Legally Blonde - Saw Lauren Zakrin's Last Performance

[orbops]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:14am

Went to the Sunday matinee in Tempe, AZ and got to see Lauren's final performance. Don't know if it's standard, but for the matinee, the understudies for the roles of Elle Woods, Emmett Forrest, Brooke Wyndham, Fforzheimer, and then two other roles were also announced before the curtain came up (seems like a lot of understudies - normally when we see a show on the Sunday matinee it's usually just the lead).

Overall, Lauren did a nice job as Elle. Her singing was strong, though she did sound a little winded during "So Much Better". Once we stopped comparing it to the MTV version, the show was very enjoyable. The understudies for Emmett and Brooke also gave very good performances. The simplified set design of the opening number deflates some of the initial energy, so it took the audience a while to get into it.

There were more college & teen age girls (dressed to the nines) in attendance than I've ever seen for a show in Tempe (including Wicked) - which demonstrates that the MTV show really expanded the audience for a Broadway musical! The most telling comment came from some tweens in the lobby before the show when they saw the notice that Lauren was playing Elle - they got so excited that they were going to see her as well as Rhiannon Hansen.

Overall, we were very happy with the touring company!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:45am

"There were more college & teen age girls (dressed to the nines) in attendance than I've ever seen for a show in Tempe (including Wicked) - which demonstrates that the MTV show really expanded the audience for a Broadway musical!"

Naturally, Legally Blonde attracts that type of audience. Every time I saw it, there were a lot of college- and teen-aged girls. You a somewhat different audience at Wicked; you see more families among the teens.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:57am

unless something drastically changed, Lauren doesn't leave until next tuesday, per her twitter

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:37pm

Where is Lauren headed to? I didn't know she was leaving.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 3:02pm

^^^
Just about to post the same thing.

[brldisteach]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 3:18pm

Hi, Just an FYI-I ushered for the tour when it was in my hometown, and when a lead was out it was often someone who played a supporting character who moved up to the lead-so it looks like there're more understudies. Check your playbill, because my guess is that the actor who usually plays Fhorzheimer(Sp?) was probably playing Emmet, and if it said there was an understudy for the Court Reporter, that was because Lauren was playing Elle. Also when I saw it the actresses playing Brooke and Vivian were both out for stretches of the run.

[orbops]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 11:03pm

Looks like her latest twitter said, "This time tomorrow, I will be on a plane home..... Mom and Dad, here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!8:46 AM Sep 27th from web"

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 11:52pm

hmm i'm surprised that she left early.. Updated On: 9/28/09 at 11:52 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 12:22am

I don't think she left early - the tour started an entire year ago. I'm guessing a few of the principles/ others will be leaving shortly too.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 1:06am

Does anyone know who the Elle understudy is now? I'm seeing the show October 4th. I'm hoping I don't see Becky. I don't know if I can stand that nasel voice for two whole hours, but I'll try if need be. If it's Rhiannon, I'm going to cry.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 1:26am

philly- early in that she had just said that she was leaving oct 6

angel- Kathleen Monteleone is the new Elle, Margot u/s
http://www.kathleenmonteleone.com/ Updated On: 9/29/09 at 01:26 AM

[DivaBrigader]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 11:18am

Spiritual Sandy?

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 11:27am

Lauren's Twitter has said that her last day with Legally Blonde is over and she is home. She then posted

Happy to be home... Flying back to the big BLONDE in five days though! See you in Sacramento!

I'm clueless as to what it means, but sounds interesting.... any ideas?

[sgv123]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 11:30am

Maybe she is just taking a break?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 12:17pm

"Happy to be home... Flying back to the big BLONDE in five days though! See you in Sacramento!"

The Legally Blonde website doesn't have Lauren Zakrin listed anymore. Maybe she is just seeing the show in Sacramento. I don't understand if she would only be gone for five days, they'd take her bio down from the tour website and bring in someone new.

[sgv123]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 12:26pm

It is also weird that she says she is going on for Elle on Oct. 4th.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 12:28pm

Perhaps they need her for a couple of shows and are flying her in to do them?

[HumATune]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 1:39pm

Is she going on for the matinee or the evening on the 4th?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 2:41pm

sounds like it was just a break

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 3:04pm

Lauren is going on as Elle now? I'm confused. I hope she's not going on on the 4th. Where did you find this out?

[sgv123]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 3:07pm

This is what her twitter says:

Packing up my childhood room to help my parents move to their new home! Not the most relaxing way to spend my break, at least I am home <3

Will be playing Elle Woods on Sunday September 27, Sunday October 4, and my last show with Legally Blonde, Tuesday October 2.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 3:08pm

Per her Twitter account:

"Packing up my childhood room to help my parents move to their new home! Not the most relaxing way to spend my break, at least I am home <3"

Also:

"Will be playing Elle Woods on Sunday September 27, Sunday October 4, and my last show with Legally Blonde, Tuesday October 2."

Looks like her break is coincidentally before her last performance. She probably wouldn't have taken the break, but I assume she did to help with family errands.

Updated On: 9/29/09 at 03:08 PM

Posted: 9/29/09 at 3:09pm

She is definitely leaving the tour. She's on her vacation right now, but will return for her last couple of shows before permanently leaving.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 3:18pm

Has she gotten any better since the last itme she was Elle? I saw videos of her performances as Elle and, uh...she was sort of awful. I'm well aware that it was video quality, blah blah, but nasally is nasally. It seems to me that she thinks a nasal, high, sqeaky voice is Elle Woods and it's irritating. Has she fixed that? I'm really excited to see her if she is going on in October. I'm up for anyone as long as it's not Becky.

[andrewcomp]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:19pm

There's two new Elle u/s.

And the blog hints that Lauren is going to the Grease tour