From the company that brought you Mamma Mia! and Newsies, get ready for Ovation Theatre Company’s latest summer blockbuster, Legally Blonde, at the Derry Opera House starting Thursday, July 18, through Saturday, July 20.
Legally Blonde is very closely adapted from the wildly popular movie. Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.
Hudson’s Sami Weis is excited about taking on the role of Elle Woods, even dying her hair blonde. “I have always looked up to Elle, as a character, since watching the movie when I was a kid. I always try to see the best in people, just like Elle. The fact that, no matter what life throws at her, she leads with kindness is really something that I try to live my life based off of. Weis also gets to act alongside the iconic Bruiser, portrayed by Katy, a Yorkshire Terrier from Derry. “Oh my God, it is already so much fun! We’ve already had a few rehearsals and it makes my job so easy because, since I was little, I’ve loved dogs and it makes it very easy to feel like Elle when I’m holding the tiny little puppy in my hand. She is the best!”
Elle’s biggest supporters throughout the show are her trio of Delta Nu friends, one of which is played by Chloe Ferraro of Londonderry, as Serena. “They definitely expand a lot on the Delta Nus in the musical, as opposed to the movie. In the musical, they act as a ‘Greek chorus’ and Elle’s cheerleaders throughout the show. They’re always there for her, and so it’s a really fun like girl-power role to play. Regarding the challenge of playing that ‘Greek chorus’ role, Ferraro notes “It’s definitely different. It is like you’re playing two different characters. Both of your characters have the same essence, but one of them is a larger-than-life kind of thing.”
Jillian Mastroberte plays the role of Kate and also serves as a dance captain for the show. She describes the choreography as “very upbeat, very fun. It’s all about confidence, because lots of people doubt Elle and her abilities to get into Harvard, but she has her Delta Nu best friends to always hype her up and I think that that energy not only is prevalent in those dances, but in all of the different ensemble and different characters’ numbers as well.”
Legally Blonde features spectacular dancing and powerful singing, with a cast of predominantly adult actors drawn from all over southern New Hampshire. This production is led by veteran creative team Director Meg Gore, Music Director Sarah Herron, Dance and Fight Choreographer Katy Gore and Stage Manager Avenley Allen. The cast includes Chloe Ferraro, Katy Gore, Joseph Smith, Malia Smith, Krystal Timinski and Randy Williams of Londonderry; Ella Burroughs and Jonathan Uber of Hampstead; Suzy Denu, Nick Ford, Kaylee Gifford, Alycia Leriche, Lorelei Stahl and Jenna Sullivan of Derry; Debrah Hernandez of Chester; Kevin Battistelli, Greer Danzey and Adbu Nessralla of Auburn, Allison Bialias, Erin Fehlau, Jonathan Kaplan, Ryan Kaplan, Jillian Mastroberte and Finn Roach of Windham, Samantha Rapaport of Salem, Lucas Ross of Plaistow, Samantha Weis of Hudson, Janet Sesay of Manchester, Shane Gillis of Nashua, Camille Bishop, Dara Brown and Lauren Craven of Bedford, Kaitlyn Beauchemin of Goffstown and Dana Gastich-French of Exeter.
Legally Blonde will be presented on Thursday, July 18, Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, with all shows at 7:00 pm, at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry, NH). Tickets are $20 through July 12 and $25 beginning July 13 and are on sale at ovationtc.com.