Review: 'Legally Blonde The Musical' by Broadway Method Academy

“This is the kind of girl Warner wants. Someone serious. Someone lawyerly. Someone who wears black when nobody's dead!” - Woods, Elle

Fairfield, CT - Broadway Method Academy presented the always fun ‘Legally Blonde’ this weekend on the stage of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University. I had just a bit of trouble locating the theatre on the campus of Fairfield U, but I hope to return to this beautiful venue.

‘Legally Blonde The Musical’ is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and of course the 2001 MGM Motion Picture with a book by Heather Hach and bubbly music by Laurence O’Keefe. The students at Broadway Method Academy were directed by Broadway’s Julius Anthony Rubio (‘On Your Feet,’ ‘Finding Neverland,) who also did the choreography; he was assisted by Allysa Shorte (‘High School Musical 3’ film, ‘After Midnight’ on Broadway.) At intermission the two explained that they had pushed the young performers to their limits in the safe place of the academy and thanked them all. Equity actor Connor Deane is the co-founder and executive director of BMA and appeared onstage in the role of Professor Callahan. J. Scott Handley is the other co-founder and executive director and stepped up to play both Elle’s father and Lowell.

The musical is a guilty pleasure for me that I have reviewed several times. Takeaways of this production include sorority ceremony candles on cell phones, cheerleaders who were the real deal, a boxing motif instead of jump ropes for “Whipped Into Shape,” and excellent costumes all around.

In the role of the legally blonde Elle Woods, who manages to get into Harvard Law in order to win back her boyfriend, Amber Schaper managed to shine in every scene. Sheridan Mullins as Margo, Madison Lemone as Serena and Paris Looney as Pilar did well as both Elle’s sorority sisters and her Greek Chorus. Olivia Diaz played the sister who helped Elle pass her LSATS. Matthew Paula sang well in the role of Warner and David Littlefield was endearingly wonderful as Emmett.

Stacey Curti played Elle’s pampered mom and Ryan Howell was Winthrop. Liza Tananbaum played both Pforzheimer and the judge at trial. David Littlefield played Emmett, Ryan Kennedy appeared as Harvard student Aaron, and Justin Geyer was quite funny as both student Padamadan and Carlos at the trial. Gabby Paige did her share of scene stealing in the role of Harvard student Enid Hoopes.

Kelsey Lepesko did very well as Elle’s rival for Warner, Vivienne. Julia Vitale led the exercises (before her trial for the death of her much older husband) in the role of fitness guru Brooke in a great wig. Charles Rusciano played Nikos, and Meaghan Cassidy suffered the bad perm as Brooke’s stepdaughter Chutney. Frankie, trained by William Berloni and holder of the record for playing more performances of this show than any human or canine actor, once again played Bruiser. Romeo, another Berloni pooch, played Rufus in his tenth production of ‘Legally Blonde.’

I was most impressed with the work of Sabrina Rollings as beautician/best friend Paulette; her rendition and reprise of “Ireland” was perfect. Another standout was Austin James Cleri as Grandmaster Chad, Paulette’s ex Dewey who kept the dog, and the appealing UPS driver Kyle. In a cast where every young performer was topnotch, these two made their mark. The well-rehearsed company included girls and boys that appeared to be having a great time on this stage.

Photo of the opening set by Rachel Zink

Costumes designed by Colleen Fitzsimons were perfectly suited to the characters and Kelly Yurko designed the spot-on wigs. Ryan Howell designed the fabulous set and Weston G. Wetzel made exquisite use of the lighting at the Quick Center to make everything look most professional. Robert Kennedy of Amity Regional HS was in charge of the sound design that worked very well and J. Scott Handley was the music director.

Congratulations to all of the young performers of the Broadway Method Academy and the adults who work with them on a most impressive production. “Omigod You Guys!”

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417