Developed from the mind of Executive Producer and multiple Emmy® and Oscar® winner Steven Spielberg (E.T, Schindler’s List) and created by a production team including Neil Meron (Footloose, Chicago) and Theresa Rebeck (Law and Order, N.Y.P.D Blue), Smash - The Complete First Season hits all the right notes.
The ingenious Tony and Grammy award-winning writing duo Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) and Scott Wittman (Glee) have put together a phenomenal musical score including covers of popular hits and breath-taking original songs.
Art Director Doug Huszti (Gossip Girl, Boardwalk Empire), set decorator Rich Devine (Ugly Betty), and production designer Cabot McMullen (Scrubs, Cougar Town) work together in perfect harmony to re-produce the glitz and glamour of the New York theatre scene on the small screen.
Idealistic Iowan and part time waitress ‘Karen Cartwright’, played by American Idol finalist and fresh-faced beauty Katherine McPhee, has dreams of stage superstardom. Enticed by the bright lights of the New York City theatre, Karen is desperate for her big break, disappointed by audition after audition when she hears of a project in development.
Accomplished and revered writing duo ‘Tom Levitt’ (Christian Borle- The Bounty Hunter, Legally Blonde: The Musical) and’ Julia Houston’ (Debra Messing - Will & Grace, The Wedding Date) are working on a biopic musical about the life of screen siren and Hollywood Icon Marilyn Monroe.
The only problem being that Broadway baby and vocal powerhouse ‘Ivy Lynn’ (Megan Hilty - Wicked, Desperate Housewives) is also auditioning for the part.
Soon the competition really heats up as both potential Norma Jeans begin to submit to the back-biting and pressure-inducing underbelly of Broadway behind the curtain. The two opponents attempt to claw their way to the top with the biggest prize of all within reach.
In the heady realms of lights, camera, action; neither of them, it seems, are prepared for the long fall back to earth.
With a spectacular ensemble cast including British talents Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Talented Mr. Ripley) as unsympathetic director ‘Derek Wills’ and Raza Jaffrey (Harry Brown, Spooks) as Karen’s boyfriend ‘Dev’.
This incredible debut series is blessed with the incomparable tour de force; Angelica Houston (The Royal Tenenbaums, The Witches) as tenacious theatre producer ‘Eileen Rand’. Smash - Season One has plucked its acting and behind the scenes talent from the upper register of the entertainment universe.
Stay tuned and don’t let missing this innovative new series be your seven year itch as Smash - The Season One dances onto DVD on 29 October 2012, from Universal Playback.
A Broadway musical, based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, is being written by the successful song-writing duo Tom and Julia.
Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband Frank of many years, but her focus is torn when she has the opportunity to write another Broadway hit.
A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty Karen Cartwright - who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds - and stage veteran Ivy Lynn, who's determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break.
A tenacious producer Eileen discovers the "Marilyn" project and jumps on board with a brilliant director, Derek - whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality.