Fade in on a show.... The highly anticipated Smash opened April 10 at the Imperial Theatre and the critics have released their reviews.
Smash is based on the NBC series created by Theresa Rebeck. Similar to the series, the musical is about a team of theatre makers who come together to create a musical based on Marilyn Monroe, and the mishaps and moments of brilliance along the way.
The musical features a score by Tony, Emmy, and two-time Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote over two-dozen songs for the television series, many of which are being used for the stage show alongside new compositions. The book is penned by Rick Elice and Bob Martin.
Click here to purchase the special limited edition opening Playbill for Smash
Leading the company are Robyn Hurder as Ivy Lynn and Caroline Bowman as Karen, with Brooks Ashmanskas as Nigel, Krysta Rodriguez as Tracy, John Behlmann as Jerry, Kristine Nielsen as Susan Proctor, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Anita, Bella Coppola as Chloe, Casey Garvin as Charlie, and Nicholas Matos as Scott.
Read the reviews below.
- 1 Minute Critic (Matthew Wexler)
- Cititour (Brian Scot Lipton)
- Culture Sauce (Thom Geier)
- Daily Beast (Tim Teeman)
- Deadline (Greg Evans)
- Entertainment Weekly (Kristen Baldwin)
- The Front Row Center (Sarah Downs)
- The Guardian (Adrian Horton)
- New York Daily News (Chris Jones)
- New York Magazine / Vulture (Jackson McHenry)*
- New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)
- New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers)
- New York Stage Review (Roma Torre)
- New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
- New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
- New York Times (Jesse Green)*
- Observer (David Cote)
- TheaterMania (Meg Masseron)
- Theatrely (Juan A Ramirez)
- Time Out New York (Adam Feldman)
- Variety (Christian Lewis)
- Wall Street Journal (Charles Isherwood)*
- Washington Post (Naveen Kumar)*
- The Wrap (Robert Hofler)*
*This review may require creating a free account or paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The company also includes Wendi Bergamini, Sarah Bowden, Deanna Cudjoe, Daniel Gaymon, Merritt David Janes, Megan Kane, David Paul Kidder, McGee Maddox, J Savage, Jake Trammel, and Katie Webber. Swings Jacob Burns, Chelle Denton, Ndaya Dream Hoskins, Ian Liberto, Libby Lloyd, and Connor McRory round out the company. Casting is by Bernard Telsey and Kristian Charbonier.
Five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman is directing with Joshua Bergasse continuing his work from the NBC series as choreographer.
The creative team also includes scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Brian Ronan, projection designer S. Katy Tucker, orchestrator Doug Besterman, dance and incidental music arranger Sam Davis, music supervisor Stephen Oremus, and music director Paul Staroba. Hair and wig design are by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup design is by Joe Dulude II. 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as general manager. Johnny Milani is production stage manager.
Smash is being produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron, and Steven Spielberg. Also on the producing team is EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who appeared as a guest star on an episode in the series' second season.
Visit SmashBroadway.com.
