Every year, Moorestown High School Theater produces two theatrical works — a fall play and a spring musical. Following the philosophical, serious nature of “Our Town,” this year’s spring musical is more upbeat and comedic. MHS Theater is presenting “Legally Blonde: The Musical” starting on Thursday, Feb. 28, in Moorestown High School’s auditorium.
Derived from the popular movie featuring Reese Witherspoon (Elle Woods) as the protagonist, “Legally Blonde,” the musical, is amusing, theater director Greg Harr said.
“We wanted to do something upbeat and fun. It makes it a better experience for the students,” Harr said.
“We did ‘Our Town’ in the fall, which was deep, heavy and serious. We wanted something a little bit more upbeat.”
In the musical, Elle Woods, played by senior Kelly DelDuca, recently graduated from UCLA with major in fashion merchandizing. Elle is expecting to be engaged to her long-time boyfriend Warner, played by senior Zach Latino. He unexpectedly breaks up with her, goes off to Harvard Law School, and Elle does everything she can to get him back.
“She decided to win him back. She is going to work hard, she is going to get accepted into Harvard Law School, follow him and prove how serous she is,” Harr said.
When comparing the musical to the movie, Harr said the musical is catchier.
“The movie stands very well by itself. But the music is catchy. It’s enjoyable the first time you hear it.
“The music is stuck in your head in a good way,” he said.
The musical, like the movie, will also have two dogs as part of the performance — Elle’s dog Bruiser, a pampered Chihuahua, and Paulette’s dog, Rufus.
Harr said both dogs belong to students.
“It’s always fun seeing a dog on stage,” he said.
With 54 students on the cast, 18 in the orchestra, and 25 to 30 behind the scenes, Harr said the levels of experience on stage vary.
“Students who are in the musical might be in their 20th show, and there are some students where this is the first show they have ever done,” he said.
Senior Nicole Varela is witnessing the play in a different light. Instead of in the audience, she is on stage in the performance.
Harr said Nicole was primarily involved in athletics.
“Participating in a school play had been something I wanted to do throughout high school. Just as a high school goal. I am a senior this year so it’s kind of my last opportunity,” Nicole said, adding she is nervous about being on stage for the first time.
Nicole, playing Brooke — “a fitness queen accused of murder” — said when she saw the casting call for “Legally Blonde: The Musical” she wanted to be a part of the performance.
“Somehow, I am a pretty good jump roper. I got the part of Brooke — she is the workout woman on trial.
“I wooed them over with my athletic jump roping skills,” she said jokingly.
She is counting the days until opening day. But unlike Nicole, this is not Rhy Scheibe’s first performance.
Performing in four spring musicals and three fall plays, Rhys said his performance in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” as Emmett Forrest is different from his performance in “Our Town” as the stage manager.
“It’s been really fun. Just earlier this year we did ‘Our Town.’ That was just a really fun role for me to kind of explore a lot of philosophy,” Rhys said. “That show made me think a lot, and I really enjoyed that.
“I think this one, obviously doesn’t have as much philosophical weight, but I think it’s a really fun show.”
Between the crew preparing costumes and designing sets, to the cast perfecting their dancing, singing and acting before the opening performance, Harr said the idea behind the school performances is about more than having fun.
Students learn about acting, stage management, set construction, costumes and more. But to add to the learning experience, Harr said “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” like the other plays performed at the high school, has a positive message.
“In the end, Elle learns to be herself. She doesn’t need to change to impress other people, and to be someone she is not to get other people to like her. It’s done in a very funny way, but it’s really a good thing for young people and for any audience to understand,” he said.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” will be performed on Feb. 28, March 1, 2, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. A free performance for seniors will be held on Wednesday, March 6, at noon. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. To order tickets visit www.showtix4u.com, call 778–6610 or email jranson@mtps.com. Moorestown High School is located at 350 Bridgeboro Road.
