Legally Blonde: The Musical presented by ACTS

Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, 40 Stow St, Concord, MA | Get Directions »
$15.00

This spring, Concord is going blonde! The Alexander Children’s Theatre School (ACTS) is presenting the Tony Award-nominated musical Legally Blonde, which will run June 1-10 (six performances), at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts. Inspired by the novel and MGM film of the same name, Legally Blonde tells the story of outgoing sorority star Elle Woods—a blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for somebody 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 cast of Legally Blonde includes Concord residents Olivia Cleary, Mary Goode, Kaylee Honan, Elana Israel, Stephanie Malis, Julia Nelson, Emma Olsen, Maggie Whitlock, Monica Whitlock, and Paige Winn.

Stephanie C. Mavrides, the company’s founding director, says she chose the show because it is “a great musical for all types of kids to do. It’s a big ensemble show, a great cast, a lot of fun, and it is the happiest thing you can do this season!” The show brought in many auditionees, new and old, including longtime ACTS veteran Maggie Whitlock. “I’ve wanted to do this show since it came out on Broadway, so now we’re finally doing it...It’s just going to be super fun and really awesome!”

Legally Blonde features a score by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, a book by Heather Hach, and is produced with exclusive permission from Music Theatre International (MTI). The musical is produced by Mavrides and EMACT Award winner James Forbes Sheehan, with direction by EMACT Award nominee Jake O’Hara, music direction by Brent Kincaid and Craig Spaner, choreography by IRNE Award nominee Jackie Theoharis, and stage management by Emmy Award-winning Concord resident Kelly Hanley Goode.

Mavrides has a lot of love for the theatre and her company, which is now in its 13th season. “I love watching kids develop into adults,” she said in a recent interview. “I love watching them improve their skills year by year, whether they want to go into theatre or not. I love people learning and loving and having passion for theatre and dance.” Sheehan, an alumnus of the group, agrees. “These kids really give 110% in all that they do, and it shows. They are consistantly exceeding our expectations and working to put on the best show possible. And with a show like Legally Blonde, the ensemble is the true star of the show: they are onstage more than some of the principles, in some cases.”

The company has touched the lives of many cast-members, including Sudbury’s Jessica Newman. “ACTS is my favorite part of my life...these kids are my best friends, and it’s given me confidence to put myself in front of other people and share my voice with the world.”

Performances are at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts (40 Stow Street, Concord, MA) on Friday, June 1 at 7:30pm, Saturday, June 2 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, Sunday, June 3 at 4:00pm, Friday, June 8 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, June 10 at 4:00pm. Tickets range from $15 to $20 and are available online at www.ACTS1.org or by calling 781-899-4467.