It’s loud. It’s fun. It’s pink -- it’s “Legally Blonde The Musical.”
Based on the comedy film by the same name, the show opens next Thursday at Regional Theatre of the Palouse in Pullman. The story follows Elle Woods (Devinne Schultz, Pullman and alternate, Berklee Child, Pullman), a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. There, she challenges stereotypes, defies expectations and realizes her potential by staying true to herself.
“The feel is like a pink cloud,” said John Rich, director. “It’s very bright. Lighting, set, everything -- it’s bright.”
The cast of around 30 is young, experienced and full of energy. So are the four-legged cast members -- that’s right, there are a couple dogs that appear in the show. Audiences can look forward to plenty of scene changes, plenty of wardrobe changes and plenty of slightly-outdated technology -- because who had smartphones in 2001?
“It’s a big show; there’s lots of detail,” said Rich.
There’s a lot of singing and a lot of dancing. The story is set in the early 2000s, and the musical was written in 2007, which means it’s not your old school Broadway musical.
“It’s definitely not Roger and Hammerstein,” he said. “It’s fast paced. There’s about a million scene changes -- it just keeps moving.”
But there’s more to the story than glam, fun and believing in yourself. The show also subtly takes up the issue of sexual harassment and faces gender stereotypes head on. People thought Elle was a real ditz, Rich said, and she’s not.
“It’s a very current topic,” said Rich. “With our smaller venue, we can go beneath and show the deeper side of the story. That’s what makes it really special for me. To explore these topics with the cast -- along with the fun and the big production.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: “Legally Blonde The Musical”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15-17, 21-24 and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17-18, 24-25
WHERE: Regional Theatre of the Palouse, 122 N. Grand Ave., Pullman
COST: $20/person; purchase advance tickets by calling (509) 334-0750 or at www.rtoptheatre.org
