Bundy Plays Final 'Blonde' Performance On 7/20, New Winner Starts 7/23

On Sunday, July 20th at 7pm Laura Bell Bundy, Broadway's original Elle Woods, will play her final performance.  On Monday, July 21st at 10pm the finale of "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" airs on MTV and on Wednesday, July 23rd at 8pm the winner of the reality show begins performances at The Palace Theater in NYC

Over the course of four days this summer, July 20-23, Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL celebrates three major events.  Stand-out performer and Tony Award Nominee, Laura Bell Bundy (the original Elle Woods) will play her final performance on Sunday, July 20 at 7pm, the Finale of MTV's "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" will air on Monday, July 21 at 10pm and Broadway's next Elle Woods will begin performances at The Palace Theatre on Wednesday, July 23 at 8pm.

The musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets) on April 29, 2007 following preview performances that began on April 3, 2007.  At the helm of the creative team of Legally Blonde is Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, who makes his Broadway directorial debut and also choreographs. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach.  James Sampliner serves as music director.    

On Monday, June 2, 2008, MTV premiered the reality show "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" to find a talented singer/ actress/ dancer to take over for Broadway star and Tony Nominated current lead Laura Bell Bundy.  The eight episode series (currently airing on Mondays at 10PM EST) provides a genuine glimpse into what it takes to headline a musical as the contestants receive direction from and ace challenges provided by Legally Blonde The Musical's creative team.  Hosted by Haylie Duff (Hairpray on Broadway) with special guest appearances by Broadway cast members,  creatives and vocal coach Seth Rudetsky, the show's judges are casting director Bernard Telsey; Legally Blonde The Musical's Tony Award nominated book writer Heather Hach; and original Broadway cast member of Legally Blonde The Musical Paul Canaan.  The judges and Jerry Mitchell - not America - will decide who the next "Elle Woods" will be.  The reality show represents the musical's second venture with MTV.  In the fall of 2007, MTV aired Legally Blonde The Musical in its entirety to stellar ratings and was subsequently nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Joining Laura Bell Bundy (through July 20th) in the cast, are Christian Borle as Emmett, Orfeh as Paulette, Richard H. Blake as Warner, Kate Shindle as Vivienne, Nicolette Hart as Brooke,  and Michael Rupert as Professor Callahan.   Also featured in the cast are: Tracy Jai Edwards,Asmeret Ghebremichael,Kate Rockwell,Natalie Joy Johnson, Nathan Balser, April Berry,Paul Canaan, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Amber Efé, Tiffany Engen,Stephanie Fittro,Gaelen Gilliland,Jason Gillman, Becky Gulsvig,Manuel Herrera,Andy Karl, Nick Kenkel,Rusty Mowery,Emily Padgett,Kevin Pariseau, Jody Reynard,Matthew Risch,Bryce Ryness and Dani Spieler.

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer.  So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.

Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award.  The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007.

The Legally Blonde Original Cast Recording is produced by Grammy  and Oscar  winner Joel Moss, Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records President Kurt Deutsch, composers/lyricists Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and Executive Produced by Kurt Deutsch and Bill Rosenfield.   www.sh-k-boom.com

Legally Blonde is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage,Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

All tickets ($121.50-$41.50) can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 212-307-4100, or in person at the Palace Theatre box office, 1564 Broadway.  For information on Elle's Lounge VIP Experience, please visit www.Broadway.com or www.EllesLounge.com.  The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and Sunday at 7pm. 

Photos by Peter James Zielinski and Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!