A enjoyable, upbeat ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’ from 2nd Star Productions

Elle Woods struts into Bowie Playhouse in a glittering pink storm, and the result’s a delightfully upbeat night of dancing, music, and coronary heart. 2nd Star Productions’ Legally Blonde the Musical, directed by firm common Summer Moore, takes the beloved 2001 movie and transforms it right into a buoyant spectacle that celebrates willpower, self-growth, and exceeding expectations.

From its opening quantity, “Omigod You Guys,” the ensemble units a tone of high-octane vitality, and a excessive bar for an formidable choreography designed by Ade Babayemi. The manufacturing maintains an brisk momentum, bouncing from Delta Nu sorority silliness to Harvard Law drama, however does the work whereas navigating dated humor and jokes from the 2007 musical.

At the middle is Elle Woods, performed with glowing charisma and heat by Sydney Forrester Wilson. Her Elle is greater than a pink-clad caricature — she grounds the comedy with real coronary heart, particularly highlighted by way of the Act I nearer, “So Much Better,” which introduced cheers from the viewers on opening night time.

There is a powerful depth and messaging on this present’s casting. Forrester, as a Black girl, provides one other dimension to Elle’s wrestle inside Harvard, underneath the controlling oppression of the tutorial hegemony. Paired with highly effective vocals and charming vitality on stage, she brings a brand new and fascinating take to this basic character.

Among the supporting forged, Jason Fowler as Emmett charms with an easygoing sincerity, his duets with Elle highlighting a chemistry that underpins her transformation. Natasha Alston as Paulette earns a few of the largest laughs of the night, particularly within the riotous “Bend and Snap,” whereas Willie Hadnot Jr. as Warner nails the entitled swagger of the ex-boyfriend who sparks Elle’s journey. The ensemble, too, deserves recognition for his or her athletic dancing and comedian timing, notably amplified by the muse crew that backs Elle up by way of her time at Harvard.

Visually, the manufacturing embraces the present’s candy-colored aesthetic. The set fluidly shifts from sorority home to Harvard classroom to courtroom, with intelligent touches that preserve transitions brisk. Costumes, in fact, lean unapologetically into pinks and pastels, however in addition they underscore Elle’s progress: her wardrobe evolves alongside her confidence. The lighting design (Amariya Kailo) manages a really thrilling theme with the story and scenes. Green hues for Paulette, vivid and playful to start with because the characters strategy their issues with hope, way more somber because the realities of their respective conditions develop.

Moore’s path strikes a high-quality steadiness between camp and sincerity, with moments of spectacular staging. A standout second of this path happens when Elle is studying of her acceptance into the coveted internship. While all of the characters go into sluggish movement, highlighting Elle’s nervousness, Fowler’s Emmet strikes by way of the group to drag Elle out of the nervousness bubble.

The orchestra, underneath the baton of Laura D. Hackett, retains the rating zippy and infectious, with robust help for the singers and a the various vary of harmonies and skills.

The Bowie Playhouse viewers responded with help all through, and a standing ovation at curtain name. Legally Blonde resonates as a enjoyable pop musical, practically twenty years after its Broadway debut, however it may benefit from an conscious reassessment of its work and a few of its numbers. There are some cringeworthy jokes and songs that don’t survive the check of time (are we actually nonetheless doing the “Is he gay or is he European” joke?). However, this was a good win for the crew from 2nd Star and Bowie Playhouse.

Running Time: Approximately two hours and half-hour, together with one intermission.

Legally Blonde the Musical performs by way of October 4, 2025 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.), offered by 2nd Star Productions acting at The Bowie Playhouse — 16500 White Marsh Park Drive in Bowie, MD. Tickets are $30 (common admission), $27 (seniors 62+), $19 (youngsters underneath 12); group charges are additionally accessible. Purchase tickets by way of 2nd Star Productions’ online.

COVID Safety: Masks are inspired however not required.

Legally Blonde the Musical
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Book by Heather Hach
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movement image
Directed by Summer Moore

CAST
Sydney Forrester Wilson: Elle Woods
Jason Fowler: Emmett Forrest
Willie Hadnot Jr.: Warner Huntington III
Natasha Alston: Paulette
Julie Mimms: Brooke Wyndham
Eric Meadows: Professor Callahan
Neva Keuroglian Sullivan: Vivienne Kensington
Shayna Bloom: Enid Hoopes
Bonnie Millener: Margot
Anya Lengbeyer: Serena
Jillian Curd: Pilar
Maura Campbell: Kate
Madison Recktenwald: Delta Nu/Ensemble
Marcus Wilder: Delta Nu/Ensemble
Lori Bonnette: Ensemble
Steve Campbell: Ensemble
Ashley Bower Chaij: Ensemble
Quintin Contreras: Ensemble
Steven Fuentes: Ensemble
Bryan Hargraves: Sundeep Padamadan/Ensemble
Katrina Jackson: Ensemble
Shawford Jackson: Aaron Schultz/Ensemble
Andy Lawrie: Ensemble
Taylor Mitchell: Ensemble
Sean Morton: Ensemble
Leon Nguyen: Ensemble
Laura Paez: Ensemble
George Willis: Elle’s Dad/Ensemble
Rowan Campbell: Standby (Elle Woods, 9/27 & 9/28)
Will Townsend: Standby (Warner Huntington III, 9/27 & 9/28)
Diana Almeida: Standby (Paulette, 9/27 & 9/28)
Otega Okurume: Standby (Elle’s Dad/Ensemble, 9/5, 9/12, 9/13, 9/14)

Alternate Casting Schedule:
September 27 at 8 p.m. & September 28 at 2 p.m.
Rowan Campbell as Elle Woods
Diana Almeida as Paulette
Will Townsend as Warner Huntington III

PRODUCTION TEAM
Summer Moore: Director
Otega Okurume & Sonja Dinkins: Producers
Laura D. Hackett: Music Director
Ade Babayemi: Choreographer
Nicole Mullins: Assistant Director
Tyler Hart: Stage Manager
Abigail Fagbohunka: Assistant Choreographer
Bethany “Bex” Hoover: Assistant Stage Manager
Emily Sergo: Conductor
Gerald George & Onyx Cummings: Set Designers
Felicia Moore: Costume Designer
Doreen Roberts & Cheramie J. Jackson: Props Designers
Alexandra Johnson: Makeup/Hair Designer
Kassandra (Kasey) Norman: Hair Designer
Gene Valendo: Lead Carpenter
Ana-Alicia Collazo: Lead Set Painter
Kayla Grange: Assistant Costume Designer
Amariya Kailo: Lighting Consultant
Marianne Virnelson: Rehearsal Assistant
Andrea Trent: Artistic Director for 2nd Star
Katie Riegel: Executive Producer for 2nd Star