IU Auditorium continues season with ‘Legally Blonde The Musical’ debut

In a season full of acclaimed Broadway shows, the IU Auditorium will debut the critical and commercial smash hit “Legally Blonde The Musical,” at 8 p.m. Tuesday for the first performance of a two-day run.

Maria Talbert, events coordinator for the auditorium, said the auditorium was especially interested in bringing the musical to the University — not only because of its popularity, but also because this performance will be the show’s first in Bloomington.

“It’s a production that hasn’t toured through Bloomington before, so this is the first time that Bloomington audiences will be able to see the show here,”

Talbert said. “Plus, we knew that the show would resonate with audiences since a lot of people have seen the movie. And it’s a lot broader of a show that students can really connect with.”

“Legally Blonde The Musical,” the stage adaptation of the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, follows Elle Woods, a California sorority girl who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School in an attempt to win him back.

The stage musical opened on Broadway in April 2007, earning seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Original Score and Best Lead actress.

The show had equal commercial success. The musical became one of the few shows in Broadway history to gross more than $1 million in one week after grossing $1,003,282 the week ending June 24, 2007. The show, which ended its Broadway run in October 2008, had a successful 2008 United States tour and is currently on its second tour.

Talbert said part of the show’s success rests on its combination of light-hearted comedy and a deeper positive message.

“The thing that is the center, at least for me, is that not only will people go in and have a great time — they’re going to laugh, they’re going to love the characters — but they’ll leave with something substantial,” Talbert said. “The show has a good message to follow your heart and follow your dreams. So it’s a great, light show that has that positive message.”

Kasey Walker, a member of the ensemble cast who spars with Elle Woods as the district attorney, earned her role after auditioning one week after graduating from college. An alumna of Indiana’s Carmel High School, Walker said audiences, especially those who are not necessarily fans of musical theater, should expect a great performance.

“Especially for young people, if they’ve never seen anything on stage or aren’t into theater, I think this is the thing for them,” Walker said. “It’s very contemporary, it’s very current, it’s very funny and it actually has a lot of heart. It’s everything that a modern musical should be.”