Nell Benjamin News

The American Theatre Wing and the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation (JLPAF) announced today that beginning immediately, the Wing will be the new home for The Jonathan Larson Grants.

Barnes & Noble/Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway @ 66th St) has released their September schedule of events. All events are free and open to the public.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards announces the creative team for the theatre's upcoming production of Barnum the musical and names Brad Oscar in the title role.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates its fifth year with 24 full productions, a dance series, a developmental series, concerts and special events.

The ASCAP Foundation will present this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival's Educational Series at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on September 18th, 25th and October 2nd. The Educational Series provides an opportunity for audience members and aspiring theater artists to learn directly from industry professionals. All seminars are free of charge and made possible through the generous support of The ASCAP Foundation's Irving Caesar Trust.

The producers of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, who announced previously that original Broadway cast member and Elle understudy Becky Gulsvig had been cast as Elle Woods in the First National Tour, are delighted to announce that full casting has been completed. The tour will kick off in Rhode Island at The Providence Performing Arts Center, PPAC on Sunday, September 21, 2008.

Broadway mega-hit and seven-time Tony® nominee Legally Blonde The Musical will headline Pittsburgh CLO's 2009 Summer Season June 9-14 at the Benedum Center.

Bailey Hanks won the MTV competition 'The Search For The New Elle Woods' making her the new successor to Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods. On July 23rd, 2008 Bailey took the stage for her Broadway debut, but the day before that huge step she shared a table at Sardi's with BroadwayWorld TV to discuss all the excitement!

Bailey Hanks, the winner of MTV's 8-episode reality show 'Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods', will make her Broadway debut in Legally Blonde.

On Sunday, July 20th at 7pm Tony Award Nominee Laura Bell Bundy, Broadway's original Elle Woods, played her final performance in the musical 'Legally Blonde' It was a night of emotional farewells and tearful celebration and BWW TV was there to capture Laura Bell's last 'Bend and Snap'!

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 Nominee Laura Bell Bundy.

Natalie Joy Johnson takes BroadwayWorld.com behind the scenes 'Backstage at Blonde', the young singer and actress is making her Broadway debut in the hit musical Legally Blonde. As the cast celebrates the show's continued success, Natalie shares the inside scoop on what it means to be a 'Blonde' on Broadway!

On Sunday, July 20th at 7PM Laura Bell Bundy will play her final performance as Elle Woods.

MTV & LEGALLY BLONDE are painting NYC pink with a special tour including 50 'Elle Woods' look-a-likes taking over the city on a appropriately pink double decker tour bus.

April Nixon performs 'Breakthrough' featuring songs of Larry O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and Kenny Kacmar and Joe Miloscia, and special guests Norm Lewis, Marcus Paul James, and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson on May 12th and 19th.

Legally Blonde star Laura Bell Bundy met with Haylie Duff backstage at the Palace Theatre. It was recently announced that Duff will host the MTV reality show the 'Search for the New Elle Woods.'

It was announced today that original Broadway cast member Becky Gulsvig will play Elle Woods in the First National Tour of the 'mega- hit' (Wall Street Journal) LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL. The tour will kick off in Rhode Island at The Providence Performing Arts Center, PPAC on September 23, 2008.

After the success of 'Legally Blonde The Musical' MTV will once again join forces with the Legally Blonde The Musical team this time to search for a talented singer/actress/dancer to take over for Broadway star and current lead Laura Bell Bundy.

It was announced today that Nicolette Hart (Rent) and Kate Rockwell (NBC's 'Grease: You're The One That I Want) will join the cast of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL in May. Ms. Hart will take over the role of Brooke Wyndham on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 and Ms. Rockwell will perform the role of Margot starting Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Legally Blonde star Laura Bell Bundy joined the ranks of the many Broadway legends whose portraits hang on the walls of the famous 44th Street restaurant Sardi's, when her caricature was unveiled on April 24th, 2008.