According to published reports, Nick Jonas, who will soon return to Broadway in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, and Broadway legend Bernadette Peters have joined the long list of theatre stars who will guest star on NBC's upcoming SMASH series.
Jonas will be playing Lyle West, a hot sitcom star who started his career as a child actor in a Broadway show written by Tom (Christian Borle) and directed by Derek (Jack Davenport). Benadette Peters makes an appearance as Leigh Conroy, Ivy's (Megan Hilty) Tony award-winning mother who was once a theater sensation but now lives vicariously through her daughter.
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.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos
