Legally Blonde finally sets a West End opening date

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 8:04am

The UK production of Legally Blonde the musical will open at the Savoy Theatre (very odd choice) on December 5th 2009.

The cast will include Sheridan Smith (Little Shop Of Horrros and TVs 2 Pints Of Lager), Duncan James (Chicago and UK pop group Blue) and Alex Gaumond (We Will Rock You UK Tour, Desperately Seeking Susan and Guys and Dolls)

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 8:07am

Why, thats not long to wait at all! :)

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:32pm

Bump -old news.
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 09:32 PM

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:37pm

Is this a big theatre?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:39pm

1150
Thats aprx 600 less than the Palace in New York.
Very restricted stage space so we are expecting a very cut down version.



Updated On: 4/1/09 at 09:39 PM

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:41pm

That's an odd theatre, in my opinion.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:42pm

No which is what is causing some concern here

The auditorium is a very awkward looking one with the circle feeling like you are miles away from the stage.
The stage also is not that big, not even close to the Palace.

It holds around 1100

to make matters worse the thetare is attached to a hotel and the building has no marquee space except for a small sign at the top.

The show has been so desperate to find a home in London i fear its just settled for any available theatre after it lost the Piccadilly

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:43pm

When's Dirty Dancing happening, songie?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:45pm

Updated On: 4/1/09 at 09:45 PM

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:46pm

So is there a chance they might not use the broadway sets after all? In my opinion, the opening is not exciting at all without the house.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:48pm

Seems like they will have to get rid of a lot. I would guess that it's going to be a slightly more elaborate version of the tour set.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:49pm

Not sure PiraguaGuy2
Its such a horrid mess of a stage show i hope for your guys sake it never makes it to NY but the show is a cash cow so it probably will

A friend of mine is working on the UK production of LB and he says the sketches for the set for the UK are very similar to the US tour, except the 1st song is a series of doors for the sorority house, of course its early so t could change

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:51pm

Its such a horrid mess of a stage show i hope for your guys sake it never makes it to NY but the show is a cash cow so it probably will

Why would it come to NY?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:51pm

Savoy

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:51pm

The Savoy has always presented high quality productions in the West End but suprisingly it has only ever staged two Broadway musicals, Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller in a very successful season of 'Sugar Babies' in 1986 and a disastrous run of 'The Mystery Of Edwin Drood' in 1988.
It has staged musicals on the odd occasion but is mainly seen as a theatre for top name drama.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:52pm

I like the outside of the theater.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:54pm

The only real Marquee space visible from the main road

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:55pm

Its tucked away off the main street being one wall leading into the Savoy Hotel. It has zero passing trade and is only visible from the main road as you see in the pic below!

That black square is the theatres only marquee!

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:58pm

It is a guarantee that LB will flop if they stay there.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:01pm

Not at all

as Mamma says the Savoy has had some very good productions there and some good runs. The Rat Pack had a good run, as did Fiddler and many others

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:03pm

'Legally Blonde' doesn't have many records to break at the box office of the Savoy. Its longest run was the original production of 'Noises Off ' in 1986 and that ran for 4 years. Nothing else has ran anywhere near that long.
Its average run for most productions is 6mths to 18mths.
'Legally Blonde' may just break that trend but I doubt it very much.
We'll see.
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 10:03 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:06pm

And here is the UK cast (not officially announced yet so could change but i know for sure Alex and Duncan are locked)

Alex Gaumond as Emmet

What a voice this guy has, he is currently starring in We Will Rock You on its 1st UK tour in the lead, its playing at the theatre i work at and whilst the show is dodgy at best his voice is incredible. His other credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, Guys and Dolls, Miss Saigon amongst others

Updated On: 4/1/09 at 10:06 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:08pm

Duncan James as Warner

he was in the succesful uk pop group Blue and has done a lot of TV presenting as well as starring in shows like Chicago

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:10pm

Sheridan Smith as Elle

Best known as the star of hit TV series '2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps' and 'Grownups'

also starred in the hit London revival of Little Shop Of Horrors as Audry and has a theatre background.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 11:41pm

So, Songanddance. you didn't make the jumprope cut?
Their loss.
Looks like a hot cast so far.