PRESS RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2024
Omigod You Guys… Florida School of the Arts presents “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Florida School of the Arts presents Legally Blonde The Musical, February 23-25. Jalen Hardy as Emmett, Christi Arnold as Elle
Florida School of the Arts presents Legally Blonde The Musical, February 23-25. From left Olivia Gonzalez, Christi Arnold and Annika Klee.
Omigod You Guys… Florida School of the Arts presents “Legally Blonde The Musical,” February 23-25 in the mainstage theatre.
Featuring large ensemble song-and-dance numbers, the show tells the story of sorority girl Elle Woods who chases her ex-boyfriend all the way to Harvard Law School in hopes of winning him back. Her journey takes an unusual turn when she becomes the defense attorney for a famous fitness instructor on trial for murder, all while staying true to herself and rising above her own expectations.
The musical was written by Heather Hach, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
Showtimes are Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10. The box office opens one hour prior to showtime. FloArts is located at the St. Johns River State College Palatka Campus.
FloArts acting instructor and play director Ryan Mahannah invites audience members to reflect on the timeless message at the heart of Elle’s vibrant story. “At its core, "Legally Blonde" is a celebration of authenticity and the power of staying true to oneself. In a world often defined by preconceived notions and societal expectations, the journey of Elle Woods serves as a poignant reminder that embracing our true selves is not only liberating, but also essential for our personal growth and fulfillment,” Mahannah said.
Mahannah said his first musical at FloArts has been an exhilarating journey. “Watching our talented students bring this beloved story to life with passion and dedication has been nothing short of amazing,” Mahannah said. “I can't wait for audiences to witness their stellar performances and be swept away by the magic of the production. From the music, to the choreography, to the acting, to the design elements there is something for everyone to enjoy!”
As the choreographer for the musical, Andrea Montez said she delved into research inspired by the musical's early 2000s setting. “Drawing from the pop culture and films of that era, I crafted choreography to highlight the talented cast and bring the characters they portray to life on stage,” Montez said. “With several high-energy dance numbers, ranging from jump ropes to bending and snapping on cue, I aimed to give this vibrant musical the choreographic treatment it deserves. My approach was to maintain industry-standard dance sequences, showcasing the performers at Flo Arts.”
Musical director Kandie Smith said the musical is a party for your eyes, ears and heart! “Legally Blonde is such a fun show! The students are doing a phenomenal job with the vibrant and catchy music. The vocals can be quite challenging, especially for the characters of Elle and Brooke, and our leading ladies (Christi Arnold as Elle; Elisa Crivelli as Brooke) are simply spectacular in these roles,” Smith said. “I think the audience is going to be blown away by the talent pool for this show, and I am certain they are going to walk away humming one of the many fantastic tunes from the score.”
The cast includes:
Christi Arnold, Maggie Rashaw, Shelby Howell, Annika Nicole Klee, Jo Fletcher, Olivia Gonzalez, Elisa Crivelli, Makari Nealy, Sara Tierney, Lillian Johnson, Cassidy Heath, Autumn Airey, Angel Hart, Lexi Brown, Ciara McCarthy, Jalen Hardy, Eric Christopher Barnum, Garrett Bleau, Alexander Heck, E. Noah Perez, Josué Jorge-Silva, James Lopez, Farentino Lennox, Kris Olinsky and Monti Slocumb.
Production crew: Directed by Ryan Mahannah, choreography, Andrea Montez; music direction, Kandi Smith; lighting/sound, Victoria Sanders; hair/makeup design, Shera Hebblewhite; costume design, Tiffany Jordan, Shera Hebblewhite; stage manager, Kendell Cheatham; assistant stage manager, Sophie Willis; assistant music director, Josué Jorge-Silva; intimacy and fight, director, Ryan Mahannah; production assistant, Lena Hart; dog wranglers, Torrie Sanders, Sophie Willis; dance captain, Makari Nealy; master electrician, Indigo Rygiel; light board operator, Indigo Rygiel; projections operator, Lena Hart; sound board operator, Kaylah Perry; cutter/draper, Tiffany Jordan; first hand, Shera Hebblewhite; wardrobe crew, Christian Davis, Lexi Brown, Elisa Crivelli; house manager, Anna Guzman; stage crew, Teresa Duncan, Montii Slocumb, Javier Pinto, Zachary Petron, Charlie Mack.
Costume construction crew, Luke Keeley, Reid Norris, Kendell Cheatham, Lexi Brown, Elisa Crivelli, Garrett Bleau, Olivia Gonzalez, Montii Slocumb, Lily Johnson, Jailyn Ruemmeley, Shera Hebblewhite, Lena Hart, Sophie Willis, and Christian Davis.
Scenic/lighting construction crew Kendell Cheatham, Teresa Duncan, Lena Hart, Kaylah Perry, Wyatt Richardson, Indigo Rygiel, Sophie Willis, Autumn Airey, Angel Hart, Annika Klee, James Lopez, Kristopher Olinsky, Zachary Petron, and Javier Pinto.
Florida School of the Arts is located on the St. Johns River State College Palatka Campus and serves the entire state of Florida. FloArts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards associate degrees in acting, dance performance, musical theater, stage management, theater technology, graphic design/new media and studio art. For more information, call (386) 312-4300 or visit FloArts.