The songs, by Marc Shaiman, all have the same manic pitch and blur together.

NPR: Hollywood's Musical 'Hairspray,' a Little Too Bouffant

The payoff for the orchestra is a slightly heftier salary and, according to Mr. Shaiman, an added sense of worth.

WSJ: On Broadway, Musicians Are Rising Out of the Pits | By Joanne Kaufman

Unlike "Glee, " which uses mostly existing songs, "Smash" showcases new songs by Broadway's "Hairspray" composer-lyricist team, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, along with some popular songs.

WSJ: The High Stakes of NBC's 'Smash'