Newsies Star Jeremy Jordan Joins Second Season of Smash

Newsies star Jeremy Jordan is joining the second season of NBC’s Broadway-centric drama Smash, according to TVLine.com’s Michael Ausiello. The 2012 Tony nominee will play a “sexy Brooklyn-born singer with a self-destructive streak” on the series.

Jordan will reportedly continue starring as Jack Kelly in Newsies while filming Smash. The actor’s Broadway credits include Bonnie & Clyde, West Side Story and Rock of Ages. He appeared on the big screen in Joyful Noise alongside Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. Jordan won two 2012 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards (Favorite Actor in a Musical and Favorite Onstage Pair with Newsies co-star Kara Lindsay).

Smash centers on Broadway newcomer Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) and showbiz vet Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty). The series details the process of bringing a Broadway musical to life, and features original music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

 The show also features recent Tony winner Christian Borle (currently starring in Peter and the Starcatcher), Debra Messing, Jack Davenport and Anjelica Huston.

There have been several recent changes for the series, including adding new showrunner Josh Safran and losing a quartet of actors (Raza Jaffrey, Jaime Cepero, Will Chase and Brian d’Arcy James) in key roles. Ausiello reports that Jordan is one of three new characters on the show, and notes the other roles have not yet been cast.