Hart and Rockwell Join 'Legally Blonde' Cast

 It was announced today that Nicolette Hart (Rent) and Kate Rockwell (NBC's "Grease: You're The One That I Want) will join the cast of Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL in May.  Ms. Hart will take over the role of Brooke Wyndham on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 and Ms. Rockwell will perform the role of Margot starting Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

The musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets) on April 29, 2007 following preview performances that began on April 3, 2007 and just recently celebrated its one year anniversary.  At the helm of the creative team of Legally Blonde is Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, who makes his Broadway directorial debut and also choreographs. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach.  James Sampliner serves as music director.

Heading the cast of Legally Blonde is Laura Bell Bundy, as Elle Woods, who "makes the role her own with force-of-nature confidence, touching vulnerability and genuine warmth (Variety)." Joining her are Christian Borle as Emmett, Orfeh as Paulette, Richard H. Blake as Warner, Kate Shindle as Vivienne and Michael Rupert as Professor Callahan.   Also featured in the cast are: Haven Burton (Margot until Sunday, May 11), Tracy Jai Edwards (Serena), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Pilar), Natalie Joy Johnson (Enid), Nathan Balser, April Berry, Paul Canaan, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Beth Curry, Amber Efé, Tiffany Engen, Stephanie Fittro, Gaelen Gilliland, Jason Gillman, Becky Gulsvig, Rod Harrelson, Manuel Herrera, Andy Karl, Nick Kenkel, Michelle Kittrell, Rusty Mowery, Kevin Pariseau, Matthew Risch, Bryce Ryness, Dani
Spieler and Casey Leigh Thompson.

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer.  So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award.  The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007.

In an unprecedented partnership, on October 13, 2007, MTV premiered Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL in its entirety and reached over 12.5 million viewers, and ranked #1 in its time period among P12-34 across all of television.  The special included a behind-the-scenes look at the musical and a Pink Carpet extravaganza hosted by the cast of "The Hills" live from the Palace Theatre in NYC.  After the success of "Legally Blonde The Musical", MTV will once again join forces with the Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL team this time to search for a talented singer/ actress/ dancer to take over for Broadway star and Tony Nominated current lead Laura Bell Bundy.   The show is called "Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods." The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.  Legally Blonde is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.All tickets ($121.50-$41.50) can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 212-307-4100, or in person at the Palace Theatre box office, 1564 Broadway.  For information on Elle's Lounge VIP Experience, please visit www.Broadway.com or www.EllesLounge.com.  The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and Sunday at 7pm.

Nicolette Hart (Brooke Wyndham) Broadway:  RENT, The Wedding Singer. National Tours: Will Rogers Follies, Civil War, Stand By Your Man. European Tour: Grease. Regional: A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Little Shop of Horrors, Always, Patsy Cline. Workshops include Catch Me If You Can, Rock of Ages, Cry-Baby, Mask, and Pure Country.  Nicolette is proud to have been one of Bette Midler's Harlettes, touring the U.S. and Australia with the "Kiss My Brass" Tour.

Kate Rockwell (Margot) Broadway debut. TV/Film: Sex and the City: The Movie, "Grease: You're the One that I Want". Favorite regional credits include High School Musical (NSMT), Phantom, A Funny Thing....., Beauty and the Beast, The Last 5 Years, Anything Goes.