SMASH will officially land on Broadway in spring 2025

"Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman will star in ‘Smash’ on Broadway" by Broadway News' Michael Abourizk - "The previously announced musical based on Theresa Rebeck’s NBC series will begin previews on March 11 and open on April 10 at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre, current home of “Water for Elephants.” At the helm of “Smash” will be Susan Stroman.

The company of the musical will be led by Tony Award nominee Robyn Hurder as Ivy and Caroline Bowman as Karen, with Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas as Nigel, Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen as Susan, Krysta Rodriguez as Tracy, John Behlmann as Jerry, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Anita, Bella Coppola as Chloe and Casey Garvin as Charlie. ...

“Smash” features a score by Tony-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book co-written by Tony winner Bob Martin and Tony nominee Rick Elice. Tony nominee Joshua Bergasse will serve as choreographer.

“I am thrilled that it is the best in the business,” Stroman told Broadway News. “When we have creative meetings, they’re filled with electricity. Everybody is funny, everybody’s smart and everybody understands what it takes to do a Broadway show.” ...

“The collaboration is very strong and very energized,” Stroman continued. “It is joyful. What excites me most is the comedy. It’s really funny. Bob Martin and Rick Elice are hysterical, both of them personally and then in their writings. They really have done an incredible job on making the script funny. I love comedy, so I can’t wait to do these scenes with this cast — I have real comics doing it.” ...

Also newly announced are the “Smash” ensemblists, which comprise Wendi Bergamini, Sarah Bowden, Jacob Burns, Deanna Cudjoe, Chelle Denton, Daniel Gaymon, Merritt David Janes, Megan Kane, David Paul Kidder, Ian Liberto, Libby Lloyd, McGee Maddox, Connor McRory, J Savage, Jake Trammel and Katie Webber. Additional casting, by Bernard Telsey and Kristian Charbonier, will be announced.

The creative team for “Smash” includes Tony-winning scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Alejo Vietti, Tony-winning lighting designer Ken Billington, Tony-winning sound designer Brian Ronan and projection designer S Katy Tucker. The music team includes Tony-winning orchestrator Doug Besterman, Tony-nominated dance/incidental music arranger Sam Davis and Tony-winning music supervisor Stephen Oremus. 101 Productions, Ltd. will serve as general manager. 

“Smash” is being produced by Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Jennifer Hudson." https://bway.ly/47dtef

Updated On: 10/22/24 at 10:08 AM

Updated On: 10/22/24 at 10:11 AM

I have an AMEX but can't find the promo code to buy tickets for the presale...any help?

Bowman going from touring as Elsa, to standing by for Norma Desmond to being (presumably) a co-lead in a new hotly-anticipated musical makes for one hell of a year for her.

Very excited for this!

corthomas said: "I have an AMEX but can't find the promo code to buy tickets for the presale...any help?"

If you just go to the Telecharge page, there’s a link above the dates to click on for Amex card holders. I didn’t see it at first, either. 

Anastasia_Beaverhausen said: "8003272177 works for all AMEX presales. :)"

Thanks!  Used the code for AMEX and it worked.  

JSquared2 said: "quizking101 said: "Bowman going from touring as Elsa, to standing by for Norma Desmond to being (presumably) a co-lead in a new hotly-anticipated musical makes for one hell of a year for her."



Many of the press outlets (BWW included) are ignoring the billing in the show's official release and (incorrectly) assuming it is the same as it was on the TV show. In the show, Ivy and Karen are not"co-leads". In the show's official press release, the billing order is:

Robyn Hurder as “Ivy”
Brooks Ashmanskas as “Nigel”
Krysta Rodriguez as “Tracy”
John Behlmann as “Jerry”
Kristine Nielsen as “Susan”
Caroline Bowman as “Karen”
Jacqueline B. Arnold as “Anita”
Bella Coppola as “Chloe”
Casey Garvin as “Charlie”"

Wasn't Karen the character we were supposed to root for, while Ivy was the villain?  Must be quite the departure from the series.

blaxx said: "JSquared2 said: "quizking101 said: "Bowman going from touring as Elsa, to standing by for Norma Desmond to being (presumably) a co-lead in a new hotly-anticipated musical makes for one hell of a year for her."



Many of the press outlets (BWW included) are ignoring the billing in the show's official release and (incorrectly) assuming it is the same as it was on the TV show. In the show, Ivy and Karen are not"co-leads". In the show's official press release, the billing order is:

Robyn Hurder as “Ivy”
Brooks Ashmanskas as “Nigel”
Krysta Rodriguez as “Tracy”
John Behlmann as “Jerry”
Kristine Nielsen as “Susan”
Caroline Bowman as “Karen”
Jacqueline B. Arnold as “Anita”
Bella Coppola as “Chloe”
Casey Garvin as “Charlie”"

Wasn't Karen the character we were supposed to root for, while Ivy was the villain? Must be quite the departure from the series."

In the show, there's no competition for the role of Marilyn. Ivy is the lead, and Karen is the understudy.

So we won’t get Smash scarves as a first preview gift?

Have they cut the intern character (whose name I forgot)? He was a POC earlier this year.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Some yelling has begun online because there are apparently only 5 actors of color among the 25 announced today (or, 20% of the cast). However, additional casting is to be announced shortly."

Can somebody explain what the grounds for this yelling are? What is the goal?

Population USA

White, percent 75.3%

Black or African American, percent 13.7%

American Indian and Alaska Native, percent 1.3%

Asian, percent 6.4%

Updated On: 10/22/24 at 05:40 PM

I think Robyn Hurder is an exceptional dancer, a good singer and a good actress, but this is a vocal beast. She also seems like a lovely human, but I’d prefer someone else as Ivy. Oh well…