Maine State Music Theatre Presents LEGALLY BLONDE, Now thru 7/14

Maine State Music Theatre continues its 54th season with everyone's favorite sorority girl, Elle Woods. LEGALLY BLONDE the musical opens at the Pickard Theater tonight, June 27th and runs until July 14th. Tickets are available online at www.msmt.org, over the phone at (207) 725- 8769, or by visiting the box office located in the Pickard Theater lobby at 1 Bath Road in Brunswick. Ticket prices range from $36 to $59.

With a Bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising from UCLA, a recommendation from Oprah Winfrey, and extra curricular activities like President of Delta Nu Sorority, founder of the charity 'Shop for a Cause', and Sigma Sweetheart, Elle Woods decides to follow her heart to… Harvard Law School. Belle of the ball, Elle doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the popular 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, LEGALLY BLONDE the musical combines all the original whit and charm with ingenious song and dance. Veteran MSMT director, Marc Robin, heads this production as director and choreographer. Robin's previous credits at MSMT include productions of CATS, The Producers, Spamalot and Annie. Robin is also Artistic Director at The Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but has been spending time directing at MSMT for the past seven summers.

Starring as Elle Woods at MSMT is Broadway's Alex Ellis. Ellis recently starred in a new musical version of the film Catch Me If You Can and performed with Harry Connick Jr. in On A Clear Day I Can See ForeveR. Ellis is no stranger to MSMT audiences. She made quite an impression as Penny Pingleton in MSMT's 2007 production of Hairspray and as the lead character Natalie in the 2008 production of All Shook Up.

Also returning to Brunswick in this production are MSMT fan favorites Charis Leos and Curt Dale Clark. Leos has been performing with MSMT for seven seasons, most memorably as Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Mama Morton in Chicago and Miss Hannigan in last season's Annie. Leos plays beautician Paulette, Elle's new friend and confidant in Cambridge. Later in the summer, Leos will also recreate her popular performance at MSMT as Louise in a concert version of Always… Patsy Cline. Curt Dale Clark already stars as Zach in MSMT's 2012 production of A Chorus Line and will take on the role of Kyle the UPS guy in LEGALLY BLONDE. Clark has been with MSMT for six seasons and was highly acclaimed as The Beast in MSMT's 2006 production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Several MSMT veterans join Ellis, Leos and Clark in LEGALLY BLONDE. Among them are Jessica Lee Goldyn who previously made a splash in Brunswick as Polly in Crazy for You; Brian Michael Hoffman, otherwise remembered as Cupid in MSMT's 2011 production of Xanadu; and Chuck Ragsdale who was Leo Bloom in MSMT's The Producers and Rooster in last season's Annie. Goldyn takes on the role of exercise guru, Brooke Windam, who's on trial for the murder of her husband. Hoffman takes on several roles in LEGALLY BLONDE including Elle's father and schoolmate Dewey. Ragsdale plays Emmet Forrest, the handsome Harvard Law graduate who helps Elle find her confidence.

Additional MSMT vets Buddy Reeder, Nicky Venditti and Birdie Newman Katz join the cast. Reeder and Venditti move into the cast of LEGALLY BLONDE straight from roles in A Chorus Line. Previously Reeder was a featured tap dancer in MSMT's Xanadu and Venditti was part of MSMT's 2007 production of West Side Story. Katz rejoins MSMT after a few seasons on hiatus while touring with Fiddler on the Roof and recently finished a regional production of Music Man in Indiana. Katz plays Elle's Mom.

Rounding out the cast are some new faces at MSMT. Courtney Romano, a Barrymore Award nominee for her starring role in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Media Theatre, plays Elle's sorority pal Serena. Lara Hayhurst from the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie plays Margot and Emmeline Wood portrays Pilar. Lauren Blackman, who just finished recording the cast album of a new musical Next Thing You Know, makes her MSMT debut as Elle's nemesis Vivienne Kensington. Ken Land also makes his MSMT debut as Professor Callahan. Land's Broadway credits include Promises, Promises and The Scarlet Pimpernel and he played Callahan in the national touring company of LEGALLY BLONDE. And, Matthew Ragas makes his MSMT debut in the role of Warner. Ragas also starred as Warner in the national touring company of the show.

Rounding out the cast list are the four-legged stars Chico and Nellie. Rescued by Tony Award-winning animal trainer, William Berloni, Chico and Nellie portray the vital roles of Bruiser, Elle's pet Chihuahua, and Rufus, Paulette's English Bulldog that Elle helps rescue from Paulette's ex. Chico the chihuahua starred in the original Broadway production of LEGALLY BLONDE and is seen in all the advertising, having served as the doggie model for the show's official logo. Nellie the bulldog holds the record for starring in the most performances of LEGALLY BLONDE by any performer, human or canine. Nellie has been on tour with the show and in regional productions for the past three years straight.

Maine State Music Theatre continues its tradition of Pay-What-You-Can pricing for both the matinee and evening performances of LEGALLY BLONDE on Friday, June 29th. On that day, patrons who walk up in person to MSMT's box office at the Pickard Theater can pay whatever their budgets will allow for any remaining, unsold seats to LEGALLY BLONDE. The box office opens at 10:00 a.m. It is important to note that this offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets or with any other discount offers and is subject to availability. The Pay-What-You-Can on June 29th is sponsored by Atlantic Regional Federal Credit Union. For questions about MSMT's Pay-What-You-Can program, contact the box office at (207) 725-8769.

For more information about Maine State Music Theatre, visit their website at www.msmt.org.

Photo credit: Annie Rose Photography

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