By Jacqueline Parker
March 19, 2023
It’s been just over 20 years since audiences were first charmed by the quirky and charismatic Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the movie, but now audiences can experience a new side of the SoCal sorority dynamo in Legally Blonde – The Musical.
Directed by award-winning director, Jeffrey B. Moss, and adapted from the 2001 novel by Amanda Brown and film starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde – The Musical follows the beautiful, blonde Elle Woods on her journey to Harvard Law School as she sets out to prove her ex– and everyone else– that she’s just as brainy as they are. Jilted by an ex who doesn’t think she’s “serious” enough, Elle decides she’s destined for greatness at the East Coast law school and puts her beauty and brains to the test in order to succeed.
Hannah Bonnet plays Elle in the current theatrical run. Bonnet is a relative newcomer to national theater but has performed in a number of regional productions and some off-Broadway, including The Wizard of Oz as Glinda the Good Witch. She’s joined onstage by Aathaven Tharmarajah as Emmett, Ashley Morton as the loveable Pauline, and Lea Sevola as Vivienne. All of your favorites from the movie have their place on the stage as Elle navigates the complex world of Harvard all while remaining true to herself. For fans of the original storyline, you won’t be disappointed. The production follows the narrative closely, with Elle demonstrating her business and beauty acumen in the halls of justice during the final act.
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin wrote the score for the production. The husband-and-wife duo have worked on a number of productions for stage, television, and movies, including credits with The Daily Show, and the SyFy and Disney channels. The setlist is deep, with nearly 25 songs for the entirety of the production, including “Bend and Snap” from the movie. Other fan favorites are “So Much Better,” “Serious,” and the opening song, “Omigod You Guys.”
With the book for the musical adaptation written by Heather Hach (Freaky Friday), the 2007 production originally premiered in San Francisco before moving to Broadway in April of the same year. The show garnered seven Tony award nominations, and after its run in West End, the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2011.
After several years out of production, Legally Blonde – The Musical reappeared at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London in May of 2022 and ran for three months. This iteration of the production was notable for its casting of trans non-binary actors, Iz Hesketh and Alžbeta Matyšáková, in the roles of Margot and Enid, respectively.
Produced by Big League Productions, the U.S. tour kicked off in October 2022 and is expected to hit 80 U.S. cities before it concludes in the spring.
Legally Blonde – The Musical plays in Charlotte March 24-26 at the Ovens Auditorium.
Showtimes:
Friday, March 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.
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