Bailey Hanks to Reprise Elle Woods in Diablo's LEGALLY BLONDE

Bailey Hanks, who dazzled audiences as Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde, The Musical" on Broadway will repeat the lead role in Diablo Theatre Company's production of the show next February, the company announced today.

"This is a major coup for us and we couldn't be more excited to have a Broadway headliner like Bailey in our East Bay premiere of the high energy show," said Daren A.C. Carollo, Diablo Theatre Company's Artistic Director. "A grant from the Diablo Regional Arts Association helped make this a reality."

Hanks won the role in "Legally Blonde, The Musical" after a nationwide search and audition process aired on MTV. She performed the show at Broadway's Palace Theatre until it closed in October of 2008.

She later starred in "Disney's High School Musical" at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey and has a recurring role on the soap opera "Guiding Light."

The musical premiered in San Francisco in 2007, then moved to Broadway with Laura Bell Bundy as the star. Hanks replaced her in July of 2008. "I am thrilled to be joining Diablo Theatre Company and recreating the role of Elle Woods," said Hanks. "The show holds a special place in my heart and I jumped at the chance to do it again."

"Legally Blonde, The Musical," based on the 2001 film of the same name, will open February 10, 2012 for 14 performances in the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. The show revolves around Elle Woods who totally does not take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her, Elle puts down the credit card, heads to Harvard Law and finds out that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski