Latest news with #LegallyBlondeTheMusical
The Province
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
TUTS: Legally Blonde the Musical's Elle Woods 'a quadruple-threat' role
Jayme Armstrong, who starred in an Ontario production and now directs the Theatre Under the Stars version, says to play Elle you have to be able to sing, dance, act and be funny Abby Woodhouse as Elle Woods in Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde The Musical. The show alternates with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Malkin Bowl June 27-Aug. 16. Photo by Emily Cooper / Theatre Under the Stars Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. When: June 27-Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. (except for Celebration of Light nights, when the show starts at 7 p.m.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Where: Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, 610 Pipeline Rd., Vancouver Tickets: $35-69 at and 1-800-514-3849 Elle Woods, that bubbly, pink-loving legal eagle made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, returns to the stage this summer. Back by popular demand, Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde The Musical plays alternate evenings with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We talked to LBTM director Jayme Armstrong, who is originally from Vancouver, about the show. Q: You played Elle Woods in an Ontario production of Legally Blonde The Musical in 2014. What was that like? A: It was a dream role. It was on my bucket list. And Elle is probably the most difficult role I ever played in my career. Truly, I call it a quadruple-threat role — you have to sing, dance, act and be funny. Then throw in a million costume changes. It's a very, very busy show. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A: I am. I am a brunette, although I've played many blondes. When I did the show, I wore a wig. Most Elles do end up wearing a wig just because of the nature of the show. It's easier to keep her hair looking perfect all the time. Q: How much preparation did you do for the role? A: I started training several months before. I learned the entire vocal score, and then sang it while running on the treadmill. Q: Is that one of the tips that you gave to Abby Woodhouse, the actress playing Elle this time out? A: Yeah. Before we started rehearsal, I sat down with Abby virtually, because I'm based in Ontario now, and just spent some time going over the role and talking about some of the challenges and ways to help her prep. It's definitely a major advantage on such a star vehicle type of show to have a director who has played not only that role, but many roles of this nature, so is able to help somebody from the younger generation navigate how to manage their efforts and their energy levels and vocal maintenance to make sure that they're ready to execute this. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A: It's a much harder show than anybody expects. It's very large and super-fast-paced. There's a ton of musical numbers, and almost every one is a big production number involving the whole cast. And many of the numbers also travel to several locations within them, which presents a challenge for moving constantly in terms of the set. And then when people are offstage, almost every time they exit, it's a quick change for pretty much the entire cast. Q: As a director, what kind of personal stamp can you put on a show as big and well-known as Legally Blonde The Musical? A: I really wanted this story to come from an all-female creative team. I have an amazing choreographer, Lyndsey Britten, working with me and Eliza De Castro on music. The way I describe it is, it's a love letter from women to women. It celebrates all that it means to be feminine. And one thing about Legally Blonde is that people often think it's a very stereotypical story, but actually it's a super empowering story about somebody who is stereotyped and ends up defying her own expectations, as well as everyone else's, by finding her own path. Read More
Calgary Herald
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
TUTS: Legally Blonde the Musical's Elle Woods 'a quadruple-threat' role
Article content Article content Where: Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, 610 Pipeline Rd., Vancouver Article content Elle Woods, that bubbly, pink-loving legal eagle made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, returns to the stage this summer. Back by popular demand, Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde The Musical plays alternate evenings with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We talked to LBTM director Jayme Armstrong, who is originally from Vancouver, about the show. Article content Article content Article content A: It was a dream role. It was on my bucket list. And Elle is probably the most difficult role I ever played in my career. Truly, I call it a quadruple-threat role — you have to sing, dance, act and be funny. Then throw in a million costume changes. It's a very, very busy show. Article content Q: Plus, you're a brunette. Article content A: I am. I am a brunette, although I've played many blondes. When I did the show, I wore a wig. Most Elles do end up wearing a wig just because of the nature of the show. It's easier to keep her hair looking perfect all the time. Article content Q: How much preparation did you do for the role? Article content A: I started training several months before. I learned the entire vocal score, and then sang it while running on the treadmill. Article content Q: Is that one of the tips that you gave to Abby Woodhouse, the actress playing Elle this time out? Article content A: Yeah. Before we started rehearsal, I sat down with Abby virtually, because I'm based in Ontario now, and just spent some time going over the role and talking about some of the challenges and ways to help her prep. It's definitely a major advantage on such a star vehicle type of show to have a director who has played not only that role, but many roles of this nature, so is able to help somebody from the younger generation navigate how to manage their efforts and their energy levels and vocal maintenance to make sure that they're ready to execute this. Article content Article content Article content A: It's a much harder show than anybody expects. It's very large and super-fast-paced. There's a ton of musical numbers, and almost every one is a big production number involving the whole cast. And many of the numbers also travel to several locations within them, which presents a challenge for moving constantly in terms of the set. And then when people are offstage, almost every time they exit, it's a quick change for pretty much the entire cast. Article content A: I really wanted this story to come from an all-female creative team. I have an amazing choreographer, Lyndsey Britten, working with me and Eliza De Castro on music. The way I describe it is, it's a love letter from women to women. It celebrates all that it means to be feminine. And one thing about Legally Blonde is that people often think it's a very stereotypical story, but actually it's a super empowering story about somebody who is stereotyped and ends up defying her own expectations, as well as everyone else's, by finding her own path. Article content
Vancouver Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
TUTS: Legally Blonde the Musical's Elle Woods 'a quadruple-threat' role
When: June 27-Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. (except for Celebration of Light nights, when the show starts at 7 p.m.) Where: Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, 610 Pipeline Rd., Vancouver Tickets: $35-69 at and 1-800-514-3849 Elle Woods, that bubbly, pink-loving legal eagle made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, returns to the stage this summer. Back by popular demand, Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde The Musical plays alternate evenings with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We talked to LBTM director Jayme Armstrong, who is originally from Vancouver, about the show. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A: It was a dream role. It was on my bucket list. And Elle is probably the most difficult role I ever played in my career. Truly, I call it a quadruple-threat role — you have to sing, dance, act and be funny. Then throw in a million costume changes. It's a very, very busy show. A: I am. I am a brunette, although I've played many blondes. When I did the show, I wore a wig. Most Elles do end up wearing a wig just because of the nature of the show. It's easier to keep her hair looking perfect all the time. A: I started training several months before. I learned the entire vocal score, and then sang it while running on the treadmill. A: Yeah. Before we started rehearsal, I sat down with Abby virtually, because I'm based in Ontario now, and just spent some time going over the role and talking about some of the challenges and ways to help her prep. It's definitely a major advantage on such a star vehicle type of show to have a director who has played not only that role, but many roles of this nature, so is able to help somebody from the younger generation navigate how to manage their efforts and their energy levels and vocal maintenance to make sure that they're ready to execute this. A: It's a much harder show than anybody expects. It's very large and super-fast-paced. There's a ton of musical numbers, and almost every one is a big production number involving the whole cast. And many of the numbers also travel to several locations within them, which presents a challenge for moving constantly in terms of the set. And then when people are offstage, almost every time they exit, it's a quick change for pretty much the entire cast. A: I really wanted this story to come from an all-female creative team. I have an amazing choreographer, Lyndsey Britten, working with me and Eliza De Castro on music. The way I describe it is, it's a love letter from women to women. It celebrates all that it means to be feminine. And one thing about Legally Blonde is that people often think it's a very stereotypical story, but actually it's a super empowering story about somebody who is stereotyped and ends up defying her own expectations, as well as everyone else's, by finding her own path.
Calgary Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Review: Light and fluffy, Legally Blonde a perfect summer musical
Article content Legally Blonde The Musical could be subtitled Not So Clueless. Article content When main character Elle Woods turns up at Harvard, we're supposed to be as shocked as her former boyfriend Warner Huntington III. But when we first met her, she was, after all, at a university majoring in marketing. When she set her mind to qualifying for Harvard, she made that happen, with the help of her equally astute sorority sisters. Article content Article content Emmett, who starts as her mentor and ends up being her new love interest, says it best when he points out Elle's IQ drops to 40 whenever Warner is in the room. The bimbo facade is what he wanted, so she gave it to him. We're supposed to love Elle because she doesn't drop the blond persona just because she is at Harvard. That highlights one of the themes of the musical: that you have to be true to yourself. Article content Article content Legally Blonde is two hours of silly, predictable, girl-power behaviour from stereotypes rather than characters and, under Stephanie Graham's direction, it is one of the pinkest, gayest romps imaginable. Article content When Emmett first visits Elle's dorm room, he discovers she lives on energy drinks, which presumably explains her eternally effervescent behaviour. In this way, the musical is like Elle. While you're ingesting it, you feel energized and elated, but those feelings wear off quickly once it's over. Article content Legally Blonde is a musical without memorable music. Say what you want about Andrew Lloyd Webber, but when you leave one of his musicals, you're humming at least one tune. Think Memory from Cats, Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita, or I Don't Know How to Love Him from Superstar. You don't come out of Legally Blonde humming Blood in the Water, Omigood You Guys, or Whipped into Shape. They are fun in context, but they don't live outside the musical, because they are more dialogue than songs. Article content Graham, who also choreographed Legally Blonde, gives us everything from cheerleading to exercise moves, and it's always high energy. Article content The fairest thing to be said about Legally Blonde is it's a genuine crowd pleaser. All the laughs and the feel-good moments are in the right places, and Graham knows how to punctuate them. There is no question that this is a fun evening, and Graham has assembled a most talented cast.
