Based on the 2001 film of the same name, Legally Blonde The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances, this musical at the Argyle Theatre in Bablyon through Aug. 25 is so much fun, it should be illegal!
Elle Woods, the iconic character originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, is played by Aussie actress Kirby Lunn.
“Legally Blonde is about a woman who gets broken up with, so she decides to follow this guy all the way to Harvard Law,” Lunn said. “And by doing this she kind of learns the gift of working hard, and that she’s so much more than she ever thought she could be.”
Lunn first appeared on the Argyle stage as Amber Von Tussle in last year’s production of Hairspray. Most recently she could be seen in the North American tour of Kinky Boots.
“I don’t think there’s a single song I’m not on stage for,” she said. “I don’t know any other female role, if not any other role in musical theater, that requires someone vocally, emotionally and physically present.”
“The great entry point for this story specifically is its humor,” said Tyler Miclean, who plays Emmett Forrest. “They’re able to get these ideas through so clearly and so well because it’s very, very funny.”
Jordan Litz plays Warner Huntington III, the character who breaks up with Elle Woods and spurs her journey to Harvard Law.
“I think he does truly love Elle,” Litz said, “but his parents, they want him to be a senator and this world leading man that I don’t think he actually wants to be.”
Hairdresser Paulette, famously played by Jennifer Coolidge on film, is played by Jill Taylor Anthony.
“She meets Elle in her salon when Elle thinks she needs to change herself in order to get a guy,” Anthony explained. “And I get to say, ‘no way. If he doesn’t want you that way, then you don’t need him.'”
Though Legally Blonde came out nearly 20 years ago, David Engel, who plays Professor Callahan, finds the story relevant to today’s audiences.
“It’s incredibly fresh…and it does resonate now more than ever,” Engel said. “The audience may think they know Legally Blonde, but this is just a different take. I think it’s so smartly written and it’s so, so entertaining.”
The principal cast features Kirby Lunn (Elle Woods), Jill Taylor Anthony (Paulette), Mollie Downes (Brooke Wyndham), Marie Eife (Vivienne Kensington), David Engel (Professor Callahan), Jamie Farish (the UPS Man), Jordan Litz (Warner Huntington III) and Tyler MiClean (Emmett Forrest). The cast is joined by animal companions Caesar (Bruiser) and Stitch (Rufus).
The ensemble includes Harley Barton, J Ryan Carroll, Emily Chester, Tyler Dema, Courtney Fekete, Michelle Foard, Cassidy Ingram, Ashley Gale Munzek, Jennifer Oehlwein, Kwasi Perry, Michelle Rubino, Conor J. Stepnowski, Bryce Colby Vaewsorn and Kate Zulauf.
The production is directed and choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropolo with music direction by Jonathan Brenner. The creative team includes set designer FourthWall Scenic, costume designer Travis Chinick, lighting designer Travis McHale, sound designer Carlos Dias, wig designer Kurt Alger, and props designer Alison Savino. The technical director is Michael Kauffman, the production stage manager is Kellie McMenemon and the assistant stage manager is Megan E. Coutts. The casting director is Michael Cassara, CSA.
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name, Legally Blonde The Musical ran on Broadway from 2007-08, with music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe and a book by Heather Hach.
See Legally Blonde The Musical through Aug. 25 at The Argyle Theatre, 34 West Main St., Babylon, New York 11702. For tickets, visit argyletheatre.com.
—With reporting by Waldo Cabrera and Thomas Finn
