Karen Cartwright

Smash is a musical-drama television series, broadcast on NBC since February 6, 2012. Smash features an ensemble cast, with 13 regular cast members over the course of two seasons.

The show is about the creation of Broadway musicals. The first season revolves around the creation of Bombshell, a musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The second season follows Bombshell's road to Broadway, and introduces a new musical, Hit List.

Debra Messing portrays Julia Houston, a successful Broadway lyricist and Bombshell's co-writer. She is married with a son, but had an affair with Michael Swift, who played Joe DiMaggio in the initial Bombshell workshop. She initially reconciles with her husband Frank, but they decide to get a divorce early in the second season. Houston is based on creator Theresa Rebeck.

Jack Davenport portrays Derek Wills, the often sleazy director and choreographer of Bombshell (in Season 1), who will stop at nothing to make the show a success. He has an on-and-off relationship with Bombshell star Ivy Lynn, though he has also shown interest in Karen Cartwright and had a physical relationship with Rebecca Duvall during the Boston preview before she left the show. In Season 2, he quits Bombshell and becomes the director and choreographer of Hit List.

Katharine McPhee portrays Karen Cartwright, an from Iowa, who has a successful audition and becomes a serious contender for the role of Monroe in Bombshell. Somewhat new to show business, her naiveté is generally scorned by her peers, though her talent is rarely called into question. She played Marilyn for the Boston preview, when Rebecca Duvall left. In season two, she is broken up with long-time boyfriend Dev after he cheated on her with Ivy in season one and begins seeing Jimmy Collins. She leaves Bombshell and joins Hit List.

Christian Borle portrays Tom Levitt, a theatrical composer and Julia's longtime songwriting partner. He and Derek Wills have an acrimonious relationship stemming from a business fallout 11 years ago. Tom, who is gay, briefly dates a Republican lawyer but later becomes attracted to Sam Strickland, a dancer in the ensemble of Bombshell. In Season 2, Tom and Sam break up and Tom becomes the director of Bombshell after Derek quits.

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