Nell Benjamin News

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will make its Sarasota premiere at the VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL on Sunday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m., for one night only!

THE FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will begin performances at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre in Cleveland on Friday, October 22nd and will play through Sunday, October 24th. The show is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series at PlayhouseSquare.

THE FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will begin performances at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre in Cleveland on Friday, October 22nd and will play through Sunday, October 24th. The show is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series at PlayhouseSquare.

Broadway In Chicago and the producers of WORKING have announced casting for the upcoming production, which begins previews on February 15, 2011 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). WORKING will star Chicagoans E. Faye Butler, Barbara Robertson and Gene Weygandt. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

THE FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will begin performances at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre in Cleveland on Friday, October 22nd and will play through Sunday, October 24th. The show is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series at PlayhouseSquare.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that applications are now being accepted for the 2011 Jonathan Larson® Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony® Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.

Denise Van Outen, Siobhan Dillon and Carley Stenson are to join Sheridan Smith, who has recently extended her run as Elle Woods, Alex Gaumond, Aoife Mulholland and Peter Davison in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical.

Sheridan Smith is to extend her run in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical to 9 January 2011, in her critically acclaimed role of college sweetheart Elle Woods. Smith has been playing to packed houses at the Savoy Theatre where the show opened in December. Legally Blonde The Musical, which has recently released the original London live cast recording, is currently booking until 22 October 2011.

BroadwayWorld brings you the highlights from a meeting of two Elle's - Laura Bell Bundy, Tony-nominated star of Broadway's LEGALLY BLONDE from 2007 to 2008, and Sheridan Smith, who has played the bubbly Elle Woods on the West End since December 2009.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010. Recorded at the Savoy Theatre and featuring music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, the Legally Blonde cast album features eighteen numbers from the show including Omigod You Guys, Serious, Whipped Into Shape, Bend and Snap and So Much Better. The cast of Legally Blonde The Musical will be signing the new cast recording at Dress Circle (57-59 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DG) on Saturday 21 August at 12noon.

As previously reported and confirmed today by Whatsonstage.com, West End's 'Elle Woods' and 'Paulette,' Sheridan Smith and Jill Halfpenny, respectively, will be departing LEGALLY BLONDE on October 23, 2010. It has been rumored that Jennifer Ellison was in talks to take over the role of Elle, in addition to Broadway's original Elle Woods, Laura Bell Bundy.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010. Recorded at the Savoy Theatre and featuring music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, the Legally Blonde cast album features eighteen numbers from the show including Omigod You Guys, Serious, Whipped Into Shape, Bend and Snap and So Much Better. The cast of Legally Blonde The Musical will be signing the new cast recording at Dress Circle (57-59 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DG) on Saturday 21 August at 12noon.

Actress Sheridan Smith will depart the West End's LEGALLY BLONDE on October 23, whatsonstage.com reports. Smith, who plays Elle Woods, made the announcement via her twitter account. As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, Jennifer Ellison is being considered to replaced Smith; however, no official announcement has been made.

JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY returns to The Magic Castle, Hollywood For Two Nights Wednesday & Thursday, July 21 & 22 at 8pm

JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY returns to The Magic Castle, Hollywood For Two Nights Wednesday & Thursday, July 21 & 22 at 8pm

JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY Returns to The Magic Castle, Hollywood For Two Nights Wednesday & Thursday, July 21 & 22 at 8pm

The American Theatre Wing announced today that applications are now being accepted for the 2011 Jonathan Larson® Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony® Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.

JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY returns to The Magic Castle, Hollywood For Two Nights Wednesday & Thursday, July 21 & 22 at 8pm

Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Dir.; Ken Arthur, Producing Dir.),the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to announce that Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond will serve as Opening Night Co-Chairs for its 22nd Annual Free Summer Theatre Program.