Casting for Legally Blonde/San Francisco

[lisaleela]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:35pm

What is the latest news on the casting situation for "Legally Blonde"? I'm particularly wondering if Rachel Dratch has been cast? Rumor is that she has, for the San Francisco run, in Jan. But not sure if this person (who told me) is only speculating or not. If anyone knows this stuff, it would be you guys. :) I would want to add this to her website if this is true, but not if it's only speculation. Thanks!

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:21pm

Laura Bell Bundy as Elle is offical

Not sure if this is offical, but Richard H Blake as her boyfriend (I forget the name)

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:23pm

I love Richard but he's too old to play that role.

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:25pm

None of this is official, but from what I can tell:

Richard H. Blake - Warner
Christian Borle - Emmett
Nicole Snelson - Brooke Windham

[MissNY]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:33pm

Kate Wetherhead - Chutney Windham
Andy Karl - UPS man
Donna Vivino - Enid

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 12:05am

Richard, Andy and Christian are all said to be official.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 12:24am

i am pretty sure kate is vivian and i know leslie is serena...she said it in a recent interview.

[numberonefan]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 12:33am

When will this show open on Broadway?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 1:21am

Found in 2 seconds by googling "legally blonde" broadway opening: http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/9453.html

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 1:24am

Leslie Kritzer is in this as well

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 11:32am

Her name escapes me at the moment but didn't I hear one of the former Miss America's is in it too, right on the tip of my tongue, so frustrating.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 11:38am

You mean Kate Shindle? Who would she play?

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 11:40am

Um, yeah, it's a few posts right above us rup, it's Vivian. (sulks away).

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 11:51am

Don't feel bad Bree, I wouldn't know who just "Kate" was. Are these all official, or speculation?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 12:08pm

Bree nothing to feel dumb about. I think most are speculation from the last workshop. The only offical ones I have heard are LBB as Elle, Leslie as Serena, and Nicole Snelson as Brooke Windham

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 1:10pm

Exactly, the rest aren't "official, official". I also read in Andy Karls Wedding Singer bio that he'll be going into the show as well.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 2:10pm

The people they used were pretty consisent for the two or three workshops they had. Pretty much that entire cast is going to Broadway with it.

The people I know for sure are: Laura Bell Bundy (Elle Woods,) Christian Borle (Emmett Richmond,) Richard H Blake (Warner Huntington III,) Kate Wetherhead (Delta Nu/ Chutney Wyndham,) Leslie Kritzer (Serena,) Donna Vivino (Enid Wexler), and Andy Karl (UPS Guy.)

Rachel Dratch is still a question mark. She had initially turned down any offer to be involved with the show past the workshop because of her TV show 30 Rock with Tina Fey, but now that she is only involved with that temporarily, I guess she could do it if they were still interested in her.

Since Dratch left, however, I think the Paulette character has evolved into something a little different.

Michelle Kitrell's website says she will be playing a Delta Nu/ Brooke (Is she Brooke Wyndham instead of Nicole Snelson now?) and understudying 'Pilar.' My guess is that 'Pilar' is the new version of Paulette but still the same manicurist/best friend angle.

I know they were having trouble re-casting the role when it was still Paulette, so they most likely just re-worked it all together.

Updated On: 10/26/06 at 02:10 PM

Posted: 10/26/06 at 2:21pm

Updated On: 10/26/06 at 02:21 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 2:40pm

I am hoping Jerry and the crew make an official announcement soon on the rest of the cast...I expect they are starting rehersals soon.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:04pm

Actually the manicurist/best friend IS Paulette and I can't imagine that's going to be reconceptualized. Pilar in the movie was another sorority sister.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:17pm

To be completely honest, I can't see anybody but Jennifer Coolidge in the role. She was just so completely unforgettable that I don't think anyone else could play the same Paulette that she did. That's not to say that I'm not open to seeing a different version of the character, but I would pay big bucks to see Coolidge come back to Broadway through this vehicle.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:18pm

FosterChild, I don't remember any Pilar from the movie, but even if there was one (which I guess there was,) there is no way that role could be big enough to require an understudy...

EDIT: I searched every thing I could and can find no refrence to a 'Pilar' in the movie. I did, however, find that another actress was still playing that role when Dratch was involved, so it must not be the new version of the Paulette character.

Question: Farrah Alvin played Margot in the workshops. Does anyone know if she plans on continuing with the show?

Updated On: 10/26/06 at 04:18 PM

[misto625]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:28pm

Somethingwicked- I think it means she is understudying both Brooke and Pilar. The commas and slashes are hard to decipher sometimes. I think Pilar might be Chutney's mother, the character played by Raquel Welch in the movie.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:34pm

That WOULD make sense misto (in regards to Michelle covering both roles.) I know she is also playing the District Attorney (at least she did in the workshops.)

Chutney's mother was only refered to as 'Mrs. Windham Vandermark' in the movie, but it would make sense if Pilar was indeed that character in the show.

Also, here's the full cast list from the last workshop they did. It looks like most (if not all) of those involved are moving on to Broadway:

Laura Bell Bundy (Elle Woods), Scott Bakula (Professor Callahan), Rachel Dratch (Paulette), Christian Borle (Emmett), Richard Blake (Warner), Kate Shindle (Vivien), Nikki Snelson (Brook Wyndam), Leslie Kritzer (Serena), Farah Alvin (Margot), Pearl Sun (Pilar), Andy Karl (Kyle), Aaron Lohr, Kate Wetherhead, Donna Vivino, Debra Wiseman, Kevin Pariseau, Rashad Naylor, Julie Garnye, Eisa Davis, T.J. Maddox, Caesar Samayoa, and Michelle Kittrell.

Updated On: 10/26/06 at 04:34 PM

[ruprecht]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 4:47pm

According to IMDB there is no Pilar at all, so maybe they just took liberties and made up a new sorority girl, no biggie.