“Smash” Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron gave fans of the short-lived TV drama the hope they’ve been waiting for on Tuesday when they announced that a stage version of Bombshell is next on their to-do list.
“I would say that [work on] Bombshell slowed down a tiny bit because Bob Greenblatt asked us to focus on The Wiz,” Zadan told Entertainment Weekly. “The moment The Wiz is up and running, we’ll go back and focus on Bombshell. So once this airs, we’ll be jumping in on Bombshell.”
According to Meron, they are “currently putting together the creative team.”
A musical within a musical, so to speak, “Smash” premiered on NBC in the spring of 2012. According to NBC, “Smash” was a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire – to be a “Smash.” Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the series featured names like Jennifer Hudson, Brenda Braxton and breakout star (and our favorite villain) Leslie Odom Jr. After struggling in its second season, the show was cancelled in 2013, citing low ratings. However, Bombshell, the primary musical featured in “Smash,” has produced somewhat of a cult following. The major demand for an encore resulted in a one-night-only concert version of the production this summer, featuring original cast members and fans’ favorite songs as part of a fundraiser for The Actor’s Fund.
“There is a still a lot of love for ‘Smash’ and a rabid fan base out there, and we’re thrilled to be able to keep the dream alive as we work towards bringing Bombshell to theatre audiences,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment.
Bombshell features a score by Tony Award-winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Emmy Award-winning and Tony-nominated choreographer Joshua Bergasse will return to stage his stunning dances for the full production.
While “The Wiz Live!” premieres on NBC Dec. 3, no timeline for a Bombshell premiere has been given.
We’re wondering if maybe Odom and Hudson can pull double duty and do both their shows and Bombshell? I say it’s worth a shot! A girl can dream…
