"Bombshell" on the-TV-series-within-musical which originated as part of the Broadway-themed NBC series "Smash" is on the way to a future life on stage, with Universal Stage Prods. Put the property in development as a legitimate musical.
The co-directors of Universal Stage Prods., President of NBC Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt and Universal Pictures President Jimmy Horowitz, were encouraged in part by the fans raucous enthusiasm he showed for "Bombshell" in a one night only concert presentation in New York as part of a benefit Actors Fund. Still, the final product is likely a long way off, given that the musical biography of Marilyn Monroe currently has lots of catchy songs - courtesy of "Hairspray" composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote songs for the TV series - but no reserves with which to string them together.
In the benefit performance, songs were interspersed with text taken from the writings of Marilyn Monroe and who knew her. The staging also included a series of numbers fully choreographed dance choreographer Joshua Bergasse, who already works in "Smash" has become a regular on Broadway with shows from last season, including "On the Town" and "Gigi".
Bergasse will choreograph the stage version, with a director and writer of books for the show has not been announced. Whether Shaiman and Wittman, the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" head to Broadway next season, will write new songs for the stage version is not yet clear, although it seems likely.
Although the original cast of the TV series - including recent winner of Christian Tony Borle and Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty alternating in the role of Marilyn - appeared in the concert version earlier this month, none of them are attached to the production preparation stage.
Universal Stage Prods. He made no mention of Broadway and specific ultimate goal for "Bombshell" but it is certainly one of the most likely scenarios for what seems certain to be a musical scale production.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the stalwarts of Hollywood producing "Smash" and also produced on Broadway ("Promises, Promises," "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"), will lead the production team of "Bombshell”. Steven Spielberg, executive producer of the television series, also will be involved in the theatrical version. Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, executive producers of "Smash" and co-presidents of Amblin Television, will also be on the team producing the musical stage.
"Bombshell" joins a list of Universal Stage Prods. Projects that also includes "The Sting," "Animal House" and "Back to the Future".
The co-directors of Universal Stage Prods., President of NBC Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt and Universal Pictures President Jimmy Horowitz, were encouraged in part by the fans raucous enthusiasm he showed for "Bombshell" in a one night only concert presentation in New York as part of a benefit Actors Fund. Still, the final product is likely a long way off, given that the musical biography of Marilyn Monroe currently has lots of catchy songs - courtesy of "Hairspray" composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote songs for the TV series - but no reserves with which to string them together.
In the benefit performance, songs were interspersed with text taken from the writings of Marilyn Monroe and who knew her. The staging also included a series of numbers fully choreographed dance choreographer Joshua Bergasse, who already works in "Smash" has become a regular on Broadway with shows from last season, including "On the Town" and "Gigi".
Bergasse will choreograph the stage version, with a director and writer of books for the show has not been announced. Whether Shaiman and Wittman, the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" head to Broadway next season, will write new songs for the stage version is not yet clear, although it seems likely.
Although the original cast of the TV series - including recent winner of Christian Tony Borle and Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty alternating in the role of Marilyn - appeared in the concert version earlier this month, none of them are attached to the production preparation stage.
Universal Stage Prods. He made no mention of Broadway and specific ultimate goal for "Bombshell" but it is certainly one of the most likely scenarios for what seems certain to be a musical scale production.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the stalwarts of Hollywood producing "Smash" and also produced on Broadway ("Promises, Promises," "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"), will lead the production team of "Bombshell”. Steven Spielberg, executive producer of the television series, also will be involved in the theatrical version. Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, executive producers of "Smash" and co-presidents of Amblin Television, will also be on the team producing the musical stage.
"Bombshell" joins a list of Universal Stage Prods. Projects that also includes "The Sting," "Animal House" and "Back to the Future".
