Director’s Notes
I first saw Legally Blonde on Broadway in 2007, while attending a workshop for high school theater directors. The consensus in the group was that, when the amateur rights to this show were released, it would be a very popular show for high schools. That has proven to be true, and we are very happy to be able to bring Legally Blonde to the Centennial stage. With its catchy pop music score, clever satirical humor, and humorous characters, the story of Elle Wood’s journey is very entertaining. If its appeal stopped there, it would be a fun musical. However, this show has more to offer than just entertainment. Like the film starring Reese Witherspoon, the musical has some positive themes to impart. Foremost is the message about the value of hard work and dedication. Elle works hard to get accepted into Harvard Law School in order to pursue a lost romance. However, she learns that, through hard work and perseverance, she can create success for herself in a way that she would not have originally thought possible. There are also messages about tolerance, acceptance, and the way our society views the roles of men and women. All this comes in a package of sharp satire, memorable tunes, and fun characters. Legally Blonde has been a huge challenge; both artistically and technically. Maintaining the high energy level of the show is hard work. It was written for the Broadway stage, where multi-million dollar sets can be changed with the stroke of a computer key, so accomplishing some of the scene changes in a “low-tech” manner has taken a lot of work and rehearsal. This dedicated cast has worked their tails off, especially the last couple of weeks, to bring this production to where we are tonight. The leadership from several of the students, especially a great group of seniors, has been amazing and invaluable. The contribution of a dedicated group of parent volunteers has helped to put all the “behind the scenes” pieces together. The efforts and sacrifices of all the parents to do what has to be done to allow their sons and daughters to be part of a big production is greatly appreciated. A big production like this takes the coordinated efforts of many many people to create success. I could not be prouder to be the director of this show. Please enjoy the results of all their effort, Legally Blonde.
-Mark Quinlan
