August 16-31, 2024
Week 1: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 2: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 3: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

LEGALLY BLONDE
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Book by Heather Hach
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture
Original Production by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals, Dori Berinstein, James L. Nederlander, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, Amanda Lipitz, Broadway Asia, Barbara Whitman, FWPM Group, Hendel/Wiesenfeld, Goldberg/Binder, Stern/Meyer, Lane/Comley, Bartner-Jenkins/Nocciolino and Warren Trepp; Produced in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.
 
LEGALLY BLONDE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mitshows.com

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What's it about?

Based on the novel and the hit-movie of the same name, Legally Blonde: the Musical chronicles the journey of the famously perky Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy, UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner. In an effort to prove to Warner that she is more than just some blonde sorority girl, she follows him to Harvard Law, where she struggles to fit in and do well. Ultimately, she defies expectations and manages to stay true to her delightfully pink personality.

What's to love about Legally Blonde?

Audiences can expect an exhilarating theatrical spectacle in Legally Blonde: the Musical, filled with vibrant musical numbers, dynamic choreography, and a visual flair that brings the iconic story to life in a dazzling, high-energy production. From the bubbly, infectious energy of the sorority scenes to the show-stopping dance breaks, this adaptation promises to delight and entertain with its sheer sense of fun and theatrical pizzazz.

Content Advisory

Narrative Complexity:  Ages 12+

While younger children may be able to follow the basic storyline, the full narrative complexity of Legally Blonde is likely best suited for viewers in the 12-14 age range and above, who have the cognitive and emotional maturity to engage with the thematic depth and nuances of the plot.
The key reasons for this estimate are:

1. Thematic Complexity: Legally Blonde explores themes of self-discovery, gender stereotypes, and navigating challenges in a professional environment. These themes require a level of emotional and social maturity that is typically developed in early-to-mid teenage years.
2. Plot Progression: The story follows Elle Woods, a fashion-focused sorority student, who decides to attend Harvard Law School to pursue a law degree and win back her ex-boyfriend. This narrative arc involves several twists and turns that require some abstract thinking skills.
3. Character Development: The main character, Elle, undergoes significant personal growth and transformation over the course of the story. Fully appreciating this character arc likely requires a certain level of cognitive and psychological understanding.
4. Humor and Satire: The film utilizes a good deal of humor, irony, and satire, which can be harder for younger audiences to fully comprehend and contextualize.

​A lot or a little? 

A guide to help you decide if this show is right for your family.

Positive Message:  ​★★★

Legally Blonde offers a positive message about pursuing one's dreams and not letting societal expectations or preconceptions limit one's potential for success and self-discovery.

​Diverse Representation:  ​★☆☆

While the musical of Legally Blonde features a strong female lead character, the overall representation of diverse characters and perspectives could be more inclusive and representative of the broader spectrum of identities and experiences.

Sex and Romance:  ​★☆☆

Legally Blonde ​contains some mild sexual innuendo, suggestive dancing, and a romantic subplot, but these elements are relatively tame and not overly explicit or prolonged.

Violence and Scariness:  ​​​★☆☆

Legally Blonde ​includes a brief scene depicting an unwanted sexual advance as well as a humorous depiction of murder, but these moments are relatively minor and not overly intense or graphic in nature.

Adult Language:  ​​★☆☆

Legally Blonde contains occasional mild profanity and suggestive references, but lacks the frequent or intense use of explicit language.

Drinking, Drugs, Smoking:  ​​​★☆☆

There are a few brief references to college partying and social drinking, but no extensive or detailed depictions of substance use.

★★★ = There's a lot of this.
★★☆ = There's some of this.
★☆☆= There's a bit of this.
​☆☆☆ = Don't expect this.

Production Team

ANDREA ST. CLAIR

Director

Andrea St. Clair has directed and choreographed multiple shows for the WOH, including My Fairy Lady, Shrek, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Elly Award - Best Production), Elf the Musical, Young Frankenstein (Director, Chesley Award – Favorite Production), and School of Rock; including Godspell JR, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR, and Disney's Dare to Dream JR. pilot for our Rising Stars series. As Education Director, she is the current director for the Broadway Bound Training and Performance Group and has lead cast members from the WOH to win multiple awards at the Junior Theatre Festival West in Sacramento. BA Theatre Arts, SJSU; CAP21. Member: AEA.

DEAN MORA

Music Director

​Dean Mora is a native of Los Angeles, and graduated from Cal State Northridge with a BM in Piano Performance.  His first stint as a musical
director began with a production of Godspell in 1989, and he has since been the “M.D.” for over 40 local and regional productions.  Legally Blonde is Dean’s 7th show at Woodland Opera House, and he is excited to be a part of this wonderful presentation.

STACI ARRIAGA

Choreographer

Staci Arriaga has spent over 25 years teaching tap, jazz and working as a choreographer in musical theatre. She continues to teach dance at the Woodland Opera House while running the dance program at Justin-Siena High School in Napa while choreographing for numerous theatre companies all over the Bay Area including Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Center Rep, Berkeley Playhouse, Solano College Theatre, 42nd Street Moon, 6th Street Playhouse, two summers with The Ash Lawn Opera in Virginia and Lucky Penny Productions where she is their resident choreographer. Staci has received several award nominations and
has earned both a Theatre Bay Area Award and a San Fransisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for her work. If you would like to learn more about Staci and her work visit staciarriaga.com

LISA BRUNI

STAGE MANAGER

Lisa Bruni began her run as a Stage Manager for the Woodland Opera House in 2018 with To Kill A Mockingbird and has been regularly stage-managing productions ever since! Her daughter Erin (now a professional actor on the east coast) introduced her to the world of theatre many years ago, as she migrated from an audience member and parent helper to running the soundboard to eventually taking on a role as a Stage Manager. Lisa finds that this responsibility helps keeps her engaged with the theater community and satisfies her enjoyment of organizing all aspects of the production process. She is grateful for the opportunity to keep busy with creative minds!

DIANE HAAS

PROP MASTER

Diane Lee Haas first joined WOH in 2012, performing in South Pacific. Though she loves being on stage, she also enjoys working creatively behind the scenes. She drew a ship tattoo every night for South Pacific, created the cockades and a huge wedding cake for Les Misérables, and designed the dancing plates in Beauty and the Beast. She has been a WOH Props Master since 2021, beginning with Elf the Musical, and to date has made props for 11 shows. Favorite creations include brains (Young Frankenstein), Gary the Snail (SpongeBob the Musical), and Maleficent’s staff (Descendants).

DENISE MILES

COSTUME DESIGNER

Denise Miles has been designing and creating costumes for the Sacramento theater community for nearly years. She served as the resident costume designer for St. Francis High School’s theater department from 2005-2016 and for River City Theater Company from 2005-2012. Denise joined the Woodland Opera House as resident costume designer in 2011. Additionally, she has designed for Artistic Differences Theatre Company, Davis Musical Theatre Company, Lipstick Theatre at Northwestern University and Beating of Wings. Denise holds a design degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

LUKE CRABBE

SCENIC DESIGNER

Luke Crabbe is a Woodland native and first joined the Woodland Opera House as a performer in 2013. He continued to follow his passion for theater into college, graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Theater. While attending UCSB Luke was a Theater Technician for the Theater and Dance department as well as the Technical Director for Shrunken Heads Production Company, a student run musical theater association on campus. Since then he has been working in various technical theater roles primarily with Veterans Memorial Theater and Broadway Sacramento. Luke returned to the Woodland Opera House as Technical Director in September 2023 and has had an amazing time rejoining to Woodland theater community.

JANET SAKONA

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Janet Sakona is excited to be backstage again at Woodland Opera House after a five year break. She has been involved at the Woodland Opera House for almost 25 years, onstage, backstage and as a Board and Guild member. She will be starting her 28th year as a teacher at Woodland High, 25th as Theatre Teacher/Director.  She feels blessed to have worked with hundreds of amazing students and gets much joy from watching their talent and confidence grow. She thanks her husband for supporting her love of theatre and Lisa and Andrea for their guidance in relearning this process.

MELISSA DAHLBERG

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Melissa Dahlberg has worked backstage for countless shows (at least she has lost count) and has stage managed more than a dozen (again, she lost count) and has even been in a few (didn’t bother counting). She hopes you enjoy the show.

PAUL ZINDEL

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Paul Zindel has worked backstage on numerous shows, far too many to remember, doing a little bit of everything. He has always enjoyed running lights, it was the first thing he did in theater more than 30 years ago, and provides what he says is "the best view in the house." Paul has been Lighting Designer on several productions and enjoys adding some creativity to the shows he works on.

DANIKA SUDIK

INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER

Danika Sudik (Intimacy Choreographer) is an Ovation-nominated director, actor, and theatre maker whose consent-based practices center social, economic, and environmental sustainability. She lectures at UC Davis, in the departments of Theatre & Dance and Cinema & Digital Media. Ms. Sudik is a Survivor Fellow and SurvivorsConnect Lead with Everytown Survivor Network, a Theatrical Intimacy Education Advocate, and belongs to the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She is thrilled to be working on her first show at WOH!