Broadway-Themed 'Smash Pilot to Center on Monroe, Feature Riedel Figure & More - Details Revealed!

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, 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 will direct the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the script.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel has revealed details on the show, which follows the success of the FOX show GLEE in an attempt to bring musicals to television.

The plot will follow follow an out-of-town tryout of a Broadway musical, and centers around a songwriting team who write a musical about Marilyn Monroe based on an offhanded remark from an assistant. They post a showstopping number on YouTube. When it's a viral hit, a producer who's looking to recapture success long past decides to produce the musical. There are two choices to play Marilyn: Karen, a talented young newcomer, and Ivy, a theater veteran. 

Although no casting has been announced, in addition to the characters surrounding the main plot, there will also be a character based on Riedel himself - described by one of the songwriters in the show as "a Napoleonic little Nazi who writes for The Post". There's no word yet on casting for either the lead roles or the cameo.

The show's executive producers include Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (DreamWorks Television); Craig Zadan and Neil Meron; and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It is slated to debut in the fall.

Read the full New York Post article here.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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