You’re probably familiar with the comedic saga Legally Blonde, in which West Coast sorority sister Elle Woods chases love across the country to Harvard Law School.
From top-selling novel, to movie, to televised Broadway musical, to reality TV show, this story has had its fair share of tellings throughout recent years. Soon, students at Bordentown Regional High School will present their own take on the pink-loving ingénue’s Ivy League journey as they produce Legally Blonde: the Musical in March. Under the direction of faculty member Stacie Morano, BRHS will be the first high school in New Jersey to present the musical. “The students have been asking to do this one since it was on Broadway a few years ago,” Morano said. When the rights for amateur productions were released in the fall, the staff jumped on the opportunity. With a variety of prior adaptations to utilize as resources, students have had the option to refer to previous characterizations to help mold their own performances. Senior Chris Bey, who plays Elle’s love interest Warner, watched both the film and the Broadway production before auditions. “It’s a very fun and enjoyable show, and watching it be performed helps me prepare,” he said. Megan Sirak, also a senior, plays quirky hairdresser Paulette and has opted to take a fresh approach to the role. “I had seen the movie and I got to see the stage version on Broadway, but I’ve avoided watching them recently because I want to have my own take on the character,” she said. Translating a tale that audiences recognize through its big budget incarnations to the high school stage does come with challenges. “By doing a musical based on a movie, you tend to be faced with the problem of many locations and with having to make scene changes that were made by motorized means on Broadway, but that we need to find ways of doing manually,” Morano said. “I’m pretty proud of our crew and cast for finding creative ways to meet these challenges.” As for senior Arden Walker, a brunette, she has a simple solution to transforming into the blonde Elle Woods. “I’m definitely going with a wig. It’s very nice and natural looking,” she promised. Don’t miss Legally Blonde: the Musical at the Bordentown Performing Arts Center (attached to Bordentown Regional High School), 318 Ward Ave. in Bordentown. Performances are March 1, 2, and 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. They may be purchased at the door or in advance online at seatyourself.biz/brhs. –Mike Steele
You’re probably familiar with the comedic saga Legally Blonde
