Productions 2015 Concert | ||
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Music Marc Shaiman
Scott Wittman Lyrics Marc Shaiman
Scott Wittman | ||
Bombshell is an American musical with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman, based on the original fictitious musical from the first 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 story of the aspiring starlet, who transforms herself to into a worldwide sex symbol, her early life, and her alleged affair with American President John F. Kennedy.
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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 Kennedy.
A soundtrack featuring the music from the musical was released in 2013. The songs were featured in a one-night charity concert, and the musical is being adapted to a real stage musical on Broadway.
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".
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. The single Monday June 8 performance in the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway was sold-out.
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".
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.