Scott Wittman News

Culled from as A-list a list as you are ever likely to acquire - Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Michael Mayer, Theresa Rebeck and Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman onwards - SMASH is the adult answer to riveting dramatic musical entertainment coming with heart, laughs, unforgettable characters and some of the biggest twists this side of the starry stages on the Great White Way. Oh, yeah, and those hallowed Broadway halls, too. Plus, SMASH provides a great new opportunity to showcase the unbelievable talent on display on the stages of Broadway and Off-Broadway and beyond, particularly given the fact that it is shot in New York and it is being cast by the biggest casting director on Broadway, Bernie Telsey. Consider the theatre-centric casting LAW & ORDER times seventy six (trombones). All of New York is the talent pool from which the stage of SMASH shall be set. And, what exactly is SMASH about, anyway? Well, SMASH is all about Broadway and what makes a musical tick - from the very inception of the show's idea by the songwriters, through writing, rehearsals and the road; all the way to the big Broadway opening where dreams are made - and nightmares born - on one magnificent, momentous night. As viewers, we are taken inside the ticking clock of the show and we experience each and every one of the multitude of machinations enacted by everyone from the stars - Marilyn Monroe, and the actress playing her, Ivy; and, more importantly, her alternative, Karen - to the overworked director (Derek), harried songwriters Tom and Julia, and the speculative and cutthroat producer behind it all, Eileen.

DanceOn, the YouTube partnership channel exclusive for dance videos, released the tenth and final episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN officially opens at the Neil Simon Theater, and Alex Ellis celebrates her Broadway debut

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. This week in New York City, stars Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston as well as a slew of other NBC stars gathered for NBC's upfronts. Check out photos from the event below!

On Thursday, May 19, and Thursday, June 2 audience members at the new , Tony Award Nominated Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for these performances can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's 2011 Season continues this summer when it brings the smash hit musical comedy Hairspray to the stage.

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. This week in New York City as part of NBC's upfronts, they unveiled the complete trailer for the show. What will we do from now till its premiere? Wait impatiently!

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. Here, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee talk about the show!

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. Now, the network has posted teaser photos from the show's pilot!

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. Now, the network has posted teaser clips of their new series that we just CAN'T WAIT to see! Here, watch Debra Messing and Christian Borle debate writing a Marilyn Monroe musical, Karen (Katharine McPhee) argue with her parents, and then have a disagreement with her director on rehearsal etiquette.

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. Now, the network has posted teaser clips of their new series that we just CAN'T WAIT to see! Here, Broadway newcomer, Karen (Katherine McPhee), dazzles a tough crowd.

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. Now, the network has posted teaser clips of their new series that we just CAN'T WAIT to see! Here Megan Hilty hits one out of the park as her Smash character, Ivy.

Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP), the nation's largest community theatre, has announced the 2011-12 season line up.

The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company announces its 2011-2012 season, featuring Assassins, Of Mice and Men, and Hairspray as well as the Colorado Premiere of the Pulitzer Prize nominated play, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play.

BroadwayWorld.com has excitedly learned that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin this fall. The news will be officially announced later this week at NBC's upfronts which begin next week in New York.

On Thursday, May 12, audience members at the new Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for this performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.

Theatre Talk congratulates all of the 2011 TONY Nominees, including 14 of this year's Theater Talk guests: David Lindsay-Abaire, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Jez Butterworth, Bobby Cannavale, Colman Domingo, John Kander, Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, Mark Rylance, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Matt Stone, Susan Stroman, and Alex Timbers.

DanceOn, the YouTube partnership channel exclusive to dance videos, released the ninth episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. Alex Ellis chats with Kerry Butler who plays Brenda Strong, the leading role Alex understudies, and gets the chance to sing Brenda's show-stopping number 'Fly, Fly Away' for the first time in front of a live audience.

On Thursday, May 12, audience members at the new Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for this performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE with her new show 'It's Maye In May.' Her recent local appearances have been received with rave reviews and full houses. According to Rex Reed in The New York Observer, 'Her show is not to be missed. It's a master class in singing conducted by a polished pro who majored in unforgettable.' In addition to performing jazz and pop standards from the American Songbook composers, Marilyn will be adding her creative touch to songs by her favorite contemporary songwriters including Peter Allen, James Taylor, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. She'll present several Broadway show tunes including one from a current Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical. Maye will be joined by pianist/conductor Tedd Firth, bassist Tom Hubbard, and Jim Eklof, her drummer of almost 50 years. The show runs at Tuesday, May 24 to Saturday, June 4 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).