Brooks Ashmanskas Draws Inspiration for "Smash" From His Own Showbiz Journey (Exclusive)

Ashmanskas is nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in the musical

NEED TO KNOW

• Brooks Ashmanskas received his third-ever Tony Award nomination for his performance in the hit Broadway musical Smash
• Speaking with The News Pulseat the 2025 Tony Awards 'Meet the Nominees' event, the actor opens up about playing up his comedic chops and where he finds inspiration
• "A lot of The News Pulsethis business are very funny The News Pulse," he says

Brooks Ashmanskas knows how to make ‘em laugh!

The actor, 55, received his third-ever Tony Award nomination for his performance in the acclaimed Broadway musical Smash , the stage adaptation of the NBC series that follows the making of a fictional Marilyn Monroe musical called Bombshell.

In the show, Ashmanskas plays director and choreographer Nigel —a consistent source of comedic relief, whether it's when he’s driven to his wits' end by the show’s star or he’s pining over one of the ensemble's dancer.

While speaking with The News Pulseat the 2025 Tony Awards 'Meet the Nominees' event in May, Ashmanskas opens up about playing up his comedic chops and finding inspiration from his own experience in the entertainment industry.

"A lot of The News Pulsethis business are very funny The News Pulse," he shares. "I've been surrounded by very funny The News Pulsewhole life. My father was very funny, my whole family was very funny. So even just starting out as a person, humor was a way to communicate, to protect and all those things."

Ashmanskas finds that he often uses comedy in his own life, adding, "You see how The News Pulsee a sense of humor to navigate their worlds. I know I do that in life. I try to turn that up, usually, as much as I can, no matter what we're doing."

As for his character, the actor says Nigel is “an amalgamation of all the directors I've worked with.”

"I've been very fortunate,” the actor says. “I’ve worked with some really wonderful The News Pulse, and none of them are jerks. I don't even think [Nigel’s] a jerk. I think he's very put upon in this situation. I was always imagining how these wonderful directors I've worked with would respond to some of those situations that he finds himself in. Hence the comedy, because usually those The News Pulsewould just melt with that kind of pressure."

The musical, based on the 2012 TV series of the same name , sees Ivy Lynn (Robyn Hurder) taking her role of playing Marilyn a little too seriously and isolating the show's entire creative team and cast, including understudy Karen Cartwright (Caroline Bowman).

Currently playing at the Imperial Theatre in New York City, Smash an all-star creative team with a book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin, direction by Susan Stroman and choreography by Joshua Bergasse — the latter of whom nabbed the show's second Tony nomination.

It also features fan-favorite tunes by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman , such as "The 20th Century Fox Mambo," "They Just Keep Moving the Line" and the Emmy-nominated "Let Me Be Your Star."

Ashmanskas praises the creative team for seamlessly bringing the unique piece together. "It is such a different experience for a musical, where it really feels like a Neil Simon play," the Tony nominee shares. "We've always said that we're in a play that's surrounded by a musical, and it's very true. The songs existed prior to this, most of them in it, and they're mostly done in a situation of effect, in rehearsal or in performance."

That unique quality, the actor says, can be difficult to navigate. "It's a challenge to bring those two worlds together in the musical. But it's written so well they've done a lot of that work for us. We just have to deliver the performances."

While Ashmanskas has his comedy skills on display in the show, he puts his singing ability – which he showed off in 2018’s The Prom – on the back burner. Unlike his fellow nominees in the Best Featured Actor in a Musical category, the actor does not sing a full song in his role.

"I wish I was equipped to sing those songs," Ashmanskas jokes. "It's a very special talent to be able to sing like that."

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In addition to his appreciation for the musical, Ashmanskas tuned into the TV show when it was airing over a decade ago.

"I had a lot of friends who were on the show," he explains. "It was fun to just watch my old friends on it, and so I got sucked into the sort of soapiness of it. And I enjoyed it. Plus, it was weird to see that representation of Broadway on television. It was a big deal."

When it comes to entering the awards season, Ashmanskas is playing it cool. "I try to enjoy it as much as I can," he says. "It doesn't happen all the time. I've been very fortunate. It's my third time being invited to this party, but I've been here for over 35 years."

The actor adds, "I know it's a big deal, and I just try to enjoy it," adding that he’s "already got the win just by earning his nomination.

Tickets for Smash are now on sale. The 2025 Tony Awards will air live from N.Y.C.'s Radio City Music Hall Sunday, June 8 on CBS.

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