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- DirectorTricia BrockStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeRebecca Duvall has finally made it to rehearsals. Many in the company are in awe of working on a project with such a big star. But Rebecca turns out to be less than the perfect leading lady for this project: she isn't a strong singer, and her many demands include having more book and less song in the production. The creative team have to decide how to deal with Rebecca, which may work to Ivy's benefit. Ivy is hoping that Rebecca crashes and burns so that she can work her way back into the lead role. This situation brings her together with Karen in an interesting meeting point. Meanwhile, some relationships are flourishing while others are floundering. Karen and Dev seem to be drifting apart as Dev deals with not getting the press secretary job, which he has yet to tell Karen. He seems to feel more comfortable talking to R.J. about his problems. With a little help from Julia, Tom and Sam embark on the start of their relationship. It ends up being a little different than what Tom had expected, but it gives him some time for self-reflection on why he has never been in a long term relationship. Julia and Frank have to work together to deal with former A-student Leo, who is now failing in a few subjects. Julia and Frank have different approaches in dealing with the issue. Eileen decides to confront at least the issue of Nick in moving forward personally and professionally. And Ellis, in a so-called personal relationship solely to advance his career, makes a misstep which takes him one step backward.
- DirectorMichael MayerStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeAs Rebecca immerses herself further into the project, she demands change after change to turn it more into a play and less as a musical to work toward her own strengths, or more precisely to steer away from her weakness as a singer. Rebecca also befriends Karen, who, to the media, becomes Rebecca's new BFF to the point of speculation that they are lovers. Regardless, Karen welcomes her new friend, being able to bask in the media limelight for whatever reason and enjoy the trappings associated with being with a movie star. However, the "forever" part of BFF might not fit into Rebecca's grand plan. Unknown to Rebecca, there are others behind the scenes that are maneuvering for Ivy to emerge the star despite Derek's seeming obsession with Karen in the role. Rebecca and Karen's friendship also has an effect on Karen and Dev's relationship. Meanwhile, Eileen gets a head's up from Ellis that Jerry will be attending the same social function as her. Rather than it be an awkward situation, she believes she can take advantage of it by bringing Nick to the event with her to show Jerry that she has moved on with her life. And Julia and Frank go into a panic when they discover that Leo has run away. Julia believes that Mason, who feigns not knowing where Leo is, is not telling the whole truth.
- DirectorRoxann DawsonStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeThe production has moved into the tech phase, with the first show in two days in Boston. Derek is already stressed with all he has to do to get the show ready, which is not helped by their leading man giving immediate notice since he got another job. The easiest thing to do would be to bring Michael Swift back. Although Julia is at home with Frank trying to repair their marriage, Michael back in the show may throw a wrench into those repairs. Julia and Eileen have a standoff on the issue, Julia who threatens to quit if Michael returns, while Eileen still figures that bringing Michael back is the path of least resistance unless Julia does make good on her promise. Derek and Rebecca seem to have a new professional understanding, which Ivy takes to mean that they are embarking on a personal relationship. Beyond the emotional loss if Derek is indeed carrying on with Rebecca, Ivy has to brace herself for whatever professional strategic loss that means specifically for this show. Meanwhile, Dev is feeling at a professional loss himself, the emotions with which he tries to transfer to his personal life. This transfer in turn affects Karen, who can't think of anything else but the tech at the present time. And since they are in Boston which is Sam's home town, Tom wants to meet his family.
- DirectorRobert Duncan McNeillStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeIn the lead up to tonight's first preview of three in a row in Boston, many things going on behind the scenes are preoccupying the minds of the cast and creative team. Julia has returned from her hiatus, but is not talking to Tom, who she believes should have stuck up for her in demanding that Michael not return to the show. Frank and Leo accompany her for support, and to ensure that Michael, who Julia avoids at all cost, does not move in on Julia himself. While Derek told Ivy only three days earlier that he loves her and she now learns that he is sleeping with Rebecca, Ivy looks to another man for emotional support through sex, that man being Dev. Karen is in emotional limbo herself after telling Dev that she can't marry him right now, and in turn he not returning her several messages. But the first preview does happen, and like most previews, the entire team has some work to do following. One major incident happens at the end of the preview which causes Eileen to fume, leads to Tom and Julia, who still aren't talking to each other, needing to rewrite the ending, and causes Rebecca to have a crisis of faith in herself. Over the next day as many of the pre-preview issues try to work themselves out, some rogue peanuts and a little bit of religion thrown in courtesy of Sam's family's church may add a little perspective to the proceedings.
- DirectorMichael MorrisStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeNow that Rebecca has decided not to return to "Bombshell", the creative team, beyond the need for Tom and Julia to rewrite the ending which will include one more song, has a major decision: whether to cast Ivy or Karen in the lead role for tonight's preview, the decision which could affect the show's future. Karen is the official understudy, but the understudy, as is generally the case, does not rehearse the role until after the previews have been completed. And Ivy knows the role more comprehensively at this stage having been in the lead earlier in the project's history. This issue causes major dissension among the team. A decision is made, which only increases the tension within the creative team. It also causes a four sided issue between Derek, Karen, Dev and Ivy. Meanwhile, Ellis makes an admission to Eileen, which he did for what he believed the good of the show, but which Eileen may see differently. And Frank comes to a possible impasse in his relationship with Julia, regardless of Michael's presence or not and regardless of if she remains faithful.
- DirectorMichael MorrisStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeAfter a successful run in Boston with Karen in the lead, "Bombshell" seems destined for Broadway, making Karen a Broadway superstar. As such, Karen is now part of the show's power team, and, based on advice she gets from Broadway star Veronica Moore, she can make whatever requests she wants to protect the material. Despite most of the cast and crew being automatically rehired for the Broadway run, Karen has the power to dismiss Ivy, who not only tried whatever she could to thwart Karen's success, but was also the reason for her break up with Dev. Ivy, in turn, does whatever she can to secure her place in the show. The road to Broadway may not be a totally smooth one as Eileen's personal life takes its toll on her professional life. Meanwhile, Julia, who has not read the reviews, is unaware that her contributions were the one heavily criticized area of the show. But she and Frank try to repair their marriage following Julia's affair, which may continue to preoccupy her thoughts.
- DirectorCraig ZiskStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeEileen's public legal problem concerning financing the show is perhaps the biggest obstacle in "Bombshell" making it to Broadway. As such, many with the show look for other professional opportunities. Derek may have problems getting another job as Rebecca Duvall's false publicity statement that she quit the show due to unwanted sexual advances by Derek leads to other actresses claiming the same. After running into another former actress colleague, Ivy contemplates getting out of the business altogether. And Karen comes across a couple of bartenders who are writing a musical, the songs which Karen loves. However, the composer, Jimmy Collins, doesn't want Karen's help, he who seems to despise her and everything about her. Meanwhile, Eileen plans on crashing an American Theater Wing dinner, where she and the "Bombshell" team are personae non gratae because of their public problems. Eileen wants to prove to the theater community that they are still alive, kicking and more than ready to take Broadway by storm. Eileen needs Tom and Julia at the function, but it may take a small untruth for Tom to get bedridden Julia, still in a depression over the dissolution of her marriage, to the function.
- DirectorLarry ShawStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeAlthough Bombshell is officially going back into unofficial rehearsals, Karen and Derek are still looking for other projects "just in case". Karen is still interested in helping Jimmy and Kyle get their musical at least to a stage where someone may consider staging it, with Derek being her go to person. While Kyle is optimistically hopeful that Karen can produce what she says in terms of a meeting with Derek, Jimmy is more skeptical. But Jimmy takes a risk to get some materials in preparation for that planned meeting with Derek. Derek on the other hand, turns to Veronica Moore for an unofficial audition to direct her new show, The Wiz, using a restaged number from Bombshell as that audition piece. But the fact that Jack and Julia have to change the show significantly based on a directive by Eileen may throw a wrench into Derek's plans. What's worse, especially for Julia, is that Eileen has hired Peter Gilman, a dramaturg, to give Julia advice, this move which Julia does not take lying down. Meanwhile, Ivy auditions for a new musical production of Dangerous Liaisons, and turns to Jack for advice and support on how to approach the role she covets.
- DirectorMichael MorrisStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeEileen has to decide if she will sell Nick down the river at the deposition into the illegal funding of "Bombshell". The fact that Nick has gone into hiding may make her decision easier. While the cast and crew wait in limbo as to Bombshell's fate, many, including Derek as director, Tom as musical director, and Karen and ultimately Ivy as chorus work on Veronica Moore's concert, which will be performed in 24 hours to a sold out house. Veronica wants this event to be her big break away from her sweet, ingénue image, or so she says. Despite the fact that a deal has been struck to air this concert on cable television, no one seems very happy due to competing priorities, namely those of Derek, Tom, Veronica, and Veronica's stage-mother mother, Cynthia Moore. Part of those problems may be solved by a new song for Veronica to perform that satisfies all the parties involved. Nothing in Tom and Julia's catalog fits the bill, so Karen thinks that Jimmy could write that song if there isn't one already in his and Kyle's collection. Jimmy and Kyle's pride could get in the way of this their big break. Meanwhile, Julia feels tricked once again by Peter, and she tries to find a way to get back at him, that is unless she sees that he may be right in his thinking.
- DirectorDavid PetrarcaStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeJerry has taken production control of "Bombshell" away from Eileen because of her legal issues, although she and the show's cast and crew are unaware that he orchestrated the publicizing of her illegalities with Ellis' help. Eileen tries to figure out a way to remain part of the production team while not kowtowing to Jerry. Regardless, there will be no show if Julia can't provide a satisfactory rewrite, her job being on the line. Julia is excited about her latest draft, which was developed with Peter's help, leading up to its official read-through, that is until Tom voices his concerns to her about Peter's possible ulterior motives. Karen is excused from the read-through, which allows her to concentrate her time on helping Jimmy and Kyle bring the first act of their musical to the Fringe Festival. They decide to do a read-through of their own with Karen's friends in attendance. What Karen does not realize until that read-through is that she has never seen or heard Kyle's text, and has no idea if it matches the quality of Jimmy's songs. Meanwhile, comedian Terry Falls finally arrives to rehearsals to assume his lead role in "Dangerous Liaisons". He wants to bring his comedic sensibilities to the role and production, which sits uncomfortably with Ivy, who believes it could jeopardize this production, what she considers her big break.
- DirectorDan LernerStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPhee"Bombshell", "Dangerous Liaisons" and "Hit List" are all going through problems. Ivy asks Derek for advice on how to save "Liaisons" and/or her career if the show goes forward in its current direction as dictated by its star, Terry Falls. With "Bombshell", Eileen, who had the tie breaking vote - with Julia and Derek on one side, and Jerry and Tom on the other - decides to go with Jerry and Tom and go with an earlier, more commercial book draft rather than Julia's latest draft, which she and Derek feel is the best work she's ever done. In addition, Jerry wants to cut the first song Julia and Tom wrote for the show, and what Julia still feels is the emotional core of the show. And Jerry, who has just found out about "Hit List", informs Karen on the day of the first performance that her contract does not allow her to perform in the show, which if she decides to abide by Jerry's directive will leave Jimmy and Kyle in the lurch at the eleventh hour. These situations leave Derek, Karen and Julia with decisions about their future with "Bombshell". However, some discovered information may in turn affect the production.
- DirectorCasey NicholawStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeTom has been appointed director of "Bombshell" after Derek leaves the show. But Tom's style and vision doesn't mesh with Karen, with who the rapport becomes quietly but openly strained. In addition, Tom doesn't feel he can use Derek's choreography, and as such the new dance numbers are insipid, especially in Jerry's eyes. Eileen works behind the scenes to regain legal production control from Jerry, but even if she does achieve this goal, it may be too late for Tom, who may be fired by Jerry, especially as he still wants Derek back at the helm. Jerry's wish may become reality as Derek is having troubles letting go of "Bombshell" from his life. Julia does whatever she can to protect Tom in this situation. Meanwhile, "Liaisons" now has as its star a non-medicated and thus non-manic Terry Falls, but that still may not be able to save the production from a critical drubbing on its opening and thus imminent closure. But some within the production may not see that as a bad thing. And after its run at the Fringe, "Hit List" tries to move to an off Broadway theater, but the theater's new manager, Scott, who is an old friend of Derek's, requests that Jimmy and Kyle make some changes before he allows it to be performed on the theater's main stage. This directive does not sit well with Jimmy, who doesn't agree with it.
- DirectorCraig ZiskStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeThe level of collaboration at "Bombshell" and "Hit List" are taking divergent paths. Derek has his big budget sensibility in directing "Hit List" and is able to stick to his vision within the limited budget. However, that vision doesn't sit well with Jimmy, who voices his opposition. Their relationship is further negatively affected by Derek's hands off statement concerning Karen, who doesn't know why Jimmy has not approached her romantically. On the other hand, Tom, now the director of "Bombshell", wants to please everyone, especially his new star Ivy, by listening to and incorporating their ideas. However, Tom's juggling act has its own problems, especially in trying to incorporate an idea more for his own personal rather than professional reason. Derek and Tom may have to find a common middle ground for both their productions to succeed. Meanwhile, Julia is trying to mend a fifteen year estrangement with Scott. And Eileen, who has regained production control of "Bombshell", is having problems trying to drum up any positive buzz around the production. With Tom's approval, Eileen embarks on what she believes is a newsworthy idea which will most directly affect Ivy for good or more likely bad.
- DirectorTricia BrockStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeKaren and Jimmy's first night together is cut short by the arrival of her father, in town for a conference. Beyond believing that Karen is in a sexual relationship with Derek, he can't get over the fact that she left "Bombshell", a Broadway show, for experimental theater. His demeanor toward Karen and the men in her life is based on this perspective. Specifically with Jimmy, he may not be able to outrun his past, which he'd rather forget, as he becomes more famous. Meanwhile, Ivy is having parent issues of her own, with her Broadway diva mother, Leigh Conroy, coming out of retirement to accept the role of Gladys, Norma Jean's mother, in "Bombshell". Ivy and Leigh's relationship during rehearsals surprises Tom, who isn't quite getting out of them what he wants. Julia tries too hard to mend her relationship with Scott, who in turn may have a condition to the reestablishment of their friendship. And Eileen and influential New York Times Arts Editor Richard Francis consider moving their relationship from the professional to the personal.
- DirectorS.J. ClarksonStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheePersonal relations between Tom and Ivy are still strained, into which Ivy brings the cast onto her side. Wanting to mend their friendship, Tom, at the last minute as he reminded of the date, asks his friend and Ivy's idol Liza Minnelli to provide a surprise to Ivy for her birthday later that evening. Beyond Ivy already having made arrangements with her cast mates to celebrate her birthday without Tom, the evening has the potential to be a disaster for all concerned, which includes Eileen and Richard, who are testing the waters of a personal relationship. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Karen have embarked on a sexual relationship, but Karen wonders if Jimmy not wanting to tell anyone about it is a red flag. And Derek contemplates being honest with Karen about his feelings for her. While these three struggle with their as of yet unknown romantic triangle - at least unknown to Karen - Scott, Julia and Kyle work on the show without them. Their close working relationship may reignite romantic feelings that had bubbled under the surface between Scott and Julia when they were friends many years ago, while the working process may give Kyle some confidence in working without Jimmy.
- DirectorMimi LederStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeBoth "Bombshell" and "Hit List" have important upcoming full run throughs. "Bombshell" is doing a "friends and family" performance before going into its first preview the following day, which coincides with "Hit List" doing a run through the same day for Richard Francis, who plans to write an article on the show. A multitude of technical problems in the "Bombshell" "friends and family" performance may end up delaying the first preview show, which Tom wants to avoid at all cost as he sees a delay in preview as a public declaration of failure. Tom does whatever he needs to in six hours to correct all the technical problems to be able to satisfy Eileen to go through with the preview as planned. One of those technical problems, a wardrobe malfunction, ends up being something that Eileen and Julia want left in, as Marilyn in the nude adds a sense of vulnerability to the character. They leave it up to Ivy to decide if she will agree to this change. With Tom feeling like he alone has to provide direction to rectify the "Bombshell" issues, Julia heads to "Hit List" to continue her dramaturg work for that show. Based on Julia's suggestion, Derek makes an important change to the show's structure, which Jimmy and Karen see as Derek getting back at them for their relationship. Are they correct as to Derek's rationale? These run throughs have an unexpected public outcome.
- DirectorMichael MorrisStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeIt's "Bombshell"'s opening night, to which Eileen has provided tickets to the cast and crew of "Hit List". While trying to avoid any on-line chatter leading up to the opening, Ivy can't help but be affected by one comment that she is only a chorus girl not up to a starring role. Karen, on the other hand, isn't sure if she wants to see someone perform the role she voluntarily gave up. And even before the opening, Tom and Julia contemplate their next move, which may or may not be together as a team. Much of what happens will depend on the reviews, the Times' which may be the most important but the one which may be in jeopardy if only because of Eileen's disintegrating relationship with Richard Francis. Meanwhile, Jimmy contemplates telling Karen of his sordid past. He may be beaten to the punch as Adam hangs around more, he who is getting closer to Ana. And based on the fact that "Hit List" has sold out its entire run even before its first show, Derek and Scott contemplate taking the show to Broadway for this season, which would then place it in direct competition with "Bombshell".
- DirectorTricia BrockStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeDespite "Bombshell" not getting the ticket sales they were hoping, Eileen and Agnes are certain they are still on track for the show to sweep the Tonys. They just have to keep the show open until the awards, so they drum up whatever publicity they can featuring Ivy at whatever opportunity. One of those publicity items - Ivy moderating a Q&A session with Tom and Julia - may be bad timing. Tom has found out that he didn't get the "City of Angels" directing job. His belief that he would then work on "The Great Gatsby: The Musical" with Julia doesn't seem to be in the cards as Scott has already announced to his board that Julia is doing Gatsby as a play with him. This news, which happens just before the Q&A, may bring their private feud into the public realm. Eileen and Agnes' obstacle-less drive to the Tonys hits a snag when they learn that Derek and Scott are trying to bring "Hit List" to Broadway this season. Tonight's performance is perhaps the most important as it will be done in front of potential Broadway producers. But Jimmy's self-destructive behavior, which Derek in particular has to put up safety nets for, may threaten the show altogether.