NBC Orders Pilot of Smash, a Glee-Like Musical Series from Steven Spielberg

NBC has its eye on the Glee fan base with a pilot order for Smash, a new series about the process of putting on a Broadway musical. Executive producer Steven Spielberg has surrounded himself with top Broadway talent for this hour-long show: Prolific playwright Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, TV's Law & Order) is the writer/producer, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can) will produce and provide original songs, and Michael Mayer (American Idiot, Spring Awakening) is reportedly in talks to direct.

In addition to Spielberg, Rebeck, Shaiman and Wittman, producers of Shine will include Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago, Hairspray) and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for DreamWorks TV. No casting has been announced for the pilot episode.