NBC has picked up the musical comedy Smash, produced by Steven Spielberg and with music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. As reported, the show follows characters who come together for the exhilarating ride of putting on a Broadway musical. Michael Meyer directed the pilot and is expected to be back to direct more episodes. The show’s cast includes Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Anjelica Huston, Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean), Katherine McPhee (American Idol), Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Brian d’Arcy James. Theresa Rebeck wrote the pilot and is also executive producing alongside Spielberg, Shaiman and Wittman. According to the New York Times, the fictional musical on the show will be about Marilyn Monroe, and the series itself will focus on the musical’s creation. It has yet to be decided if the show will be premiering in the fall or in early 2012.
Tag: Steven Spielberg
Noah Sorota Scoring ‘Falling Skies’
Noah Sorota is scoring the upcoming sci-fi series Falling Skies. The show is produced by Steven Spielberg and centers on an alien invasion of Earth and the resistance formed by the survivor. Also producing are Graham Yost (Justified) and Robert Rodat (writer of Saving Private Ryan). Falling Skies stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Sarah Carter and Maxim Knight. The pilot is directed by Carl Franklin (The Pacific, Out of Time, High Crimes). The show will premiere with a two-hour episode on June 19, 2011 on TNT. To learn more about the series, watch the trailer below and visit TNT’s Falling Skies webpage for updates.
Marc Shaiman to work on Steven Spielberg-produced TV musical show
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the songwriting team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) has been tapped to write original songs for the upcoming TV musical pilot Smash. The hourlong show for NBC follows characters who come together for the exhilarating ride of putting on a Broadway musical. Michael Meyer (American Idiot) is in negotiations to direct. The show will be executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Theresa Rebeck, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Dreamworks TV. The show was originally developed at Showtime before NBC picked it up.
John Williams confirmed for ‘War Horse’
Film Music Reporter has been able to confirm that John Williams is officially attached to score Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. The movie follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. The movie currently in post-production stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Watson and David Thewlis. While Williams’ involvement in the movie was expected, the composer’s noticeably absence from film scoring in the past couple of years raised concerns in some circles if Williams would indeed be back to score Spielberg’s latest movie. The Dreamworks and Amblin Productions movie is scheduled to be released on December 28, 2011.