Smash's Andy Mientus Talks Making Music with Jeremy Jordan and the 'Diva Presence' of Jennifer Hudson

Christian Borle and Debra Messing's Smash characters might need to watch their backs. For its second season, the Broadway-themed series is bringing in a new pair of writers, who will be played by Carrie and Spring Awakening vet Andy Mientus and Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan. 

“Joining Smash is an unbelievable step in my little journey,” Mientus recently told Broadway.com. “I play a kid name Kyle who is a broke writer in Brooklyn. I’m Jeremy’s roommate and writing partner.” So will the duo step into Borle and Messing’s shoes as the creators of Smash’s new musical Liasons? “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say,” Mientus teased.

Though Mientus wouldn't reveal exact details on his collaboration with Jordan, he is having a great time alongside the Newsies vetearn. “Working with Jeremy is a dream,” Mientus said. “It’s cool that we are doing this together, two guys from theater, and we have each other to grab onto and go, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’ [New cast member] Krysta Rodriguez too! All three new regulars are good old theater kids.”

Smash has recruited its fair share of famous actors for season two, but one new cast member in particular has made Mientus plenty star-struck. “[Meeting] Jennifer Hudson was a big deal. I saw her do the Disney cruise back in the day, before Idol, before Dreamgirls, and I have followed her ever since. I am a huge Jennifer Hudson fan, so to work with her and be in her diva presence was amazing.”

Check out Andy Mientus when Smash returns in 2013. Until then, get a preview of the young actor's talent below with his cover of Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be.”