2024 - 2025 Broadway Musical Logos: Smash

It seems like a lifetime ago that I was obsessed with Smash on TV. The backstage lives of Broadway wannabes and icons alike was like a weekly drug. And that was just watching it to see who I recognized! Add to it the compelling story about getting a musical about Marilyn Monroe (and later a more modern musical) to the Great White Way, with a banging score and sexy choreography, and this theater lover was thrilled each week. 

Now, after years of hints, a concert and SRO staged readings, Smash is finally, inevitably, on Broadway. Focusing only on Bombshell, the Marilyn musical, the show is now in previews and is soon to open. I suspect that no matter what the advertising looks like, the TV show's fans will flock to the Imperial. But what about other potential ticket buyers?

2024 - 2025 Broadway Musical Logos:

Smash

The title work and font seem pretty obvious - giant marquee letters, bright red and glowing bulbs. All of them lit seems to imply that the show in question is an unqualified success...a smash. (I could have sworn an earlier iteration had some bulbs unlit and/or missing...)

The taglines cover a lot of ground in terms of content, while giving, possibly, some shade to the banality of Broadway taglines. The first, "The Bombshell Is About to Drop" is clever word play - "Bombshell" in a musical about Marilyn Monroe, the quintessential blonde bombshell; "about to drop", like a bomb being dropped set to explode; the theatrical meaning: a flop show. Perhaps most importantly, it's an in-joke/signal to fans that the show will be about everything but that other "show" within the TV show, Hit List. The second tagline, "A Comedy About a Musical" is certainly a play on that most usual of such things, "A Musical Comedy." It also lets audiences know that the intent here is fun, not drama.

The chief imagery used on the Playbill and window card is far more interesting and clever that the taglines it illustrates. The black and white image allows the title of the show stand out, cleverly perched atop the Imperial's 45th Street marquee/box office entrance. A closer look shows the bombshell tagline, and just below that, a cheeky play on the ubiquitous need to use pull quotes. I love that sense of meta humor. The rest of the busy image does a great deal of work. It's a red carpet opening with celebs and paparazzi all vying for our attention. One glance at it tells a passerby all they need to know: Marilyn has arrived in her iconic skirt blowing up pose while adoring fans look on and the photographers get their shot. But sharp-eyed fans will really see more, and it also tells the story of the show. Robyn Hurder in opening night gown glares at "Marilyn" who is taking her role and her spotlight. The principal cast, in character, also look on - Brooks, Krysta, Kristine (with fan blowing wind up her skirt), John, etc. And in a really fun, insider twist, the "paparazzi" includes actual theater writers, interviewers and influencers. (My invite must have gotten lost in the mail...)

All of this combined makes a doozy of a show logo. One of my favorites of the season, really. But if you follow any of the chat rooms and other social media, you know that so far, the show is not exactly coming across as a smash. So when I saw the show art below, I couldn't decide if they are cheekily acknowledging public opinion (it would match the tone of their other taglines) or if they are really tempting fate...

Grade: A

Friday 5: 5 Broadway Boys For Spring 2025

Back in the day, we used to celebrate Broadway beefcake with "Broadway Heat" competitions. The good news was, without fail, every "winner" and "runner-up" was a lot more that just eye candy. Today, we sorta keep that tradition going with occasional "Stars-To-Be." This week's Friday 5 is a bit of a hybrid: these guys are all good looking, but we strongly suspect that they are going to be big names on the Great Bright Way. Mark our words!

5 Broadway Boys For Spring 2025

Jacob Dickey (Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends as Performer)

Of the 5, he has the most Broadway experience. This spring he is part of the big name ensemble for this tribute to the Master. It'll be great to see him in the spotlight.

Broadway Credits include:

• Aladdin as Aladdin
• Company as a New Yorker and understudy

National Tour Credits include:

• Company as Andy
• Aladdin as Aladdin

McGee Maddox (Smash - Ensemble)

This Canadian makes his Broadway debut here. He comes with a host of skills and credits, including as an accomplished ballet dancer and regional theater actor. Plus, I love his name!

National Tour Credits include:

• Cats as The Rum Tum Tugger
• An American in Paris as Jerry Mulligan

Zachary Noah Piser (Redwood as Spencer and others)

This guy has been the "one that got away" for me. Missed him in Dear Evan Hansen and Wicked, and he was out the day we saw KPOP. I've heard nothing but good things about his performances. Here's hoping he's there when we visit the Nederlander next month!

Broadway Credits include:

• Dear Evan Hansen as Evan Hansen
• Wicked as Boq

Colin Trudell (Floyd Collins as Ensemble)

Here's our second Broadway debutante, though we are happily able to testify to this young man's talent with first hand knowledge. He really bowled us over as the warmhearted Emmet Otter off-Broadway. And now he's coming to Broadway in a Lincoln Center production, no less. He's definitely on the way up!

Off-Broadway Credit:

• Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas as Emmet Otter

Wesley Wray (Buena Vista Social Club as Young Ibrahim)

Another of our Broadway newcomers, the young man is still in college - University of Michigan - going for his BFA in Musical Theater. He's also trained at the Alvin Ailey School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. With an already packed resume, he is ready to take Broadway by storm, and we are here for it.

At the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts:

• As You Like It as Amiens and Silvius (also music composer)

At University of Michigan:

• Guys and Dolls as Harry the Horse
• A Chorus Line as Mike Acosta
• Shaina Taub's Twelfth Night as Duke Orsino

BONUS: Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Blvd. as Artie)

Because we've already seen him once this season, we can verify he's got the goods! Making his debut as Joe Gillis' best friend and making a meal out of that snack of a role. He also goes on for Tom Francis as Joe Gillis on occasion. And, following his run in Sunset, he has already got his next gig lined up!

Broadway Credit:

• Sunset Boulevard as Artie/Ensemble, Joe Gillis understudy

Upcoming National Tour:

• The Great Gatsby as Nick Carraway

Where Are They Now? Ms. Broadway Update: Krysta Rodriguez

Last week, we did an update of a former Mr. Broadway (the great Joshua Henry HERE). This week, we take a look at what Ms. Broadway April 2010, Krysta Rodriguez has been up to. The last time (HERE), she was just opening in The Addams Family. So much has happened in the last 9 years. Her career has really taken off - on stage, on TV - but probably her biggest success was a triumphant victory over breast cancer.  Now, she's fresh off a professional triumph - Hercules at the Public Theater's Central Park venue. We can't wait to see what she does next!

Where Are They Now?

Ms. Broadway Update:

Krysta Rodriguez

First Date (Casey - Longacre Theatre)

Smash (Ana Vargas - NBC Television)

Spring Awakening (Ilse - Brooks Atkinson Theatre)

A Chorus Line (Diana - The Hollywood Bowl)

Disney's Hercules (Megara - Delacorte Theatre)

Here's to a long career and continued success, Krysta!

#2166

Broadway Ladies: Ms. Broadway June 2013: Ann Harada

MS. JUNE 2013

ANN HARADA

WHY SHE'S MS. BROADWAY: File this one under "it took far too long." For more than a decade, she's been a real Broadway "scene stealer," winning the hearts of thousands of theater fans.  She's the kind of actress that people always say has "it."  No matter if she's in the ensemble (Seussical, 9 to 5) or in a featured role (Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables), you can't help but notice her charisma, superb sense of timing, and sincere warmth.  Of course, she'll probably always be most remembered for creating the role of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q, but these days, she's causing quite a scene (and singing the showstopper "Step-Sister's Lament") in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella.  Everybody loves a good "bad girl," so why shouldn't Ann Harada (finally) be Ms. Broadway!?

FUN FACTS:

• Ann was born on February 3rd in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• She went to Brown University.
• Ann has a son named Elvis!
• Ms. Harada was in every version - from first reading through original Broadway cast of Seussical.
• She's the only Avenue Q cast member to originate her role on both Broadway and the West End.
• She played the stage manamger of Bombshell in both seasons of TV's SMASH.
• She and her AQ co-star, John Tartaglia, appered on the Disney Channel in his original series, Johnny and the Sprites.
• Ann got rave reviews for her performances as Miss Darbus in a regional production of Disney's High School Musical, and as Trina in an all-Asian production of Falsettoland.
• She made her Broadway debut as a production assistant for the short-lived play, Sleight of Hand, and made her Broadway acting debut in the play M. Butterfly.

Off-Broadway: Love, Loss and What I Wore

Off-Broadway: The Kid

Broadway: Seussical

(2nd Row, Far Left)

Broadway: Avenue Q

Benefit: Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve

Broadway: Les Miserables

Broadway: 9 to 5

(Center)

Television: SMASH

Broadway: Rodgers + Hammerstein's

Cinderella

Ann Harada visits Seth Rudetsky's Obsessed

Jeff

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