Published: October 09, 2008 10:39 am         

THEATER: Hit musical ‘Legally Blonde’ makes stop at Shea’s

By Alyssa Kramer



Slip on your high heels, plug in those curling irons and hop into something pink, because Elle Woods is coming to town with a hairbrush in one hand and a briefcase in the other.

And she means business.

With Bruiser by her side, Elle and the gang are opening the 2008-09 M&T Broadway Series at Shea’s Performing Arts Center with “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The show opens Tuesday.

Based on the light-hearted novel by Amanda Brown and 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, “Legally Blonde” has turned into an upbeat, clever and entertaining musical.

It’s a story about Elle Woods, a fashion student who is at first mistaken for having more beauty than brains but soon proves everyone wrong when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious.”

Before her sorority sisters can say “Omigod,” Elle puts down her nail polish and heads to Harvard Law School to send the message to herself and everyone else that beauty and brains are a winning combination, but that learning who you are is what’s most important.

“It’s exciting when we can bring in younger audiences to a show with such a positive message,” said Lisa Grisanti, Shea’s director of marketing and public relations.

It hasn’t taken very long for the musical to make a name for itself. On Broadway for only one year, “Legally Blonde” was among the 10 most requested Ticketmaster arts and theater events for 2007.

The musical also received seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, 10 2007 Drama Desk Award nominations and a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award.

After its success on Broadway, “Legally Blonde” hit the road and opened its inaugural national tour a few weeks ago in Providence, R.I.

Becky Gulsvig fills the high-heeled shoes of Elle Woods. The petite, young blonde started off as the understudy of Elle on Broadway and has ascended to the starring role in the national tour.

Gulsvig has also appeared as Amber Von Tussle in the Broadway production of “Hairspray,” Wendy Darling in the national tour of “Peter Pan” and on ABC’s “All My Children.”

D.B. Bonds will play Emmett Forrest, Elle’s mild-mannered, Harvard-law-graduate-friend who stands by her when she is down and out. Bonds wouldn’t have wanted to play any other character, he said.

“It’s really a great balance for me,” Bonds said in a recent interview. “I get to be funny, sarcastic and goofy, which is sort of how I am in real life, so it’s a good fit for me as an actor.”

Born in Columbia, S.C., Bonds shed his Southern accent when he got into theater in grade school. Bonds has also appeared on Broadway and in national tours of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Les Miserables,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

Bonds is a believer in the benefit of the arts and theater on society, especially when the audience just wants to have a good time.

“I do really believe there’s a good message to the show that accomplishes a lot of things that kids and adults alike can enjoy,” Bonds said. “If you want to sit back and laugh for 2 1/2 hours, this is the show.”

Also in the cast are Jeff McLean as Warner Huntington III — Elle’s not-so-loyal boyfriend that chooses sweater vests over hot pink velour outfits — Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette, Megan Lewis as Vivienne, Ken Land as Professor Callahan and Coleen Sexton as Brooke.

Fans of the MTV reality show “Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods,” may also recognize two familiar faces in the cast, as the competitive reality show’s third runner-up, Rhiannon Hansen, will play Elle’s best friend Margot, and fourth runner-up Lauren Zakrin is a member of the ensemble.

And then there are the real show-stealers, Bruiser the chihuahua and Rufus the bulldog, played respectively by Frankie and China. Bruiser is Elle’s lovable Chihuahua, while Rufus is Paulette’s bulldog that she rescues from her neglectful ex-boyfriend.

The dogs’ trainer, Bill Berloni, taught them everything they know.

“I don’t force the dogs to work. I find out ways to get them to want to do it,” Berloni said recently. “They seem to enjoy it.”

The dogs don’t seem to be the only ones having a good time. According to Berloni, the cast gets along so well with the pooches that they hang out off stage, as well.

“Bonding is important. We have sleepovers and the dogs hang out in the actors’ hotels,” Berloni said. “Becky (Gulsvig) loves dogs, so that makes it easier on stage.”

And having fun both on and off the stage is exactly what “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is all about.



Alyssa Kramer is a freelance writer from Buffalo.



IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Legally Blonde: The Musical”

WHEN: Tuesday through Oct. 19

WHERE: Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo

MORE INFORMATION: Visit sheas.org or call 847-1410