Case Closed: Legally Blonde Ends Broadway Run Oct. 19
By Adam Hetrick
19 Oct 2008
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Blonde's Bailey Hanks
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| photo by Andrew Walker | Legally Blonde, the pop musical based on the 2001 MGM film of the same name, ends its run at the Palace Theatre Oct. 19. When it closes, the production will have played 30 previews and 595 regular performances.
Legally Blonde, which received seven 2007 Tony nominations, marked the directorial debut of Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Featuring a score by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach, the musical opened at the Palace Theatre April 29, 2007.
"Producing Legally Blonde has been one of the highlights of my career," said lead producer Hal Luftig in a statement. "Much like Elle Woods, the entire company, creative team and crew has worked with heart, wit, enthusiasm, integrity and style throughout the entire, thrilling run. I can't wait for the rest of the country to be able to experience the show live."
A national tour of the musical, starring Becky Gulsvig, launched in Providence, RI, Sept. 21 and is currently booking dates through September 2009.
Legally Blonde's seven Tony nominations included Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Actress (for original star Laura Bell Bundy).
Legally Blonde received a box-office boost following the television broadcast of the musical in its entirety on MTV. The MTV presentation drew a reported 12.5 million viewers for its weekend of airings.
The MTV broadcast also inspired a partnership between Legally Blonde's Broadway producers and the cable network to create a show that would search for Bundy's replacement in the role of Elle Woods.
Bailey Hanks, the winner of MTV's reality casting competition "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods," currently stars as the musical's pink-clad heroine.
The Broadway company of Legally Blonde also features Christian Borle as Emmett, Orfeh as Paulette, Richard H. Blake as Warner, Kate Shindle as Vivienne, Nicolette Hart as Brooke, and Michael Rupert as Professor Callahan.
Completing the cast are Tracy Jai Edwards, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Kate Rockwell, Lucia Spina, Barry Anderson, April Berry, Kyle Brown, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Beth Curry, Amber Efe, Tiffany Engen, Stephanie Fittro, Josh Franklin, Jason Gillman, Rod Harrelson, Eric Hatch, Manuel Herrera, Autumn Hurlbert, Nick Kenkel, Cara Massey, Rusty Mowery, Emily Padgett, Kevin Pariseau, Jody Renard, Dani Spieler and Bryan West.
Legally Blonde has music and lyrics by both Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy: The Musical, Cam Jansen and the Curse of the Emerald Elephant, Sarah, Plain and Tall) and Nell Benjamin (Cam Jansen, Sarah, Plain and Tall, The Mice) and a book by Heather Hach (the film "Freaky Friday"). James Sampliner serves as music director. Orchestrations are by Christopher Jahnke.
The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.
The show is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.
For more information visit www.legallyblondethemusical.com.
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Bailey Hanks as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.
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| photo by Andrew Walker |
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