GREENFIELD — Jacob Torres was among the small crowd in the audience leaping to his feet with applause and cheers. The girls onstage had just finished the clearly exhausting jump rope choreography of “Whipped Into Shape,” one of the signature numbers from “Legally Blonde — the Musical.”
“It’s exciting,” said Torres, a Greenfield-Central Drama freshman. “The energy that everyone is bringing. No one up there is doing that choreography with a sad face or mopey feeling. They’re really into playing these roles.”
Greenfield-Central Drama Director Carolyn Breach concurs: “The kids are in love with this musical. They’re all so passionate. When there are actors on stage, everyone has turned
into a mega-pep squad, cheering and applauding every song.”
The actors of Greenfield-Central High School will bring their contagious energy to the stage with “Legally Blonde — the Musical,” April 29 — May 2.
Based on the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, the story follows California socialite Elle Woods as she pursues her boyfriend to Harvard Law School after he dumps her. She learns some hard lessons pretty quick, but don’t worry — this is a feel-good show for sure.
The cast is headed up by junior Brynn Elliott who, as an 11-year-old in 2015, landed the role of Elle Woods’ little sister in a community theater production of “Legally Blonde.” Today — at age 17 — she steps into the iconic pink high heels of Elle Woods herself.
“It’s one of my dream roles,” Elliott said. “I looked at the cast list; I screamed, and then I cried.”
Elliott, who cut her acting teeth with KidsPlay children’s theatre and built her musical chops with Lynn Mlott’s Musicality Arts, is now building herself into a triple threat as she works on choreography for the production. She knows that shows are made not only during rehearsal, but from work put in at home as well.
“I work a lot outside of rehearsal to get the choreography where I need it to be,” she said.
Aside from the choreography, another challenge Elliott faces is the 10 costume changes throughout the show. Her costumes include a drum major outfit, a bunny suit, a sweat suit, a sparkly date-night dress and a pink lawyer outfit. According to the script, pink is Elle Woods’ signature color.
“There’s a lot of pink costumes in this show,” Elliott said.
Junior Liv McDaniel plays the comic relief of hairdresser Paulette in the show. As a close friend of Elliott, Chris O’Connor (Warner, the ex-boyfriend) and Coy Walden (Emmett, the new love interest), she’s happy to be cast with them.
“It’s really cool that we could all be leads together,” McDaniel said.
Walden agrees, and is thrilled to co-star with Elliott.
“Brynn and I have been friends since pre-school,” Walden said. “To have a lead role with her is almost an emotional experience because we’ve been friends for so long.”
Elliott, for whom acting is like breathing, is having the time of her life in this show.
“I love coming to rehearsal every day,” Elliott said. “I’m so excited every single rehearsal to do everything — whether it’s singing, dancing or acting. I’m just super-stoked the whole time.”
The high-energy show, the enthusiasm of all involved, combined with the surprisingly changeable set of assistant director Dennis Cole, promise a fun evening of theater.
“This is the most fun I’ve ever had with a show,” said Walden. “It’s a fun show to watch. It never gets old and it never gets boring.”
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Greenfield-Central Drama presents “Legally Blonde – the Musical,” at 7 p.m. April 29, 30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. May 2 at Greenfield-Central High School, 810 N. Broadway. Adult tickets are $10; student tickets are $8 at gcdrama.org.
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