Elle`s snobbish classmates disapprove of her clothes, and the only person willing to help her is legal assistant Emmett Forrest (“The Harvard Variations”). However, he cannot protect her from the bloodthirsty Professor Callahan (“Blood In The Water”) in class. Callahan kicks Elle out of the classroom at the suggestion of her classmate Vivienne Kensington, who happens to be Warner`s new friend. This “tragedy” evokes the apparitions of the sisters of Delta Nu, who, as a Greek choir visible and audible only by Her, encourage them to remain positive (“positive”). She, believing that the blonde is the problem, decides to become a brunette. She goes to the Hair Affair salon, where she meets beautician Paulette, who, after telling Elle about her hair dyeing plan, tells Elle that when she`s down, she puts on her favorite Celtic Moods CD and dreams of Ireland and her Irishman dream. In the living room, Vivienne unexpectedly invites Elle to a costume party. Paulette sends Elle dressed in a costume for the party with encouraging words (“Ireland (Reprise)”). For more information, see www.legallyblondethemusical.com. During the development phase of the musical, a demo recording of twelve songs featuring Kerry Butler and others under the name Elle was released. The demo included workbench versions of “There! Right there! ” (called on the sampler “Gay or European”), “Blood in the Water”, “Omigod You Guys”, “Serious”, “What You Want”, “Legally Blonde”, “Legally Blonde Remix”, “So Much Better” and “Take It Like a Man”, in addition to two songs that were not present in the final version of the show: “Beacon of Positivity” (which became “Love and War” for the previews and finally “Positive” for the final version of the show) and “Good Boy”, a song instead of “Ireland”.
[63] She, believing that being blonde is the problem, decides to become a brunette. She goes to the Hair Affair salon, where she meets beautician Paulette, who, after advising Elle that all bad hair choices are motivated by love, tells Elle about her dreams of meeting a handsome Irishman (“Ireland”), and encourages her not to give up or minimize her personal qualities. In the living room, Vivienne, who is talking about a party planned for next Friday, gives Elle an unexpected invitation and tells her that it is a costume party. Paulette sends Elle dressed in a costume for the party with encouraging words (“Ireland (Reprise)”). The delighted girls of UCLA`s Delta Nu sorority, led by Margot, Serena and Pilar, celebrate Warner Huntington III`s expected engagement that night to its cheeky, sweet, surprisingly blonde nurse president, Elle Woods, who is worried about finding the perfect dress for the occasion (“Omigod You Guys”). After acquiring her dream dress, Elle goes to dinner with Warner, where he tells her that he needs someone more serious and breaks up with her. She is devastated and sulks for twelve days (“Daughter Of Delta Nu”), but decides to sue Warner at Harvard Law School to show him that she is serious. With the help of Kate, Delta Nu`s sister, she studies for LSAT. Instead of writing a personal essay, she burst into Harvard`s admissions offices, aided by a group of cheerleaders. She is accepted after revealing that she is motivated by love (“What You Want”). The West End production debuted at the Savoy Theatre on January 13, 2010, following previews on December 5, 2009.
[19] [20] The original London cast included Sheridan Smith in the lead role of Elle Woods starring Duncan James, Alex Gaumond, Jill Halfpenny and Peter Davison.[20] [21] In the London production, the text of “Ireland” was changed. Originally from Canada, Alex Gaumond made his West End debut in a production of The Full Monty at the Prince of Wales Theatre and has since toured the UK with Guys and Dolls and Desperately Seeking Susan.[22] In 2002, he became Galileo`s replacement in We Will Rock You, and other West End roles include Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical and Alberto Beddini in Top Hat. The musical received mixed reviews, but was hailed as a fun and upbeat production. Ben Brantley, who reviewed the musical in the New York Times, wrote that the show was an “energetic, empty and expensive hymn to the glory of femininity.” He praised Laura Bell Bundy, saying, “She sings and dances perfectly, and she delivers silly lines as if she meant them.” [55] Clive Barnes, in his review in the New York Post, praised Heather Hach`s book, but criticized the “amorphous, synthetic, and incredibly empty music” and summed up the show as “an enjoyable, albeit noisy, night.” [56] Elysa Gardner wrote for USA Today that the musical was a “flattering trifle” and that the “cast ensures that events, no matter how condescending, are not irritating.” [57] Jeremy McCarter lamented in New York Magazine that the musical “evokes no memory of Tracy Flick, the student council activist who played Reese Witherspoon in Election before starring in Legally Blonde,” and wrote that the “manic drive” in Witherspoon`s performance in Legally Blonde was her favorite part of the film. [58]. Later in Callahan`s office, interns celebrate Elle`s skills. Warner has a hard time calling a finely tuned conscience of homosexuality a legal victory. Callahan, angered by Warner`s behavior, sends Warner out of the room for coffee. Callahan dismisses Emmett and the other interns, but asks Elle to stay for a few moments. Callahan kisses Elle, who slaps him. In return, Callahan fires her.
Warner and Vivienne both see the kiss through the door of the room. Warner turns away angrily, leaving Vivienne as the only witness to the slap. After Callahan leaves, Warner enters the office and taunts Elle, but Vivienne tells him to shut up and they both leave. A defeated Elle prepares to return home, although Emmett asks her to stay, and finally realizes that he is in love with her (“Legally Blonde”). Four finalists audition with a challenging number that tests singing, acting and dancing. Their costume change skills were tested as well as their endurance. The song was “What You Want”. All the girls won a loft dinner and Tiffany necklaces in the Legally Blonde style. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde officially opened at the Palace Theatre on April 29. Production began on April 3 after a trial outside the city of San Francisco. Production ended on October 19, 2008 after 30 previews and 595 regular performances.
Asmeret Ghebremichael and Lindsay Nicole Chambers were part of the final cast alongside Hanks. Michael Ahomka-Lindsay is a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, where he played the actor and musical role of Flick in Violet the Musical in 2021. Emmett is an intelligent, charming, and eccentric law student who becomes one of Elle`s few friends when she arrives at Harvard Law School. He sees Elle`s potential from the beginning and helps her understand that her obsession with her ex-boyfriend is preventing her from pursuing her dreams. Christian Borle created the role on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor. In the West End, the role was played by Alex Gaumond, Lee Mead and Stephen Ashfield. The show`s winner, Bailey Hanks, not only had the opportunity to record her own single from the musical`s first act, “So Much Better.” The show ended on July 21, 2008. Autumn Hurlbert finished second. She served as an understudy to Hanks and performed in the entire show (replacing Becky Gulsvig, who left the show to join the tour). Bundy`s last appearance in the musical was on July 20, 2008. Hanks began performances on July 23, 2008 and remained with the show until it closed on October 19, 2008. [1] Serena is an energetic cheerleader who is a member of sister house Delta Nu.
With Margot and Pilar, she is part of the Greek choir that accompanies Elle`s journey through musicals. The role was played by Leslie Kritzer, Susan McFadden and Rachel Grundy. The attractive and selfish Warner was born into a wealthy family and is the son of a U.S. Congressman. He is determined to become a U.S. Senator and is willing to destroy everything that stands in his way, including his relationship with Her. At Harvard, Warner was in a relationship with Vivienne Kensington, a girl he considered more suited to support his political efforts. The Warner character was invented by Richard H. Blake on Broadway. In the West End, Duncan James played the role first, followed by Richard Fleeshman and Ben Freeman.