Ariela Pizza leads the joy in LPAC’s Legally Blonde, The Musical (Photos by Jerahmeel James)
By Britin Haller
The jury is in, the gavel has come down, and Legally Blonde The Musical, now playing at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, is guilty, your honor. Guilty of being funny, silly, entertaining, and touching that is, so go see it.
We’d just gotten the “Omigod You Guys” earworm out of our heads from seeing Legally Blonde The Musical last year at a different venue, and now the earworm’s back. But another two weeks of having this tune be the first thing we think of when we wake up in the morning, and the last thing we think of when we go to bed at night is worth it, because despite a slow start, the dynamic duo of director Michael Ursua and choreographer Alex Jorth sealed the deal in the end.
Collegiate Elle Woods is living the dream. Born and raised by wealthy parents in Malibu, she is about to graduate from UCLA with a degree in fashion and is ready to settle down with her one true love, the ultra-preppy Warner Huntington III. Only Huntington has other plans that don’t include the ditzy Elle and her pink attire. He’s Harvard-bound with an eye on a Senate seat, you see, and his Marilyn Monroe look-alike girlfriend just won’t fit in with his new life.
Suffice it to say Elle doesn’t take the public break-up too well, but after she gets mad, she decides to get even, and before you can say “Jackie Onassis,” Elle has applied to Harvard, and somehow with an assist from Oprah Winfrey and a marching band, manages to get in. Imagine Warner’s surprise when on the first day, Elle and her pink laptop, pink pom-pom pen, and pet chihuahua, Bruiser, show up to school.
But what will happen next? Will Elle succeed in learning the law? Will Warner realize his big mistake and take her back, and if so, will she ultimately have the happily-ever-after Elle went all the way from Sorority Row to Harvard Law to find?
Ariela Pizza
Starring in the role that Reese Witherspoon made famous is Ariela Pizza as Elle Woods. Only this Elle sings and dances and has way more fun. Don’t care for the film? This critic doesn’t either. So put aside everything you think you know about Legally Blonde, because this musical version is a riot. We loved seeing Pizza tap dance while spouting off attorney things like “I object,” and “May I approach?” during her big interview.
Collin Salvatore, as Warner Huntington III, is appropriately jerky one moment and a supporting friend the next, as he tries to figure out his true feelings towards Elle versus what he’s expected to feel. Salvatore breaks all our hearts in “Serious.”
Well-known local actor Wayne LeGette, as Professor Callahan, is appropriately slimy, although we really would have liked to see Callahan sink deeper into the slimy part and go all out with the blatant ruthlessness. We’ve seen this role performed more over-the-top, especially in “Blood in the Water,” and would have preferred more of the grandiosity here. As it is, we hear Callahan’s words, but don’t fully feel them. You’re a baddie. Own it. You played Scrooge for goodness sake. Nevertheless, LeGette did his usual excellent work.
Hot off his supporting role in LPAC’s recent 9 to 5 The Musical is Michael Stafford as Emmett Forrest, Elle’s teaching assistant at Harvard. We can tell he is secretly in love with her, although if Elle has a clue, she doesn’t let on.
Katie Davis is Vivienne Kensington, Warner’s brunette (the horror!) Jackie-esque girlfriend who may be caught up in the system as much as Warner; Samara Shavrick is Paulette, Elle’s manicurist, and new best friend, who has a fetish for Ireland that plays out in the cutest of ways; Allyson Rosenblum is Brooke Wyndham, Elle’s sorority sister and the much younger wife of a wealthy man murdered in his own home (and so obviously a suspect in his death); and Genevieve Hall plays Chutney, Brooke’s perm-loving (Yuck! Never again!) step-daughter and main accuser.
In the scene-stealing roles of Paulette’s ex-boyfriend Dewey, and the UPS guy Kyle who is described as “walking porn” (boom chicka boom boom), Chad Raven is adorable. Anyone who has seen Legally Blonde The Musical before waits for these two characters to appear as they are always a guaranteed good time.
As the Greek chorus, Cassidy Joseph, Lauren Wickerson (dance captain), and Jessie Dez are there for moral support, and to make sure Elle keeps things “Positive,” while encouraging her to slap Vivienne to the floor. Madeline Finkelman and LPAC favorite, Larry Toyter, appear as Elle’s mom and dad. She’s a day drinker, and he’s an avid golfer, but they do love their daughter and want the best for her even if Harvard is a place where “All the girls have different noses.”
Rounding out the cast of 29, if we include Bruiser and Rufus, and we definitely are, are Eli Flynn, Jennifer Fraser, Yasmine Harrell, Amanda Lopez, John Luis Mazuelos, Mikhael Mendoza, Sorangel Munoz, Brittni Taylor Rhodes, Cameron Jaye Scott, and Izaiah Scott in the ensemble and various speaking roles. Dana Gough who plays Elle’s environmentalist friend, Enid, also acted as the fight captain, although for the life of us, we can’t remember any physical combat.
Choreographer Alex Jorth must have had a blast here. You know you’re doing something right when the show’s signature song “Omigod You Guys” is not as memorable as the rest of the action including an Irish jig which can best be described as the Rockettes meet Riverdance. Behind-the-scenes standouts are Technical Director Richard Forbes, and Costume Designer Penelope Williams who we hope both like pink because they had to work with a lot of it.
The first few scenes were what can best be described as lackluster, and it was hard to make out some of the lyrics, which can happen with a pre-recorded soundtrack, but what the first act lacked was more than made up for in the second. We tend not to participate in standing ovations so as not to tip our hand, but it was impossible not to here. From the rousing “What You Want,” to the sadistic “Whipped Into Shape,” to the hysterical “Bend and Snap,” to the lovely “Ireland,” sung by Samara Shavrick who has a big beautiful voice, we were enthralled.
But just when you think there’s nowhere to go but down, comes “There! Right There!” and elevates the production to a whole new level when Elle figures out why the pool boy must be gay, and she ultimately saves the day. Santiago Garza as the hot young stud, Nikos, and Corey Vega as his “best friend” have a moment, and a sweet dance including pirouettes. We knew Alex Jorth couldn’t resist using one of his signature moves somewhere. It was lovely.
It’s human nature to make comparisons, and having seen this show at another South Florida venue, we have to. We’re not going to nitpick and say that …
They do have real animals playing Bruiser and Rufus (Lottie and Maxie), and you really have to see the face on Rufus (can we take him home?). Bruiser was a purse accessory in a few scenes, Rufus was either carried or on a leash, and they were totally absent in the finale. How cute was it though when Paulette sent Rufus off for a manicure, and we could hear his nails clicking on the floor as he walked off? Happy coincidence, or planned that way? We’ll give director Michael Ursua props regardless.
Or that by the time Elle and Emmett start to exude chemistry, they’re on their final number together, and that Stafford’s voice was a weak link. We know the character of Emmett lacks confidence, but at times it felt like Stafford did as well. To be fair, we loved him in LPAC’s last production, 9 to 5 the Musical though, and previously acknowledged the strong chemistry he had with that female co-star, so maybe Stafford was just having an off night.
Or that Kyle’s big moment with his “package” felt rushed. Would have liked more of a dance with extra spins and tosses, enough to know that Kyle and his package are, as we hope they are, in sync.
Or that yes, Legally Blonde The Musical takes place in 2003, but even still it’s probably time for the licensers (Music Theatre International) to retire that Richard Simmons joke, especially because the last few years of his life, and his death, were under very sad circumstances. It’s just not funny and in poor taste.
Legally Blonde The Musical is based on a novel written by Amanda Brown and the 2001 megahit film that spawned a host of merchandise and sequels, including the upcoming Legally Blonde 3, once again with Reese Witherspoon starring as Elle Woods. The 2007 Broadway musical with book by Heather Hach, and music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and her husband Laurence O’Keefe, was nominated for ten Drama Desk Awards and seven Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score.
Broadway at LPAC’s Artistic Director Ursua, doubles as director and musical director. Huge kudos to Ursua for the return of the overture, a mini-one yes, but enough for us to get excited, and be grateful for. Exactly how long has it been since we’ve heard one, whether with a live orchestra or pre-recorded music? Keep it up, and even longer next time please because at almost every musical, we rue the loss of the overture and swear at Stephen Sondheim, who is thought to be mostly responsible for the death of this once classic institution. Nice touch, Mr. Ursua, and yes, someone noticed. According to a 2023 Playbill article, slowly but surely, the overture may be making a comeback. We hope so, after all, everything old is new again. If there is one single thing we’d like to see more of (or rather hear more of!) in the upcoming 2025/2026 South Florida theatrical season, it’s this. To paraphrase Christopher Walken, “Fellas, I gotta have more overtures.”
There’s a moral in Legally Blonde The Musical, several actually, but don’t let that stop you from going, because they’re secondary to the excitement. Wear pink if you wish, but don’t feel obligated, because as it turns out, both Marilyns and Jackies are welcome and coexisting here. Just be warned if you still have PTSD from forced childhood perms at the beauty parlor with your mother, you’re going to have to suck it up.
Britin Haller is a mystery author and an editor for Turner Publishing. Her recent short story “So Many Shores in Crookland” can be read in the 150th issue of Black Cat Weekly. Britin’s latest edit, a cozy mystery novel called Dumpster Dying is by Michelle Bennington and available where books are sold. Find Britin across social media.
Legally Blonde The Musical runs through March 16 at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 N. 11th Place, Lauderhill (NE corner of US 441 and Sunrise Blvd); Shows are nightly Fri-Sat @ 7:30 p.m. with Wed, Thurs, Sat, and Sun matinees at 2 p.m. Run time of 135 minutes includes a 15-minute intermission. Tickets starting at $45. Call 954-777-2055, or visit www.lpacfl.com. Complimentary parking is easily accessible.
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