Town Hall Arts Center: Legally Blonde the Musical

Summer in Denver kicks off with a bonafide Broadway smash hit. Legally Blonde the Musical, which opened May 20, is based on the popular 2001 film which made a star of Reese Witherspoon as the quintessential sorority girl Elle Woods (Rachelle Wood).

This fabulously fun, international award-winning musical follows Woods’ newly found, law-filled life as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams and an unyielding desire to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Tim Oakes). This off-the-wall musical is known for its witty dialog, entertaining musical score, and lively choreography. Legally Blonde is Denver’s must-see musical this summer! After all the, “the Bend and Snap works every time!”

All too often when a blockbuster movie is reimagined into a live theater show, audiences have a conditioned expectation from watching the movie and anticipate those most memorable scenes and/or songs that made the movie so successful. This unavoidable critical response can be a pitfall for the live stage version. Can someone say Sister Act the Musical?

“Movies turned into musicals sometimes try to fit into the musical theater format instead of forging their own,” said Director and Choreographer, Nick Sugar. “The show capitalizes on the MTV crowd and handled a lace percentage of the show like a music video.”

The creators, Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach, wrote and composed a show that easily sidesteps any ‘format’ pitfalls, which resulted in a truly fresh and entertaining piece of stage-craft. Their unique approach delivers a familiar storyline, but throws-in enough twists and turns to give the audience a unique experience.

Not only does Rachelle Wood share a similar surname with the main character Elle Woods, she has an uncanny likeness to the superstar Witherspoon, which bodes well for Wood’s performance. There were a few gaucheries that reminded us how unforgettable live theater can be — à la Warner’s awkward door jam and Wood’s graceful pratfall. Both of which gave the audience a hearty belly laugh.

All of the show’s songs are incredibly entertaining and a delight to watch, but a few standout numbers include: What You Want, Positive, Take It Like A Man and There Right There. The vocal ‘dark-horses’ in the show are Emmett Forrest (Carter Edward Smith) and Vivienne Kensington (Rebekah Ortiz) with their parts in the songs “Legally Blonde” and “Legally Blonde Remix” respectively.

“The song Legally Blonde celebrates a person’s achievements, regardless of their struggle or challenge. It’s reflected in this show as girl power but it goes way beyond gender,” said Sugar.

Additionally, the show’s production team all deserve honorable mentions for bringing to life this ear and eye candy musical. Total Snaps! Tina Anderson’s set design, besides being uber-pink, is incredibly innovative. A few well placed and well designed elements transform the stage into the fun and lively world of “Woods comma Elle” and her clan.

I would be remiss if I didn’t do a shout-out to some of my seasoned and favorite thespian friends; Chelley Canales, Gabriel Morales, Heather Fritton, Nicole Harrison, Donna Kolpan Debreceni and Steven Neale. Job well done, Gang!  And for you animal lovers out there, who doesn’t love puppies? Bruiser and Rufus almost stole the show every time they came-out on stage.

“We are really excited about this show,” says Town Hall Arts Center Marketing & PR Director Leslie Rutherford. “It will be the perfect end to a great season and a lovely way to kick off the summer.”

Legally Blonde the Musical may be wrapping-up Town Hall Arts Center’s 2015-2016 Season, but it is almost upstaged by their next blockbuster musical season, which kicks off in September — Once Upon a Mattress, the regional premiere of A Christmas Story the Musical, Avenue Q, Bonnie & Clyde,The Robber Bridegroom, and Hairspray. Click here for 2016-2017 Season.

Littleton Town Hall Center’s production of Legally Blonde runs through Sunday, June 19. For showtimes and tickets, call 303-794-2787 or just click here!

Photo Credits: Becky Toma and Dan & Sydney Fairbairn
Video Credit: Luck eProductions, LLC