Tickets are now on sale for Selkirk Secondary’s production of Legally Blonde, which opens at McKim Theatre on May 21st. The cast has been busy for months, the orchestra is already hard at work, and dozens of behind-the-scenes helpers are putting together costumes, props, and set-pieces for what promises to be a great production.
Audiences may remember the 2001 movie staring Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a not-very-serious UCLA senior who goes to Harvard law in search of love and ends up realizing that she is capable of incredible things. Legally Blonde the movie was made into a musical which opened on Broadway in 2007 and London’s West End in 2010. Kimberley audiences will be treated to a hilarious and fun production with great music, dancing, and acting.
Selkirk’s production will see the return of many actors who graced the stage in Les Misérables, which ran at McKim Theatre in February 2013. Clara MacLeod (Enjolras in Les Mis) will return to play the lead role of Elle Woods. Gustaf Hagland (Jean Valjean) will return as Warner Huntington, the man whose dumping of Elle Woods in the opening scenes inspires her to head to Harvard Law to prove herself. Aria Siega, Brooke Janzer, and Courtney Crawford play Elle’s three best friends from UCLA, Serena, Pilar, and Margot. Gaetan Boue (Javert in Les Mis) returns as Callahan, the slightly sinister law professor at Harvard. Jordan Anderson (Mme. Thenardier) returns as fitness queen and possible husband-murderer Brooke Wyndham. Gemma Remple (Fantine) returns to the stage as the incredibly quirky hair stylist Paulette Buonafonte. New to the stage this year are Allison Stoddart, Drew Lyall, Joey Raymond, Jason Van Zyl, and Mac Ramsay, who plays Emmett Forest, intern and T.A. to Professor Callahan, and Elle’s friend and possible love interest at Harvard.
The orchestra will have many familiar faces for Kimberley audiences, including several excellent players from the Kimberley Community Band, and all four fantastic musicians from Cranbrook-based The littlejazz Orchestra. With 18 players in all, including winds, strings, and a full rhythm section, this orchestra will do a fantastic job of the great music from this show. Also especially exciting for directors Bob McCue and Sven Heyde is the fact that two of the student actors, Courtney Crawford and Clara MacLeod, are also choreographing the show. Both are doing exceptional jobs teaching their cast-mates some intricate dance moves.
Legally Blonde runs at McKim Theatre from May 21-24 and tickets are now on sale at McKim School in Cranbrook and Lotus Books in Kimberley. Tickets are $12, with $5 student tickets on Thursday night the 22nd, and $5 seniors’ tickets for the matinée on Saturday the 24th.s