Legally Blonde will play the Palace

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:02am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/100889.html

Hmph

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:08am

Bat Boy is one of my favorite off-b'way musicals! I'm glad Laurence O'Keefe is working on this. Has anyone heard of a possible director?

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:09am

Jerry Mitchell will direct and choreograph

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:09am

If I believed in bad karma, I'd be worried.

"Lestat" previewed in San Francisco in January.
"Lestat" played the Palace.
"Lestat" was a giant flop.

"Legally Blonde" is previewing in San Francisco in January.
"Legally Blonde" will play the Palace.

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:09am

I think this was as expected.

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:16am

It just better make it to broadway, because even if it is a flop. I know I want to see it.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:17am

if Lestat did, Legally Blonde will

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:19am

i said months ago it was going to be playing here at this theatre is just tooooo big for this show. even if they close off the balcony, it'll be too big. just like ASU was too big for it. i mean, i really hope it does well and has a healthy run, i'm just having a hard time imagining that happening at the palace.

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:19am

It most likely will make it Broadway. It'll probably go strong for a few months and then close sometime at the beginning of the next year.

That's just my guess though. I'd like to see it do well. Great people attached to it.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:24am

I think Mary Poppins should have gone to the Palace, Lion King stay at the NA, and Legally Blonde go into the Hilton.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:42am

If I had to guess I'd say it will probably be as big as Hairspray in size. As in, It's not Wicked and it's now Sweeney Todd. It's that sorta middle ground musical. I think the Palace is probably to large, but it has a built in fanbase that is accustomed to going to theater (Wicked, Brooklyn, Hairspray) so I think it will at least do healthy business. A few Tony nods for the lead and the musical and some good reviews will help.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 4:01am

I am more worried with the fact Laura Bell Bundy is likely to star in the show. I don't see her having the kind of star quality that this role requires, it's not an ensemble piece, it's clearly a star show and I'm not sure she's the right person for it. I'd like to see someone like Jane Krakowski (probably too old for the role, yet ideal for it) or Kelli O'Hara, and if they are going to try to make this show a vehicle for a newcomer a la "Thoroughly Modern Millie" then the direction and the score better be flawless if they plan to fill the Palace.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 4:26am

Excuse me for repeating this from another thread, but I didn't see this one before!

Hope this show can break the curse of that theatre: "Interesting things that don't live up to the hype".

I've had fun with it's previous tenants, so I'll go. Hope other's will follow.

And Mitchell knows what he's doing. If anyone, he can break the "curse"!

[codyjo88]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 4:46am

http://www.legallyblondemusical.com/

I am so excited about this musical and can't wait to see it in SF, it is the reason I subscribed!

[roniscurious]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 7:14am

I have seen Laura Bundy often. I feel she is certain star quality. she has the charm and stage presence to pull anything off. Good thing many opinions is what makes the world go round.
I think she will bring style and finesse to that stage.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 7:20am

If some people here are worried how Legally Blonde will play in a large theatre like the Palace, why should it have gone into a BIGGER theatre, like the Hilton (which is booked with the very very large Pirate Queen anyway?)

[jv92]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:45am

It'll do fine. I'm sure the movie will attract people and usually Mitchell's work is great and guarentees it a decent run.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:51am

If the musical is good quality, then size of venue doesn't matter. A flop will flop wherever it parks and a quality show will be ok. Legally Blonde could be a star making turn for a lesser known actress and make her a Broadway star. However, stars aren't made on Broadway anymore. Those days are long gone. Now, a Broadway actor hopes to establish enough of a name in order to get some film work and some TV work in between shows. Broadway is a different beast now. Also, the families and teens that will flock to this show will not care who stars in it. Only Broadway fans will have thoughts or feelings on casting. Look at Wicked, no one knows who most of the leads are and the show does beaucoup box office. Legally Blonde does not need a "star." A star might actually kill the show, because once a "star" leaves, box office plummets. Having a quality lesser-known actress in a show with good music is a better plan.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 10:51 AM

[Hello Dawley]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:22am

I would love to see Kerry Butler in this show...I have heard her sing songs from it and she is just amazing.

[kim1061]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:27am

yero, i agree with you. Mary Poppins should go to the Palace. or even Lion King. Putting a new show there, like Legally Blonde, is not going to fill up every single seat. Although, I def. want to see this. Who knows maybe, somehow it will bring every preteen girl towards Broadway.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:28am

Every preteen girl has already seen WICKED.

And I would be perfectly content with NOT seeing Kerry Butler go anywhere near this. She's totally wrong for the part.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:37am

I thought this movie was a bad copy of Clueless, hopefully the musical will be better.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:33pm

Didn't realize the Hilton was larger than the Palace.
I still think Mary Poppins should have gone to the Palace, though.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:40pm

This theatre is WAY too big unless they stunt cast this show. Where is Kelly Bundy when you need her?

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:45pm

stunt cast... oh, like christina applegate?

i know ppl in this cast and so i dont want to see it fail, but even so, i wish they'd waitd a bit longer to announce a theatre bc you never know what might open up in the 8 or so months till it opens.