NBC Picks Up New Zadan/Meron Pilot SMASH

NBC has picked up a new pilot entitled SMASH, which is about 'a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical.' The series 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 are set to write the music for the show.  Michael Mayer is currently in talks to direct the project and playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the script.

Zadan and Meron, who run Storyline Entertainment produced the blockbuster HAIRSPRAY and the critically acclaimed CHICAGO, which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards, and are currently working on the highly anticipated FOOTLOOSE remake. 

They won GLAAD Media Awards for Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and for What Makes A Family.  Additional film credits include: Brian's Song, Martin & Lewis, A Raisin in the Sun, The Bucket List, Annie, Gypsy, Cinderella, and more.  The duo has also produced the recent Broadway hit PROMISES, PROMISES as well as the upcoming revival of HOW TO SUCCEED... featuring Daniel Radcliffe.

Shaiman and Wittman have their musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN hitting Broadway this Spring. Adapted  from the screenplay by Jeff  Nathanson and the book written by  Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan  Redding, the original musical boasts  a book by four-time Tony Award-  winner Terrence McNally, who  joined forces with the collaborative  team behind the hit musical  Hairspray, including five-time Tony  Award-winning director Jack  O'Brien and Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Rebeck's additional theater credits include Mauritus and Bad Dates. For television and film, Rebeck's producer-writer credits include stints with NYPD Blue, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Harriet the Spy and Gossip.