By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Out to prove pink can save the day, the Hays Community Theatre will present “Legally Blonde: The Musical” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Thomas More Prep-Marian Dreiling Theatre, 1701 Hall.
The production’s director, Alyssa Dawson, said the story of an underdog struggling to be taken seriously strikes a cord with most people.
“If I could have picked any show, I would have picked this one,” she said.
” ‘Legally Blonde’ follows the story of sorority president Elle Woods as she crosses the country on a mission to find love at Harvard Law School,” according to www.legallyblondethemusical.com. “After discovering how the law can be used to help others, she uses her new found skills to defend a workout queen in a murder trial, defying the odds and proving that pink can save the day.”
While the story is lighthearted, performing a musical production requires a lot of time and talent, something HCT volunteers happily provide.
The cast and crew have worked for about eight weeks to put the production together, Dawson said, adding arranging a musical is always a huge undertaking. After Dawson agreed to direct, a co-director, music director and stage manager were selected. Then the task of selecting a pit and cast began.
Dawson said performers were selected by who was the most willing and excited about the show.
“This has been a very dynamic cast. They are full of energy,” she said. “They are playing sorority girls, so they need that energy to make the show.”
Adding to the workload of preparing a musical production, the HCT has been preparing their new venue at 116 E. 11th. In the meantime, finding a rehearsal space added to the fun of preparations.
The group rehearsed in a rec-room above the garage of Gordon Schroeder, who will play Emmett in the production.
Even with a big group to accommodate, rehearsing in the space”was so much fun,” Dawson said. “We all thumped and bumped around there.”
Despite the heavy workload – including two-hour rehearsals five days a week and every day during production week – Dawson said the cast and crew are happy to put in the work.
“Community theater is about having a willingness to be apart of something,” she said, adding it’s something special “to give your time and energy to create something that is fantastic.”
“I am grateful for all the people I’ve had to make this production happen,” Dawson said.
” ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ opened on Broadway in 2007. Based on the 2001 novel by Amanda Brown and the subsequent MGM film of the same name, the show was a popular addition to the 2007 Broadway season,” according to the musical’s website.
—————————-Full Cast—————————–
Elle Woods – Megan Zeman
Paulette Bonafante – Tonia Carr
Emmett – Gordon Schroeder
Warner Huntington III – Cody Kreutzer
Vivienne – Haileigh Jacobs
Callahan – Jerrett Leiker
Greek Chorus:
Serena – Raeanna Peacock
Pilar – Abigail Staab
Margot – Anniston Weber
Kate (Delta Nu)/Stenographer – Hannah Keil
Gaelen (Delta Nu)- Becca Channell
Leilani (Delta Nu) – Anna Hahn
Delta Nu Girl/Bookish Client – Bethany Staab
Delta Nu/Inmate/Workout girl – Megan Karst
Brooke – Sheri Bedore
Enid – Michele Foster
Sundeep Padamadan/Nikos – Lucas Diehl
Aaron Schultz/TV Reporter – Ryan Hammerschmidt
Store Manager/Winthrop/Judge – Anna Towns
Grandmaster Chad/Carlos – Nathan Goodwin
Elle’s Mom/Dana/Cashier(Laker Girl/Stage Manager – Kelli Kirmer
Chutney/Whitney – Brandi Watson
Dewey/Guard/Pforzlowell (Pforzheimer and Lowell combined) – Tom Mai
Snotty Salesgirl/Prosecutor/H&H Salesgirl – Dhani Caldwell
Kyle/Jet Blue Pilot – David Koshiol
Little sister/Band Leader – Natalie Loftus