“Smash” is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire - to be a “Smash.”

In Season 2, the “Bombshell” team is one step closer to achieving their Broadway dream. The Boston run was the success the team was hoping for, including producer Eileen Rand (Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, “Prizzi’s Honor”); writers Tom Levitt (Tony Award winner Christian Borle, “Peter and the Starcatcher”); and Julia Houston (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, “Will & Grace”); last-minute star Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee, “American Idol”); and director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport, “Pirates of the Caribbean”). But, they are all about to learn even a charmed show cannot avoid paying for sins of the past. Will Eileen get away with mixing business and pleasure with her shady paramour, Nick (guest star Thorsten Kaye)? Will Julia’s marriage to Frank (guest star Brian d’Arcy James) survive the revelation of her infidelity? Will actress Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty, “9 to 5: The Musical”) bounce back from the shame of losing the lead role to rival Karen and bedding her fiance in retaliation? And will Tom and Julia’s long-time partnership endure the changing tides of opportunity?

As they all scramble to push forward, one of the show’s players finds Brooklyn natives Jimmy Collins (Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan, “Newsies”) and Kyle Bishop (Andy Mientus, “Carrie: The Musical”) toiling away on a current-day rock musical of their own, which could either become “Bombshell”’s biggest rival, or yet one more Broadway false start.

Weighing both the benefits and sacrifices of a career on Broadway, the “Smash” cast of Broadway hopefuls is rounded out by Karen’s lively new roommate/actress Ana Vargas (Krysta Rodriguez, “The Addams Family”) and Tom’s boyfriend, Sam Strickland (Leslie Odom, Jr., “Leap of Faith”).

“Smash” has welcomed an impressive array of guest stars, including Uma Thurman (“The Producers”), Nick Jonas (“Jonas”) and Bernadette Peters (“Gypsy”), and the second season is no different. Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning actress-singer Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”) will appear in a multi-episode arc as Veronica Moore, a Tony Award-winning Broadway star who impacts the lives of Karen and Ivy Lynn. Emmy Award-winning actor Sean Hayes (NBC’s “Will & Grace”) will also recur as Terrence Falls, the star of the musical “Liaisons,” who becomes a major thorn in the side for Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and other characters. Jesse L. Martin (NBC’s “Law & Order,” “Rent”) will play Scott Nichols, the artistic director of a non-profit off-Broadway theatre. Additionally, Harvey Fierstein (“La Cage aux Folles”) makes a cameo appearance and Nikki Blonsky (“Hairspray”) recurs as Margot, a Broadway producer’s assistant.

From Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television, the series stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg (“ER,” “Schindler's List”). Executive producers also include Joshua Safran (“Gossip Girl”); Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning “Chicago,” “Hairspray”); Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (“United States of Tara,” “The Borgias”); Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray,” “Catch Me If You Can”); Jim Chory (NBC’s “Heroes,” “American Dreams”); and Theresa Rebeck (“Mauritius,” “NYPD Blue”).

Day and time

Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET) on NBC

Starring

Debra Messing, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus and Anjelica Huston

Executive producers

Steven Spielberg, Joshua Safran, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Jim Chory, Theresa Rebeck

Creator

Theresa Rebeck

Co-executive producers

Michael Morris, Bryan Goluboff, Julie Rottenberg, Elisa Zuritsky

Consulting producers

Becky Mode, Liz Tuccillo

Producer

Jordon Nardino

Line producer

Jim Chory

Writers

Joshua Safran, Bryan Goluboff, Julie Rottenberg, Elisa Zuritsky, Becky Mode, Liz Tuccillo, Jordon Nardino, Julia Brownell, Bathsheba Doran, Noelle Valdivia

Casting director

Bernard Telsey

Production designer

Kalina Ivanov, Ruth Ammon

Director of photography

M. David Mullen

Editors

Bill Henry, Camilla Toniolo, Allyson Johnson, Amanda Pollack

Original music (including for "Bombshell") by

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

Additional original music by

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Andrew McMahon, Joe Iconis, Drew Gasparini, Lucie Silvas, Jon Green, Jim Irvin, Julian Emery

Original score by

Chris Bacon

Music supervisors

Jen Ross, Jojo Villanueva

Music producers

Sam Hollander, Marc Shaiman, Andy Zulla, Scott Riesett

Choreographer

Josh Bergasse

Costume designer

Joseph Aulisi

Origination

Brooklyn, NY

Produced by

Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television