Brooks Ashmanskas found inspiration for ‘smash’ from his experience (exclusively)

Brooks Ashmanskas Know how to make them laugh!

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

In the show, Ashmanska’s director and choreographer Nigel – a consistent source of comic relief, plays, whether it is when he runs to his Wit’s end of the show’s star or he is painting over one of the ensemble dancers.

While talking to people at the 2025 Tony Awards “Meet The Nominees” event in May, Ashmanskas opens up to play their comic chops and find inspiration from his own experience in the entertainment industry.

“Many people in this industry are very fun people,” he shares. “I’ve been surrounded by very funny people all my life. My father was very funny, the whole family was very funny. So even starting as a person, humor was a way to communicate, to protect and all these things.”

Ashmanskas discovers that he often uses comedy in his own life and adds: “You see how people use a sense of humor to navigate their worlds. I know I do it in life. I try to turn it around, usually, as much as we do, no matter what we do.”

When it comes to his character, the actor says that Nigel is “a merger of all the directors I have worked with.”

“I’ve been very happy,” says the actor. “I have worked with some really wonderful people, and none of them are jerking. I don’t even think (nigels) a joke. I think he is very put on this situation. I always imagined how these wonderful directors I have worked with would respond to some of the situations he is in. Therefore, so comedy.

The musical, based on 2012 TV series with the same nameSee Ivy Lynn (Robyn Hurder) take his role to play Marilyn a little too seriously and isolate the show’s entire creative team and role, including Understudy Karen Cartwright (Caroline Bowman).

Currently playing at Imperial Theater in New York City, Smash An all-Star Creative Team with a book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin, Direction of Susan Stroman and choreography by Joshua Bergasse-the later as nabbed the show’s second Tony nomination.

It also has fan favorite songs of Marc Shaiman and Scott WittmanFor example, “20th Century Fox Mambo”, “They just keep moving the line” and Emmy-nominated “Let me be your star.”

Ashmanskas praises the creative team to seamlessly unite the unique piece. “It’s such a different experience for a musical, where it really feels like a Neil Simon game,” shares Tony Nominee. “We have always said that we are in a game surrounded by a musical, and that is very true. The songs were formerly, most of them in it, and they are mostly in a situation of effect, in rehearsal or in performance.”

The unique quality, says the actor, can be difficult to navigate. “It is a challenge to unite the two worlds in the musical. But it is written so well that they have done much of that work for us. We just have to deliver the performances.”

While Ashmanskas has his comedy as shown in the show, he puts his singing ability – as he showed up in 2018’s The walk – On the back burner. Unlike their nominated media in the best presented actor in a musical category, the actor does not sing a complete song in his role.

“I wish I was equipped to sing these songs,” jokes Ashmanskas. “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, Ashmanska joined the TV series when it was broadcast over a decade ago.

“I had many friends who were on the show,” he explains. “It was fun to just look at my old friends at it, and so I sucked into that kind of soapiness. And I liked it. Besides, it was strange to see that representation of Broadway on TV. It was a big deal.”

When it comes to entering the awards ceremony, Ashmanskas it plays cool. “I try to enjoy it as much as I can,” he says. “It doesn’t happen all the time. I have been very happy. It is my third time that is invited to this party, but I have been here for over 35 years.”

The actor adds, “I know it’s a big deal, and I’m just trying to enjoy it,” adding that he “has already got the victory just by earning his nomination.

Tickets for Smash Is now for sale. 2025 Tony Awards will be broadcast live from NYC’s Radio City Music Hall Sunday June 8 at CBS.