Will Chase Joins the Cast of SMASH on NBC

Will Chase, most recently seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot, has joined the myriad of stage stars who will be seen in the upcoming NBC series SMASH.

Chases's other Broadway credits include starring roles in Rent, Aida, Lennon, High Fidelity, The Story of My Life, Miss Saigon and The Full Monty. His recent television appearances include the upcoming ABC drama Pan Am, Rescue Me, Royal Pains and Law and Order Criminal Intent.

SMASH, 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 - whose latest venture, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, will close at the Neil Simon Theatre this week - wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script.

The show 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 offhand 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. Chase will play Stephen, a character who according to Deadline.com "has a history with Messing’s character."

SMASH is slated for a February premiere on NBC.