Much in the way NBC’s upcoming new musical series Smash is likely to appeal to young girls and Broadway fans, so will this news on two new guest stars set to make an appearance in the midseason series. NBC announced today that Nick Jonas and Bernadette Peters will be guest-starring in the series at some point during its first season.
Smash is a drama, which stars Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee, and follows aspiring Broadway stars with a common goal to make it big, and in the process to create a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. The series is slated to make its debut on NBC in February 2012. Given the popularity of Glee, there’s certainly room for more drama series focusing on musical talent.
Nick Jonas has been cast to play the role of a sitcom star named Lyle West. His character got his start in a Broadway show written by Tom (played by Christian Borle) and directed by Derek (Jack Davenport). Meanwhile, Bernadette Peters is set to play Leigh Conry, Megan Hilty’s character Ivy’s “Tony award-winning mother who was once a theater sensation but now lives vicariously through her daughter.”
I’m a bit too old to be all that enthusiastic about Nick Jonas appearing on the show, however as someone who grew up during the ’80’s, Bernadette Peters will forever be Lily St. Regis to me (Annie reference). From the sound of Smash, she’s a perfect fit for the show, and it’ll be fun to see her playing a potentially overbearing stage-mom.
