NEED TO KNOW
Jennifer Hudson made a surprise appearance at Broadway’s Smash on May 15
She starred in the second season of the 2012 TV series that inspired the stage production and also produces the musical
She performed a few lines from her song “I Can’t Let Go”
Jennifer Hudson is celebrating Smash!
The talk show host, 43, made a surprise appearance at the hit Broadway musical on Thursday, May 15 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.
She starred in the second season of the 2012 TV series that inspired the stage production and is also part of the all-star producing team of the musical with Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg.
PEOPLE was in the audience when Hudson stepped out on stage to celebrate the stars of the show – and even sing a bit of a song her character performed on the series.
After the cast, led by Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman, respectively in the roles Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee made famous on screen, took their bows, composer and lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman introduced the EGOT winner to the stage.
The singer immediately hyped the audience, saying, “Was that not an amazing show?”
Hudson, after giving Hurder a sweet hug, went on to praise the show. “It is such an honor to watch you guys do what you do… It’s what it’s about. It inspires you. Do you not want to be on Broadway now? That’s what this show has done,” she said.
“Your stardom is amazing,” Hudson continued of the cast. “Each and every one of you are a star. I’m so inspired to be a small part of this.”
Shaiman then popped the question that everybody was thinking: “J. Hud? If I twisted your arm, would you give us just a few bars of the song we wrote for you?” Hudson went on to sing a few lines of “I Can’t Let Go,” which the two songwriters penned for the second season of the series.
Before exiting the stage, she told the cast, “I’m so proud of y’all.”
Hudson was notably absent from the premiere of the musical on April 10, which brought out stars Billy Crystal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, as well as a slew of Smash alums including Debra Messing and Christian Borle.
She addressed her absence in a shared Instagram post with the musical, explaining that she had to be in Los Angeles to film an episode of her self-titled talk show.
“I can’t be two places at one time,” the Dreamgirls star explained while on set of her show. “I gotta be here with y’all, so I’m going to miss opening night but I hope everyone enjoys the show.”
Hudson continued to say that she was “sending the cast and the crew so much love,” adding that she and her team were “there in spirit.”
The singer concluded with her eagerness to visit the production. “I can’t wait for y’all to see it. I can’t wait to get there,” she said.
Smash features the fan-favorite tunes Shaiman and Wittman penned for the TV show, such as “The 20th Century Fox Mambo,” “They Just Keep Moving the Line” and the Emmy-nominated “Let Me Be Your Star.” Those songs are incorporated into a new comedic tale from book writers Rick Elice and Tony winner Bob Martin.
The premise follows the making of a fictional Marilyn Monroe musical named Bombshell, but it offers a few major changes, including axing the bitter feud between the two women vying for the title part.
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Instead, the stage production follows Ivy Lynn (Hurder), who takes her role of playing Marilyn a little too seriously and isolates the show’s entire creative team and cast, including understudy Karen Cartwright (Bowman).
Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman directs Smash, while Emmy Award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse expands his work from the series.
Along with Hurder and Bowman, two-time Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas plays Bombshell‘s director and choreographer Nigel; stage veterans Krysta Rodriguez and John Behlmann are Bombshell‘s songwriting and book-writing team Tracy and Jerry; and two-time Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen is acting coach Susan.
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The show is currently nominated for two Tony Awards: Ashmanskas for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and Bergasse for Best Choreography.
Rounding out the cast is Jacqueline B. Arnold as play producer Anita; Nicholas Matos as her assistant Scott; Bella Coppola as assistant choreographer Chloe; Megan Kane as stage manager Holly; and Casey Garvin as Bombshell’s Joe DiMaggio, Charlie.
The company is made up of Wendi Bergamini, Sarah Bowden, Jacob Burns, Deanna Cudjoe, Chelle Denton, Daniel Gaymon, Ndaya Dream Hoskins, Merritt David Janes, David Paul Kidder, Ian Liberto, Libby Lloyd, McGee Maddox, Connor McRory, Jessie Peltier, J Savage, Jake Trammel and Katie Webber.
Tickets for Smash are now on sale.
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