NBC’s Smash Renewed for Second Season

NBC's Broadway-themed series Smash, based on the production and development of a fictional Marilyn Monroe musical, has been renewed for a second season, according to TVLine.com. The first season of Theresa Rebeck’s hour-long drama series will end with an out-of-town tryout of Marilyn, a musical about the legendary actress. The second season will include at least 15 episodes, chronicling the production’s debut on Broadway. No air date for season two of the series has been set.

Smash centers on newcomer Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) and showbiz vet Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty). Both actresses are vying for the lead role of Marilyn in the musical of the same name. The series details the process of bringing a Broadway musical to life, and features original music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

In addition to McPhee and Hilty, Smash stars Emmy winner Debra Messing as Julia Houston, Jack Davenport as Derek Wills, Christian Borle (Broadway's forthcoming Peter and the Starcatcher) as Tom Levitt, Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram, Tony nominee Brian d’Arcy James as Frank Houston, Jaime Cepero as Ellis Tancharoen and Anjelica Huston as Eileen Rand.