Be Patient, Smash Fans: Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Discuss Bombshell's Road to Broadway

We know you haven’t forgotten Smash, especially when you sing happy birthday to someone you love or see diamonds you wish were all free. Fortunately for fans of the little NBC musical drama that could, Bombshell is still making its way to the stage. However, it seems they just keep moving the timeline.

On a November 3 conference call for NBC’s Hairspray Live!, Tony-winning composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman revealed the stage adaptation of the initially fictional Marilyn Monroe bio-musical is still in development. “We actually got an e-mail about a very exciting possible collaborator just this morning,” Shaiman said of the search for a book writer. Debra Messing must be busy, we guess.

The two have plenty of projects to say “Cut, Print” to before moving on, so to speak, to Bombshell. While the Hairspray Live! cast rehearses in Los Angeles, Shaiman and Wittman are in London working on Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical is set to open on Broadway this spring and wraps up its West End run in January. "We've been, as they say on Facebook, blessed to be so busy," Shaiman joked.

“I really do think there is a real life for Bombshell,” Shaiman said. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced Smash and NBC’s live musicals, confirmed plans for the stage adaptation last year after the success of the one-night-only concert featuring cast members from the original series. Despite being canceled after two seasons, the show was beloved by fans and developed a cult following, including, apparently, Bob Greenblatt.

“He’s our fairy godfather,” Wittman said, referring to the NBC honcho’s support of the project.

Shaiman and Wittman received Emmy nominations for two songs from the series: "Let Me Be Your Star" in 2012 and "Hang the Moon" in 2013.

Any concrete information about the show, including a timeline and casting, is likely a ways off. Not for nothing, but Cynthia Erivo does look particularly smashing in a blonde bob.