Music Theater Works: Legally Blonde: The Musical
Kayla Shipman with members of the cast in Legally Blonde: The Musical
Music Theater Works Presents LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Review - A Story of Accepting Being Blonde and Hot
TLDR: Fans of the original movie will love the musical rendition of Legally Blonde: The Musical as it keeps to the original story and main characters. This production pulls together big dance numbers backed by powerful vocalists that will surely thrill any musical theatre lover as well.
Members of the cast in Legally Blonde: The Musical
Music Theater Works Goes Northeast
Look out Harvard cause here we come! We leave the bright pink Delta Nu sorority house in sunny L.A. (set design by Shane Cinal) and move up north to the old, traditional halls of Harvard Law School. Greek columns fly in and out aiding in that old, hallowed halls feel. Other big set pieces come and go swiftly like the Hair Affair Salon and Professor Callahan’s classroom. The stage lights up neon pink at pivotal moments and sunny blue skies hang in the background giving us positive vibes all around.
(In The Style of Shania Twain) Let’s Go Girls!
Happy to say Legally Blonde passes the Bechdel test even though the main plot point is literally about a woman chasing after a man. But like anyone who has seen the movie, we know Legally Blonde is much more than that. For fans of the movie but haven’t seen the musical yet, you’ll be happy to find a lot of your favorite characters are still here and the story stays pretty true to the original as our optimistic blonde goes on her journey of self-discovery at Harvard Law.
And not only do we see sisters supporting sisters, but the women in this show also get to show off their vocal chops with a score meant for belting and holding those long, melodic notes.
Crystal Claros as Vivienne gives us her best high belt with riffs and flips all throughout the titular 11 o’clock number “Legally Blonde - Remix” as she admits she was wrong about her first impressions of Elle.
Khaki Pixley as Paulette takes us to the briny shores of the Emerald Isle in “Ireland” and finds her voice during “Bend and Snap” where she has all the boys come running.
Amanda Handegan as Brooke Windham deserves every ounce of applause she gets as she performs a literal exercise routine while singing “Whipped Into Shape.”
And leading lady Kayla Shipman as Elle Woods herself carries the show with her can-do attitude certain she can accomplish anything. While donning her signature color throughout most of her time at Harvard, she has us laughing at Elle’s playfulness and good natured spirit and belts right along with the rest of them.
The leading men also hold their own as Emmett (David Moreland) goes from wrinkled teaching assistant to commanding the courtroom in a stylish three piece suit. And Daniel Rausch as Warner Huntington III gives us entitled frat boy to the max, running a hand through his hair and mugging to the audience any chance he gets.
Ensemble Pulls Out the Moves Keeping Things Upbeat and Positive
For those that love big ensemble dance numbers, you will be thrilled at the numbers throughout the production choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn. All members of Elle’s Greek chorus shine as the main backup dancers. They become Elle’s cheerleaders during her personal essay to Harvard and get down and shake their junk to support Elle in “Positive.”
Isaiah Engram has legs for days as hunky package delivery man, Kyle, and shows them off with some high leaps and bounds as he and Paulette fall in love. They’re joined by more ensemble members for a dance number inspired by Riverdance.
The courtroom becomes a mystery itself during “There! Right There!” as everyone clamors around the jury benches and defense tables trying to crack if a witness is gay or just European.
And I would be remiss without mentioning two other special members of the cast - Kandi and Nosi. Kandi makes her big entrance as Bruiser in a remote controlled pink jeep and the audience “awws” in delight at her cuteness. And when Nosi comes bounding out of the trailer as Rufus for the big reunion with Paulette, she notices the audience and doesn’t want to leave the stage or her moment in the spotlight.
Sabrina Bowen, Selena Robinson, Morgan Schoenecker, Kayla Shipman and Khaki Pixley
The After Party Thoughts
I saw this musical when it first came out in 2007 (how has it been seventeen years???) and haven’t seen it again since, despite the many productions and tours here in the Chicagoland area between now and then. Some members of my After Party crew haven’t seen it before and I had some worries about if the musical still holds up. I’m happy to report the musical has aged like fine wine as we’ve entered into the over-the-top, campy, stupid jokes era of musical theater and Legally Blonde fits right in. But the overall message still holds weight that you can do anything you put your mind to, and you can do it in your own style as well.
The powerful vocals, fun, lively dance numbers, and quick moving, uplifting plot are sure to be a crowd pleaser this holiday season. We laughed and cheered as Elle found her way supported by all her besties and still has all the feel good moments we enjoyed from the movie.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical
When
Now through December 29, 2024
Where
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Runtime: 2hrs 30min, including an intermission
Tickets
$19.50+
Tickets can be purchased through the Music Theater Works website
Photos
Brett Beiner
Sabrina Bowen and Kandi
CAST
Eric Amundson (he/him, ensemble/U/S Emmett)
Lanja Andriamihaja (she/her, Kate/ensemble)
Michael Davis Arnold (he/him, Chad/Dewey/ensemble)
Kiana Beverly (she/her, ensemble)
Sabrina Bowen (she/her, ensemble trio)
Claire Campbell (she/her, ensemble/dance captain)
Crystal Claros (any with respect, Vivienne Kensington)
Connor Crumley (she/her, ensemble/swing)
Riley Dominiak (she/her, Mom/ensemble/U/S Vivienne)
Isaiah Engram (he/they, Kyle/ensemble)
Lili Galluzo (she/they, Chutney/U/S Trio)
Amanda Handegan (she/her, Brooke Wyndam)
Ibrahim Khan (he/him, Sandeep/ensemble)
Will Leonard (he/him, Elle’s Dad/ensemble/U/S Professor Callahan/U/SKyle)
Víctor López (he/him, Carlos/ensemble)
Andrew Lund (they/them, swing)
Matthew Millin (he/him, ensemble)
David Moreland (he/him, Emmett Forrest)
Khaki Pixley (she/her, Paulette Buonufonte)
Daniel Rausch (he/him, Warner Huntington III)
Madison Jaffe-Richter (she/her, ensemble/U/S Elle)
Connor Ripperger (he/they, Aaron/ensemble/U/S Warner)
Selena Robinson (she/her, ensemble trio)
Morgan Schoenecker (she/her, ensemble trio/U/S Brooke)
Kayla Shipman (she/her, Elle Woods)
Ava Stovall (she/her, Enid/ensemble/U/S Paulette)
Alex Villaseñor (he/him, Nikos/ensemble/U/S Carlos)
Korey White (he/him, Professor Callahan)
Kandi (Bruiser, Sacha Chen)
Nosi (Rufus, Desi Lynne Thorne and Evan Thorne)
CREATIVE
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin (Music and Lyrics)
Heather Hach (Book)
Mandy Modic (she/her, director)
Mollyanne Nunn (she/her, choreographer)
Linda Madonia (she/her, music director)
Amber Wuttke (she/her, fight/intimacy choreographer)
Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach)
Liv Meinders (she/her, stage manager)
Olive Ferguson (she/her, assistant stage manager)
Shane Cinal (he/him, scenic designer)
Ab Rieve (they/them, props designer);
Kristen Brinati (she/her, costume designer)
Reve Smith (they/them, wardrobe head)
Alice Salazar (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer)
Melanie Saso (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer)
Chelsea Lynn (she/her, lighting designer)
Riley Woods (they/them, ME and board programmer)
Matthew R. Chase (he/him, sound designer)
Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer)
Andersonville Scenic Studios (scene shop)
Chris Chase (he/him, production manager)
Justin Akira Kono (he/him, electronic music design)
Katie Meine (she/her, company manager)
Kiana Beverly (she/her, non-equity deputy)
Claire Campbell (she/her, dance captain)