School presents ‘Legally Blonde’

Leonardtown, MD – Leonardtown High School (LHS) is presenting an electrifying production of Legally Blonde (music and lyrics by Benjamin and O’Keefe, book by Heather Hoch, based on the 2001 movie, and the novel by Amanda Brown) weekends through April 24. Directed by LHS instructors Guy Barbato and Randy Tusing with technical direction provided by Guy Barbato, the enthusiastic and talented cast and crew gives a high-energy performance from start to curtain.

Show dates are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. with a Saturday matinee on April 16 at 1 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. in the LHS auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students, $8 for adults, and for more information you may contact www.LHSTheatre.org.

Legally Blonde originally premiered in San Francisco, CA. The show moved to Broadway in April of 2007 and received seven Tony award nominations.
The extraordinary LHS set boasts musicians, under the direction of LHS Music Instructor Kylie Oosterink and LHS Orchestra Conductor Hunter Martin, impressively perched atop the brick “box” in full view of the audience. Master Carpenter and LHS Senior Kathleen Atkinson has done a superb job with the massive set construction.

Choreography credits go to LHS Art Instructor Randy Tusing, who keeps the action moving at a fast pace throughout. The diction of the soloists and the ensemble is enviable; every word can be understood (hats off to choral director Kylie Oosterink).

The high level of camaraderie is evident among the students in their demeanor both on, and offstage. In short, this is not your typical “high school musical”.

Participating musicians are Hunter Martin (Piano I), Diane Trautman (Piano II),  Vivian Phan (Piano III), Amanda Hampton (Violin), Hannah Argobright (Bass), Paige Marino, Bianca Melton and Caelick Bradley (Clarinets), Melissa Trick, Jessica Reinhart and Natalie Mroz (Flutes), Anthony Parker (Alto Sax), Julia Webster (Tenor Sax), Logan Powdrill (Baritone Sax),  Riley Walsh and Cheyenne Hegedus (Trumpets), Victoria Suntich (Trombone), Eileen Fowler (Tuba), and Percussionists Kyle Wilkinson, Andrew Bowles, Jordan Killian, Chris McCauley, Aaron Wescott and Tyler Turner.

In a role made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the movie version, leading lady Lauren Drewello gives a stellar singing-dancing-acting interpretation of Elle Woods. Lauren is a veteran performer at LHS and last year portrayed Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. She was the winner of the Triple Notch Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Phila in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with the Newtowne Players at the Three Notch Theatre last summer. She will be attending Montclair State University in the fall as a Musical theatre major. She is clearly in command of her role and performs with vivaciousness and poise. The multi-talented Miss Drewello also assisted with Publicity and costumes for the show.

The storyline tracks Elle and the various adventures she experiences on her path to success beginning with being jilted by boyfriend Warner over dinner at a fancy restaurant; she expected a proposal while they were being romantically serenaded by lovely solo violinist Jenny Wall. She decides to follow Warner to Harvard Law School in an effort to win him back. As the story progresses, she will successfully defend workout Queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial, achieving remarkable self-confidence along the way to graduating at the top of her class, and finding her own true love.

The ensemble of Elle’s supportive girlfriends delivers the dynamic opening number, “Ohmigod You Guys.” Elle then meets her lawyer-in-training colleagues on her first day at Harvard.

Professor Callahan (Bradley Oosterink) gives a convincing performance as the authoritative instructor, inspiring fear among his students through a chilling rendition of “Blood in the Water.” Emmett (Eric Stoneman) befriends Elle; jealous colleague Vivienne, now Warner’s new girlfriend, manages to get Elle thrown out of Callahan’s class. Freshman Sophia O’Yenik takes the role of Vivienne in her debut with the Rose Players and pairs well with her love interest Warner, played by Senior Chris Limjuco.

The “tragedy” of Elle’s breakup with Warner prompts the apparition of her “Greek Chorus” Delta Nu sorority sisters, seen and heard only by her. Girlfriends Margot (Erin Carpenter), Serena (Sophia Campbell), and Pilar (Tori Kraese) along with the singing and dancing Delta Nus, continue their dynamite delivery style with each of their musical numbers.

Depressed, Elle visits Paulette Buonofuonte’s hair salon, desiring to change her looks and become a brunette in order to be taken more seriously in law school. Paulette puts on a CD of Celtic music (voiced by Sophomore Laura Ponturiero’s sweet soprano). Paulette (Alyssa Dyson) is of Italian-Irish descent and delivers a standout solo with her powerful voice and crystal-clear diction in the ballad “Ireland” her poignant song ends with her desire to send her love to a leprechaun. She convinces Elle to remain a blonde. LHS Senior Miss Dyson joins her co-star Lauren Drewello in giving a truly polished performance.

Elle leaves the salon in order to attend a costume party dressed as a Playboy Bunny only to find that – surprise! – She has been tricked; she is the only one in costume. She does draw the attention of ex-boyfriend Warner but it is her new colleague, Emmett, who takes an interest in her, insisting that she must “get serious”.

And she dutifully does—foregoing Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in order to study. She and Emmett team up as lawyers to re-claim Paulette’s dogs from her former love interest, Dewey (junior Nathan Finch). The two canines in the show are extremely well-disciplined and know all their cues! Moose Tucker, as Bruiser Woods makes his debut with the Rose Players in this, his personal dream role. Ginger Kraese plays Rufus and is honored to have been cast after surviving a grueling audition process.

Act I ends as Warner proposes to Vivienne right in front of Elle; but Elle declares in the act’s closing number that she is “So Much Better Now”.

Act II opens with the ensemble vigorously singing and dancing to Fitness Queen Brooke’s instructions (“Whipped into Shape”); the scene then segues to Brooke in jail, sporting her orange prison-issued jumpsuit. Emmett and interns Elle, Enid, and Warner visit Brooke in order to secure a plea bargain; Brooke dismisses them saying that she needs a legal team who knows she is innocent. By a quirk of fate, Brooke and Elle discover that they are sorority sisters and Brooke reveals her secret alibi – but only to Elle on the condition that she repeats it to no one. Brooke is beautifully acted and sung by Senior Megan Conway in her third year with the Rose Players; she also serves as Publicity Assistant for the show. She is a voice student of Dr. Sandra Jarrett. Enid is played by Junior Anna Williams who gives a self-confidant performance as a veteran of the Rose Players.

Elle takes the somewhat shy and sensitive Emmett to a department store in an effort to update his professional look with a clothing makeover. Senior Eric Stoneman’s modest cast bio makes no mention of his role just last month in LHS’s Never Swim Alone. His meticulous attention to detailed character development is again evident with his role as Emmett, and he demonstrates his pleasing singing voice.

Elle pays a return visit to Paulette’s salon. Jake Dodges, as the UPS deliveryman, Kyle, has a hilarious walk-on role where he basically just walks on and off-stage two or three times, but manages to steal the show each time. He is probably onstage for a total of less than five minutes, but this is long enough to engage the entire company in an Irish Riverdance.

A trio from Elle’s Greek Chorus shows up, soon joined by the full Greek Chorus, as well as the salon customers to teach Paulette Elle’s sexy “bend and snap” technique which they encourage Paulette to demonstrate to Kyle. Paulette becomes extremely adept at this move (after all, she’s been taught by expert bend-and-snapper, Elle herself); Kyle unfortunately ends up on the receiving end of her “snap”.

In Court, Emmett’s new makeover is noticed by Prof. Callahan who praises him for “looking sharp”. The standout musical number “Gay, or European?” becomes “Gay AND European” as the murder trial gets underway. The audience again has the opportunity to hear Brian Flood in a brief solo as the relationship between the pool boy Nikos (Junior Grady Heveron) and Carlos is finally exposed to the jury. Brian, an LHS sophomore, appears as Aaron and as Carlos, creating two totally different characters; this is his fifth LHS show.

After an unfortunate run-in with Professor Callahan, Elle says goodbye to Emmett and plans to return to California. Elle pays a farewell visit to Paulette (here’s where the Irish dancing comes in, to Paulette’s delight!) and Elle decides to return to Court to defend Brooke.

Elle has the Courtroom adjourn to the shower in the Wyndham house (the scene of the crime) to check out Brooke’s stepdaughter’s alibi of “being in the shower” when her father was murdered. Under Elle’s intense questioning, Chutney Wyndham makes a slip of the tongue(letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak) and receives her comeuppance as Elle is lauded by all for her intelligence in solving the case.

Legally Blonde’s talented principals and ensemble members also include: (with special thanks to Maddie Oosterink for providing additional program notes) -Freshman Alexis Barton, Senior Lindsey Baylor (Elle’s Mom/Ensemble); Freshman Sophia Campbell (Serena), Junior Erin Carpenter (Margot), Freshman Kelly Carpenter (Delta Nu), Junior Katharine Cognard-Black (Ensemble), Senior Aliyah English (Delta Nu, Senior Kenny Faison (Sundeep Padamadan), Sophomore Kristina Faison (Judge/Ensemble), Sophomore Collin Foster (Elle’s Dad/Ensemble), Freshman Daelyn Funk (Ensemble), Sophomore Morgan Hall (Delta Nu), Sophomore Katie Hancock (Delta Nu), Senior Trinity Helm (Whitney/Ensemble), Senior Will Hooper (Ensemble) in his second LHS show (Will becomes a member of the Thespian Society this spring), Junior Gwendolyn Horton (Kate), Freshman Matthew Howe (Ensemble), Freshman Katy Kindley (Delta Nu), Senior Tori Kraese (Pilar), Junior Hanbyul Lee (Ensemble), Senior Tia LePore (Delta Nu), Freshman Jacquelyn Lewis (Ensemble), Freshman Lauryn Paradis (Delta Nu), Sophomore Laney Picon (Ensemble), Freshman Madysen Richardon, Senior Scott Scriber (Grandmaster Chad/Ensemble), Junior Alanna Stefano (Ensemble), Junior Raymart Tuazon (Ensemble), Senior Abby Tucker (Delta Nu), Junior Jenny Walls (Ensemble), Sophomore Hailey Withrow (Delta Nu), and Senior Lauryn Young.

Also contributing to the success of Legally Blonde are the following Crew Heads: Junior Shannon Collins (Stage Manager), Senior Talia Harvey (Running Crew Head), Senior Christina Henderson (Makeup/Hair Designer), Senior Tyler Immel (Sound Designer), Senior Brooke Simpson (Co-House Manager, and Junior Paige Stone (Lighting Designer. Additional credit goes to: Lighting Crew members Taylor Thorsen, Devlin Storts and Jordan McClafferty, Assistant Sound Technician Connor Heveron, Property Managers Kelly Carpenter and Lauryn Paradis, Property Crew member Justin Bose, House Managers Brooke Simpson and Emily Maack, House Crew members Dani Brooks, Thomas Hall, Alexis Strickland and Meghan Scassero, Costume Designer Trinity Helm, Costume Crew members Laura Ponturiero, Kenny Faison, Abby Tucker, Will Hooper and Tia LePore,  and to Running Crew members Aubri Wallo, Meghan Scassero, Devlin Storts, Kathleen Atkinson, Charlie Bazemore, Robert Artiga, Jake Dodges, John McCleaf, Jared Mathe, Justin Bose, Christina Henderson, Erin Vance and Ryan Williams.