From the sparkly pink aesthetic to Elle Woods’ fascinating character arc, ‘Legally Blonde’ has stood the test of time as a classic and iconic teen film and musical. As Hockaday prepares to open their own version of this show (February 5-7), dedicated directors, cast and crew members are putting in tremendous amounts of effort to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
In her first year, Upper School Theater teacher Michelle Greene recognizes the immense talent of each student, supporting them as they explore their roles and hone their crafts.
“Before I got here, the theater program was already fantastic,” Greene said. “It was a really great group of students who loved performing.”
Greene takes pride in how welcoming the cast has been to its newer members, making each student feel seen and appreciated.
“We did a Secret Snowflake [game] at the end of the semester where everyone got to sit together and bond,” Greene said. “We ask fun questions at the beginning of every rehearsal when we are stretching, too.”
Greene admits that with a mix of music, choreography and blocking, the rehearsal schedule can be quite intense as the show approaches. Despite the time commitment, Greene prioritizes bringing a fun and positive attitude every day to uplift the cast. She is grateful that she gets to direct this show at Hockaday.
“The show itself is very empowering,” Greene said. “To see it with an all-female cast adds a level of empowerment that I am really excited about.”
Taking steps to involve more of the school community, Greene cast Upper School Deans Jordan Innerarity and Emily Bemenderfer as Elle’s parents.
“Ms. [Abi] Poe [Upper School Director of Choral Activities] came up to me and said I needed to say yes the next time I was asked a question,” Innerarity said. “Then, Ms. Greene found me and asked. I wondered what I said yes to, and I found out it was to being in the musical.”
Furthermore, Greene’s dog, Peanut, will play Bruiser, having had experience as a stage dog in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and another production of ‘Legally Blonde’ at Greene’s previous school.
“I was very excited to see if Peanut would still remember all of his tricks,” Greene said. “He is always a big hit on the days that he’s here, and I think he’ll be a big hit in the show.”
Extending the show’s impact beyond Hockaday, Greene and Melanie Robinson, Director of the Institute for Social Impact, are planning a ‘Find Your Bruiser’ adoption information session on the Friday night show.
“We are going to work with local rescues,” Greene said. “We will have different rescues present about the current dogs that they have available and their adoption processes.”
Senior Jessie Moran, playing Elle Woods, highlights how supportive the cast has been as she takes on such a large role.
“Everyone really wants to be there, and I think that shared passion of being a part of this experience is what really makes a cast unified,” Moran said. “We all agree that we are going to try our best.”
Though a huge undertaking, Moran finds many similarities between herself and Elle, reflecting on how building this character has strengthened her own.
“Being Elle has given me a lot of confidence and shown me that everybody struggles,” Moran said. “Knowing that I really have to put in the effort to have a great outcome has really helped me. I spend any free time I have trying to figure out who Elle is to me and how I can make her character more personalized to myself.”
As she performs in her last Hockaday musical production, Moran is savoring every moment.
“I’ve been trying to end my senior year with a ‘bang’ because this is the most fulfilling role I have ever had,” Moran said. “Theater is something that I love and something that brings joy to my life.”
The cast continues to put in their best effort as opening night approaches, meeting every challenge along the way with confidence and determination.
“We all know that the show has very difficult music,” Moran said. “It’s overwhelming for everyone, but we all recognize that we are able to take it chunks at a time and be supportive.”
