SMASH which will be premiering on Monday, February 6th from 10-11 p.m. ET.

NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH has its premiere tonight 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.

Signature Theatre today announced that the run of Hairspray will be extended for one week, through February 5th.

SMASH will have its premiere on the NBC network on February, 6, 2012. Developed from an idea of Executive Producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg, SMASH explores the subculture of musical theatre; celebrating the beauty and heartbreak of Broadway. Boasting a stellar cast from stage and screen, SMASH stars Emmy award winning actress Debra Messing, Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James. BroadwayWorld is obsessed with the hilarious video below, which features the talents of John Walton West in a GLEE PROJECT- like version of SMASH. The spoof features impressions of Norbert Leo Butz, Matthew Broderick, Terrence Mann, Mandy Patinkin, and BroadwayWorld'd own Richard Ridge! Click below to check it out!

With the premiere of NBC's new critically acclaimed musical drama series SMASH, NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Columbia Records will make select songs from each episode available on the iTunes store

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! Hairspray, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to Peoria as a Theater Works special presentation. Audiences will be swept away to 1960s Baltimore in this 'international smash-hit musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter and romance - and enough deliriously tuneful songs to fill a nonstop platter party.' It's Hairspray, live on stage, in living color! Performing on the Gyder Mainstage Hairspray runs February 3 - 19 and tickets are on sale now!

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! Hairspray, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to Peoria as a Theater Works special presentation. Audiences will be swept away to 1960s Baltimore in this 'international smash-hit musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter and romance - and enough deliriously tuneful songs to fill a nonstop platter party.' It's Hairspray, live on stage, in living color! Performing on the Gyder Mainstage Hairspray runs February 3 - 19 and tickets are on sale now!

American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee stars with Megan Hilty in NBC's new series about making a Broadway musical, called SMASH. This highly-anticipated show will air after The Voice at 10pm on February 6. Below, hear McPhee talking about the audition process for the show, where she plans to take her character and more!

Last night, January 31, Christine Ebersole took to the stage at the Cafe Carlyle, cheered on by the likes of Anjelica Huston, Matthew Broderick, Joy Behar, Tommy Tune, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Jack O'Brien, David Marshall Grant, Edward Hibbert, Kate Wetherhead, Colin Hanlon, Katie Couric and more!

American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee stars with Megan Hilty in NBC's new series about making a Broadway musical, called SMASH. This highly-anticipated show will air after The Voice at 10pm on February 6. In this new promo for SMASH, Kahtarine McPhee sings 'Touch Me' as the audience gets a taste for the upcoming season.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which played its final performance on Broadway in September, will soon open in South Korea, in addition to launching a non-equity national tour in the Fall of 2012. Check out a brand new promo for the South Korean production below!

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

Boasting a stellar cast from stage and screen, SMASH stars Emmy award winning actress Debra Messing, Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James. In the video below, McPheeDavenport chats about his character, Derek Wills, and what to expect from the new series!

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. A full schedule has yet to be announced.

Boasting a stellar cast from stage and screen, SMASH stars Emmy award winning actress Debra Messing, Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James. In the videos below, choreographer Josh Bergasse chats with DanceOn about what to expect from the series.

Hodges and Hodges were on the scene for the advance screening of SMASH, NBC's behind the curtain look at what it takes to put on a Broadway show. The buzz was already huge (BWW covered the New York premiere last month) with many of Broadway's biggest stars giving the show a thumbs up. So, dressed up in our finest, we drove to San Francisco, dashing past the Curran and Orpheum theatres to make our way to the theater for the premiere.