Ithaca, NY –Ithaca College Theatre’s fall musical is “Legally Blonde,” with book by Heather Hach, and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Performances will be held in the Hoerner Theatre in Dillingham Center on Oct. 30, Nov. 1, 7, 9 and 10 at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinee performances offered on Nov. 4 and 10. There will be a free talk-back presentation following the Nov. 10 matinee.
Ticket prices for “Legally Blonde” range from $5.50 to $11 and are on sale at all Ticket Center outlets, including Ticket Center Ithaca on the Commons and the Dillingham Center box office. Call (607) 273-4497, (607) 274-3224 or visit www.ithacaevents.com.
Based on the film of the same title, “Legally Blonde” is the story of sorority sister Elle Woods, who gets dumped by her boyfriend, who thinks she’s not “serious.” She follows him to Harvard Law School to show him just how serious she can be and winds up learning that there’s much more to life than just being pretty in pink.
“The musical definitely follows the outline of the movie, but there are differences in emphasis,” said director Greg Bostwick, professor and chair of theatre arts. “The musical stands on its own quite well as a good story with finely crafted and clever music, lyrics and book. I know some folks think the story is kind of silly, but I think the message is pretty profound: being true to yourself, becoming increasingly more of who you really are, is ultimately the best route to happiness and fulfillment.”
The creative process for successfully producing a musical of this size requires a great deal of collaboration and planning on everyone’s part, Bostwick added.
“It has been great to work with design colleagues I've known for a long time [costume designer and associate professor of theatre arts Greg Robbins] as well as with a new faculty designer [scenic designer and assistant professor of theatre arts Tom Burch]. The musical moves at lightning speed, like a film almost, with lots of settings and the transitions are crucial to the success of the piece. I am working with a guest choreographer, Roy Lightner, who is not only setting the stage on fire with dazzling choreography, but he is helping to smooth the transitions through the use of dance.”
In addition to Robbins and Burch, the production is designed by Clay Harding ’13 (lighting) and Ian Crawford ’13 (sound). Paula Clarkson ’13 is the stage manager, and associate professor of theatre arts Colin Stewart is the technical director. The assistant director is Jon Hamel ’13.
The cast of “Legally Blonde” includes Aaron Alcaraz ’16, Megan Beard ’14, Grant Carey ’13, Kayley Anne Collins ’15, Tony Conaty ’15, Joe DePietro ’13, Olivia Donalson ’15, Katie Drinkard ’14, Roger Dunkelbarger ’14, Doug Hansen ’13, Monique Huff ’13, Adam James King ’15, Michael Kushner ’13, Rebecca Kuznick ’13, Starr Leavitt ’15, Kyra Leeds ’16, Richard Lindenfelzer ’13, Ryan MacConnell ’13, Alyssa Magarian ’14, Caitlin Ort ’16, Megan Ort ’13, Xavier Reyes ’13, Hannah Richter ’14, Celeste Rose ’13, Alanna Smith ’14, Avery Sobczak ’14, DeAnne Stewart ’13, Grace Stockdale ’14, and Chloe Tiso ’13.
A nationally recognized professional theatre-training program, the Department of Theatre Arts attracts students from across the United States. Throughout the production season, undergraduate students present all aspects of theatre in a professional model. Visit www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/mainstage/ for further information. Also, follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ICTheatreArts) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/ICTheatreArts).
Dillingham Center accommodates all patrons. Individuals with special needs are asked to contact (607) 274-3224 to request accommodations as soon as possible.
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Legally Blonde
Directed by Greg Bostwick
Book by Heather Hach
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
October 30 – November 10
Tickets ranging from $5.50 - $11
Ithaca College Theatre • 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY
Box Office: (607) 273-4497 • https://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/mainstage/
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20121012202651254