TV Exclusive: MTV's Search For The New Elle Woods! - Featuring Laura Bell Bundy and Haylie Duff

Just moments ago, MTV made the official announcement that Haylie Duff is set to host the "Seach For The New Elle Woods" which will air this spring. BroadwayWorld.com brings you this exclusive interview with Laura Bell Bundy and Haylie backstage at the Palace Theater!

The first cable network to televise a musical in its entirety, MTV will follow the success of its "Legally Blonde The Musical" special by again partnering with the musical team for the reality competition series "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search For Elle Woods," premiering Monday, June 2nd at 10p.m. ET/PT. Actress Haylie Duff ("7th Heaven," Hairspray on Broadway and Napoleon Dynamite) stars in and executive produces alongside Reveille, the eight-episode series which will provide an authentic first-hand look at what it takes to star in a Broadway musical. Viewers will follow 10 "triple-threat" hopefuls as they vie for the ultimate shot at stardom: the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to star on Broadway at the Palace Theatre and replace the Tony Award nominated Laura Bell Bundy in the leading role of "Elle Woods" in Legally Blonde The Musical, which is based on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture's (MGM) hit film "Legally Blonde."

Week-to-week a nation of fans will watch the drama unfold as these talented young women embark on a grueling and high-stakes season-long audition. The series will provide a genuine glimpse into just how difficult it can be to headline a musical as the contestants receive direction from and ace challenges provided by the very creative team involved with Legally Blonde The Musical. On hand to show the ladies just what it takes to succeed in the show will be the musical's director and Tony Award winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who will serve as the final word on who will star nightly on his stage; associate director Marc Bruni; associate choreographer Denis Jones; and cast members including Laura Bell Bundy the original, Tony Award nominated "Elle Woods" of Broadway, Nikki Snelson (the original "Brooke Wyndham"), Orfeh ("Paulette") and Richard H. Blake ("Warner Huntington III"). As they progress, the ladies will have to learn the musical's dance routines and songs all while giving their all in around-the-clock rehearsals and workshops. As they navigate the obstacles involved with getting their theater dreams off the ground, they will learn to deal with being both competitors and roommates as they live together in a New York City loft.

An emerging Broadway actress in her own right, Duff will be on-hand with renowned theater vocal coach Seth Rudetsky to provide some much-needed guidance as the contestants face critiques from a panel of expert judges filled with some of the theater industry's most respected names. Serving as judges for the series in which they will jumpstart one lucky young woman's theater career are legendary casting director Bernard Telsey; Legally Blonde The Musical's Tony Award nominated book writer Heather Hach; and Original Broadway cast member of Legally Blonde The Musical Paul Canaan. This J-Team made up of judges and Jerry Mitchell - not America - will decide who the next "Elle Woods" will be.

Beginning May 5, MTV.com will add to the fun by going platinum blonde with exclusive show content and extras. Viewers will be able to log onto LegallyBlonde.MTV.com to see cast profiles, photos, audition reels and performances; get info on Haylie Duff and the series judges; watch full episodes and the series trailer; and check-out deleted show scenes and episodic flipbooks exclusive to MTV.com.

"Legally Blonde The Musical" premiered on MTV on October 13, 2007 as a behind-the-scenes special and reached over 12.5 million viewers during its premiere weekend. The special marked the first time a cable network aired a full-length musical in its entirety. In April 2008, the MTV special received two 35th Annual Daytime Emmy ® Award nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the categories of "Outstanding Special Class Special" and "Outstanding Special Class Directing."