ALEX ELLIS portrays Elle Woods and Chico the chihuahua plays Bruiser in Maine State Music Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde,” which opens Wednesday at Pickard Theater in Brunswick.
State Music Theatre continues its 54th season with “Legally Blonde,” which opens Wednesday at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus.
The show runs through July 14.
With a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from UCLA, a recommendation from Oprah Winfrey, and extracurricular activities like president of Delta Nu Sorority, founder of the charity Shop for a Cause, and Sigma Sweetheart, Elle Woods decides to follow her heart to … Harvard Law School.
When her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before. Along the way, she proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, “Legally Blonde,” the musical, “combines all the original whit and charm with ingenious song and dance,” an
MSMT release states.
Veteran MSMT director Marc Robin heads the production as director and choreographer. His previous credits at MSMT include productions of “CATS,” “The Producers,” “Spamalot” and “Annie.”
Starring as Elle Woods at MSMT is Broadway’s Alex Ellis, who recently starred in a new musical version of the film “Catch Me If You Can” and performed with Harry Connick Jr. in “On A Clear Day I Can See Forever.”
Ellis’ previous MSMT performances include Penny Pingleton in the 2007 production of “Hairspray” and as Natalie in the 2008 production of “All Shook Up.”
Also returning to Brunswick in this production are MSMT fan favorites Charis Leos and Curt Dale Clark. Leos has been performing with MSMT for seven seasons, most memorably as Madame Thenardier in “Les Miserables,” “Mama Morton” in Chicago and “Miss Hannigan” in last season’s “Annie.” Leos plays beautician Paulette, Elle’s new friend and confidant in Cambridge.
Later in the summer, Leos will also recreate her popular performance at MSMT as Louise in a concert version of “Always… Patsy Cline.”
Clark, who plays Zach in MSMT’s 2012 production of “A Chorus Line” and will take on the role of Kyle the UPS guy in “Legally Blonde.” He has been with MSMT for six sea- sons and played The Beast in MSMT’s 2006 production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
Several MSMT veterans join Ellis, Leos and Clark in “Legally Blonde.” Among them are Jessica Lee Goldyn who portrayed Polly in “Crazy for You;” Brian Michael Hoffman, otherwise remembered as Cupid in MSMT’s 2011 production of “Xanadu;” and Chuck Ragsdale who was Leo Bloom in “The Producers” and Rooster in “Annie.”
Goldyn takes on the role of exercise guru, Brooke Windam, who’s on trial for the murder of her husband. Hoffman plays several roles in “Legally Blonde,” including Elle’s father and schoolmate, Dewey.
Ragsdale plays Emmet Forrest, the handsome Harvard Law graduate who helps Elle find her confidence.
Additional MSMT vets Buddy Reeder, Nicky Venditti and Birdie Newman Katz join the cast.
Rounding out the cast are some new faces at MSMT. Courtney Romano, a Barrymore Award nominee for her starring role in “Thoroughly Modern” Millie at Media Theatre, plays Elle’s sorority pal, Serena. Lara Hayhurst from the national tour of “Bye Bye Birdie” plays Margot and Emmeline Wood portrays Pilar.
Lauren Blackman, who just finished recording the cast album of a new musical, “Next Thing You Know,” makes her MSMT debut as Elle’s nemesis, Vivienne Kensington. Ken Land also makes his MSMT debut as Professor Callahan.
Rounding out the cast list are the four-legged stars Chico and Nellie. Rescued by Tony Award-winning animal trainer, William Berloni, Chico and Nellie portray Bruiser, Elle’s pet Chihuahua, and Rufus, Paulette’s English bulldog.
Chico the chihuahua starred in the original Broadway production of “Legally Blonde” and is seen in all the advertising, having served as the doggie model for the show’s official logo. Nellie the bulldog holds the record for starring in the most performances of “Legally Blonde” by any performer, human or canine.
Maine State Music Theatre continues its tradition of paywhat you-can pricing for both the matinee and evening performances on June 29. On that day, patrons who walk up in person to MSMT’s box office at the Pickard Theater can pay whatever their budgets will allow for any remaining, unsold seats. The box office opens at 10 a.m.
Regular ticket prices range from $36 to $59.
For more information, call 725-8769 or visit www.msmt.org.
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