Lewis, DiRoma Cast in The Gateway's LEGALLY BLONDE Thru July 9

The Gateway is pleased to announce the cast and the creative team for "Legally Blonde: The Musical," playing from June 22-July 9 at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport.

This perky musical, nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2007, is adapted from the 2001 MGM film of the same name, starring Reese Witherspoon and Luke Wilson. The story originally appeared in a novel by Amanda Brown, a graduate of Stanford Law School.

Legally Blonde is staged by Director/Choreographer Tom Kosis, whose most recent Broadway credits include resident choreographer for "Mary Poppins" and associate director for the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of "Bye Bye Birdie." As a performer, he was part of the original Broadway production of "A Chorus Line" and the 1993 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady."

Kosis is accompanied on the creative team by music director Justin S. Fischer. Fischer served as music director for last season's "I Love a Piano," "Altar Boyz" and "Avenue Q" at The Gateway.

Ruby Lewis is making her Gateway debut as Elle Woods. Lewis recently co-starred on the ABC series "Brothers and Sisters" and the NBC series "Medium," and has toured nationally with "Grease" and "Gypsy." She is joined by Brent Michael DiRoma as Emmett. DiRoma was nominated for a 2011 Helen Hayes Award and will be familiar to Gateway audiences from his portrayal of Tony in this season's "West Side Story."

Paul Jackel plays Professor Callahan. Jackel's credits include the original Broadway production of "The Secret Garden," the off-Broadway revival of "The Fantasticks" and the national tour of "Legally Blonde: The Musical."

Jacqueline Colmer and Gwen Hollander also make their respective returns to The Gateway as Serena and Margot. Colmer played Linda in The Gateway's 2008 production of "The Wedding Singer" and has acted in the national tours of "South Pacific" and "Grease." Colmer's regional credits include the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The Papermill PlayhousE. Hollander was Kate Monster in The Gateway's "Avenue Q" and has appeared in the national tours of "Little Women," "Titanic" and "Footloose," as well as the HBO mini-series "From the Earth to the Moon."

After touring nationally with "Grease" and "Hairspray," Long Island native Matt Nolan makes his first appearance at The Gateway as Kyle, the UPS guy. Nolan was a top six finalist on the 2007 NBC reality series "Grease: You're the One that I Want." Gateway newcomers Kelcy Griffin will play the role of Pilar and Ruth Pferdehirt will play the role of Paulette Bonafonté.

Bruiser and Paulette's bulldog Rufus are cast from William Berloni's Theatrical Animals, which has rescued numerous shelter animals and trained them for film, television, and theatre roles for over 30 years. The company's founder and namesake was the recipient of a 2011 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre for providing animals to over a dozen Broadway productions, including "Legally Blonde." Berloni's dogs continued the roles of Bruiser and Rufus on the national tour.

The Gateway's 2011 season continues with "Monty Python's Spamalot" from July 13-30 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, "Sunset Boulevard" from Aug. 3-20 and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" from Aug. 24-Sept.11 in Bellport.

The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County seeks to provide theatre of the highest caliber to audiences within the Long Island region and beyond. It continues the tradition established by the Gateway Playhouse over its past 62 years of service and remains Long Island's longest running professional theatre.

For tickets, performance times, and other inquiries call (631)-286-1133 or 1-888-4TIXNOW, or visit www.gatewayplayhouse.org.

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