Before she became Ivy, the chorus girl desperate to headline a Broadway show on NBC’s “Smash,” Megan Hilty had achieved this goal.

She replaced Kristin Chenoweth in “Wicked” and played the Dolly Parton character in “9 to 5.” Naturally, the TV series about the making of a Broadway musical resonated with her.

“It seems way too good to be true,” Hilty tells Zap2it. “When I initially saw the script, it made me feel like I wouldn’t get it. It seemed too good to be true. It really is an honor to get to represent my community on television.”

Last season, Ivy was a mess, making awful choices about men and abusing pills. Though part of the creative team trying to mount this show wants Ivy to star as Marilyn Monroe, the director does not. This season, she has turned around her life.

“Smash”?is shot in New York, and the show’s guest stars are often Broadway actors, including some of the biggest stars, such as Bernadette Peters, who plays Ivy’s mom.

“Every time I think it can’t get better, they tell me who our next special guest star is, and I lose my mind all over again,” Hilty says.

The stars on “Smash” have to be true triple threats — able to sing, dance and act — and that means an exceptionally grueling production schedule.

“They work us around the clock,” Hilty says. “When we are not on set we are in a recording studio or a fitting or a dance rehearsal.”

As for having Peters play her attention-grabbing mother, Hilty says, “Bernadette Peters made me want to get into the business in the first place, by listening to her records, specifically the ‘Into the Woods’ one. She is not only on the show, it’s that we have all these scenes together. I can cross off (working with her from) my dreams-come-true list.”

(Source)

Summertime Entertainment has inked a deal with Clarius Entertainment for a wide theatrical release, with significant prints & advertising support in the U.S. and Canada, for the 3-D animated musical film “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return.” The release date will be slated for 1st quarter of 2014. As part of the pact, Home Entertainment will be provided by a major studio partner, with sub-distribution rights handled by others. The company is beginning discussions for international distribution for the film, which had a prior Working Title “Dorothy of Oz.”

LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN is on schedule for completion in Summer 2013. The film features the voice talents of Lea Michele (Dorothy), Jim Belushi (Lion), Dan Aykroyd (Scarecrow), Kelsey Grammer (Tin Man) and Bernadette Peters (Glinda), each giving new life to familiar Oz characters. Patrick Stewart (Tugg), Hugh Dancy (Marshal Mallow), Megan Hilty (China Princess), Oliver Platt (Wiser) and Martin Short (the Jester) voice the series’ new characters. The musical contains new original songs by legendary singer/songwriter Bryan Adams, and the film’s soundtrack album will be released by Sony Entertainment’s Columbia/Epic label.

“After six years of consistent effort, we are thrilled to be bringing this wonderfully-produced stereoscopic musical picture to the big screen. We are very grateful to our supportive group of financial partners who have made this ‘labor of love’ possible,” said Summertime’s Ryan Carroll. “We believe we’ve found the perfect partner with Clarius .”

“We’re pleased to have this opportunity to work with the team at Summertime,” said William Sadleir, Chairman of Clarius Entertainment. “We look forward to giving Legends of Oz its theatrical release and bringing this spirited animated musical to a family audience.”

(Source)