American Idol alum Katharine McPhee has boarded the NBC pilot Smash.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Steven Spielberg musical drama revolves around a cross section of characters who come together to mount a Broadway musical inspired by silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe.

Playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the pilot; Michael Mayer will direct.

Debra Messing and Jack Davenport (FlashForward) have been cast as the lyricist and choreographer, respectively.

Smash was originally developed at Showtime by new NBC entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt.