Bombshell (musical)

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Bombshell
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Broadway Poster
Music Marc Shaiman
Scott Wittman
Lyrics Marc Shaiman
Scott Wittman
Productions <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • 2015 Concert

Bombshell is an American musical with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman, based on the original fictitious musical from the second season of the NBC television series Smash. The songs include soulful jazz anthems and upbeat pop songs. Bombshell is the life story of Marilyn Monroe. It tells the tragic story of the aspiring scarlet, who transforms herself to into the worldwide sexy symbol, her early life, and her jaw dropping affair with American President John F. Kennedy. Bombshell is a social commentary on the price of fame in the entertainment world of the 50's.

Within the television series Smash characters Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) set out to write their next broadway sensation. The book and lyrics for Bombshell are by the character "Julia Houston", with music by "Tom Levitt". Bombshell centers around three characters, Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio and JFK.


A soundtrack featuring the music from the musical was released in 2013.[1] The songs were featured in a one-night charity concert, and the musical is being adapted to a real stage musical on Broadway.

Productions

Benefit concert

Shaiman and Wittman said a charitable organization may put on a concert featuring songs from Bombshell: "A concert could feature the cast and additional performers from Broadway. That would be a wonderful way for the show to live on".[2]

In December 2014, it was announced that Bombshell would see life on Broadway as a special, one-night-only benefit event in 2015. Smash executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan produced the show and some of the original Smash cast, including Megan Hilty as Monroe, also reprised their roles.[3] The single Monday June 8th performance in the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway was sold-out.[4]

Original Broadway production

During production of the show, executive producer Craig Zadan said: "We stand on the set, watch the Bombshell numbers and say, "Wouldn’t this be great on Broadway? And so far that’s where we’ve left it. Our priority now is producing a great TV show".[5]

In June 2015 following the sold-out performance at the Minskoff Theatre, it was announced that Bombshell would head to the Broadway stage. The executive producers of Smash and the Bombshell concert Neil Meron and Craig Zadan are set to executive produce the Broadway production. No timeline for the show has been announced.[6]

Trivia

  • In the second season, the musical goes into competition with another fictional musical, Hit List.
  • According to Broadway.com, "Fans are Begging for Bombshell to Hit Broadway".[7]
  • The New York Times said: "Bombshell Doesn’t Exist, but Its Songs Are Real Hits".[8]
  • Debra Messing, who played the on-screen lyricist Julia Houston, said “There’s a real musical there, if they get a really talented book writer”.[9]

Musical numbers

TV Show/Album

Benefit Concert

Casts and characters

Character Fictitious Workshop Cast Fictitious Boston Previews Cast Fictitious Broadway Cast Original Concert Cast Broadway production
Norma Jeane / Marilyn Monroe Ivy Lynn Megan Hilty Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman)), (Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) Katharine McPhee/Megan Hilty (Rumored) Megan Hilty[10]
Joe DiMaggio Michael Swift (Will Chase) Michael Swift (Will Chase) N/A Will Chase
Arthur Miller Petey (Glenn Kalison) Petey (Glenn Kalison) Petey (Glenn Kalison) Brian d'Arcy James
Darryl F. Zanuck N/A Marc Kudisch Marc Kudisch Christian Borle
John F. Kennedy N/A N/A Simon (Julian Ovenden N/A
Lee Strasberg Justin (Henry Stram) Justin (Henry Stram) Justin (Henry Stram) N/A
Johnny Hyde Dave (Tim Wright) Dave (Tim Wright) Dave (Tim Wright) N/A
Gladys Baker N/A N/A Leigh Conroy (Bernadette Peters) Donna McKechnie
Young Norma Jeane N/A N/A Sophia Caruso Ripley Sobo
Nat King Cole N/A N/A Sam Strickland (Leslie Odom Jr.) Leslie Odom Jr. Role will most likely not exist

External links

References

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  5. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/smash-producers-musical-hit-broadway-article-1.1234794
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