On Thursday, students at Woodside High School were treated to a sneak peek of their theatre department’s upcoming production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.
After nine weeks of rehearsals, curtains are set to go up for the first time Friday, March 8th, with three performances planned this weekend and next weekend. Several dates are expected to pack a full house, and likely sell out.
This elaborate, high-energy show is based on the novel and film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, played by 14-year-old Woodside freshman Jessie Marguet. Elle is a perky sorority girl who decides to enroll at Harvard Law alongside her ex-boyfriend, Warner, played by junior Wyatt Giampa.
The production is another ambitious undertaking for Woodside’s storied theatre department. It features a cast of 50 students in all who act, sing and dance their way through no fewer than 40 set changes, all managed by a small army of students who make up the production crew. Director Barry Woodruff called the show “deceptively complicated.”
Kim Harvath is the show’s choreographer and she also teaches Woodside’s dance team, many of whom are dancing in Legally Blonde. Moving the story from the silver screen to the live stage, she said, was no easy task.
“We have movie playing out on stage. In movies, they can just crossfade into the next scene. On stage, we’re changing sets four times during one song, so it was a huge challenge.” But, Harvath said, the challenge was well worth it, especially considering the fact that Legally Blonde: The Musical has given the theatre department a chance to explore a lighter, more playful plot.
“We’ve had (characters) die in shows for the last three years, so we’re excited to do something new,” Horvath said.
Thursday’s performance was a dress-rehearsal for cast and crew, which also includes a live pit orchestra providing the music. Backstage, Horvath and Director Woodruff ran notes with students in the final day of practice before opening night, running through microphone placement, musical cues and how to get vocal harmonies just right.
Considering Woodside’s reputation as a top-notch drama school, audiences are sure to be in for a fabulously fun ride.
THE DETAILS:
When: Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9, at 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m.
Where: Woodside High School Performing Arts Center, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside
Cost: Adults: $20 / Seniors 65 and Older: $15 / Students: $10
Buy Tickets: Some available online here, some available one hour before showtime at the box office.
Also on RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch:
- Woodside Offered $11.65 Million to Change Name to 'SugarDaddie.com'
- The Billionaires Among Us
- Illegal Mattress Dumping Plagues Peninsula
- Caltrain Strikes Empty Car on San Bruno Tracks
- City Wants Feedback on Downtown Precise Plan
Stay informed on the latest crime, news and events in your local neighborhood - follow Patch!
Sign up for Redwood City-Woodside Patch’s daily newsletter
"Like” us on Facebook
"Follow” us on Twitter
Want to share your opinions with the communities of Redwood City and Woodside? Start your own blog here.
