Mon Apr 14 10:50:00 UTC 2025: **Broadway’s “Smash” Reimagined: A Killer Musical Comedy**
NEW YORK—The NBC television series “Smash,” about the creation of a Marilyn Monroe musical, has been resurrected for Broadway, not as the soapy melodrama of its TV counterpart, but as a surprisingly clever and hilarious musical comedy. While retaining the beloved songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Broadway adaptation boasts a completely rewritten plot.
The original series, while initially promising, ultimately succumbed to convoluted storylines. However, the creative team, led by director Susan Stroman, has cleverly salvaged the best elements—the catchy tunes and dynamic choreography—to craft a wholly new and engaging narrative.
While details are scarce to avoid spoilers, the new “Smash” centers on the same “Bombshell” musical about Marilyn Monroe, but with a significant twist. The actresses vying for the lead role, Ivy Lynn (Robyn Hurder) and Karen Cartwright (Caroline Bowman), are presented in a different light, with their dynamic far removed from the original show’s competitive framework.
Early reviews praise the show’s surprising twists and turns, calling it a “who’ll-do-it” mystery wrapped in a dazzling musical package. The once emotionally charged duet, “Let Me Be Your Star,” has been reimagined as a captivating solo, highlighting the show’s fresh perspective. Critics agree that this reimagining is a triumph, a “great musical comedy no one saw coming.” “Smash” is currently playing at the Imperial Theater.
First Piper 