Who's seeing Legally Blonde Tour opening night today? — Page 4

how is the new callahan?

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Ken Land as Callahan is fine, I didn't like him on night #1, but I was comparing him to Michael Rupert, of course. I liked him more last night, when he seemed to sing the lines in "Blood in the Water" a bit slower. I don't know if that makes sense or not.
Tonight I am taking a friend with me who really has no idea what this show is about, and probably wouldn't go unless I bought the ticket as a birthday present for her. I am going to be interested to see her reaction.
Last night I took a different friend, who has been a dance teacher for 50 years. She was totally amazed with this cast, and especially with their energy...but we all wonder how the hell can those girls dance in stiletto heels????
Off topic, I found out from my dance teacher friend that one of her former students is in "GYSPY" and she thinks she should probably get down there and see her SOON! I told her that I would gladly join her! Backstage visit for me, I am thinking???

Updated On: 9/27/08 at 12:28 PM

"Someone, towards the end of Whipped Into Shape tonight, totally stopped jumping rope, and sort of just walked off stage. ??? "

hahahaha, that sounds so funny for some reason.

Man, I can't believe I have to wait an entire year to watch this. Live.

I think the just took out the line "don't take the freeway hey wait for me!" and just went to "no one should be to dress and accessorize"

Saw the tour tonight. I was completely impressed. Becky as Elle never fails to impress me (I saw her back in January). She completely controls the stage. The show is hers. Loved DB Bonds as Emmett - he looks great next to Becky and has a personality! Natalie was outstanding as Paulette - she got the audience laughing quite a bit. I was truly impressed with Rhiannon, Cortney and Crystal - they were quite the trio! Megan was great as Vivienne, different from Kate but in a good way, and Coleen was good as Brooke, although "Whipped into Shape" as a whole needs work. Was so-so about Jeff as Warner, and really wasn't fond of Ken as Callahan - I didn't find him sleazy enough. Oh, and I thought Ven was great as Kyle! Overall I thought it was one of the best performances I've ever seen of the show.

I was there tonight too Ally and I almost completely agree with everything you said in your post. GREAT show...so infectious...I don't see how people can hate/dislike this show. It totally makes you forget about everything else for 2 1/2 hrs and involves you completely in Elle's journey.
A few random musings:
-Becky Gulsvig - she IS Elle Woods, this show is hers. I was with her the entire time and never once did she feel anything but authentic. And she's cute as a button :)
-The sets are noticeably scaled down but it doesn't detract from the show in the least.
-Rhiannon, who I couldn't stand on MTV (mostly because it didn't seem like she could sing a note and I didn't know how she could possibly carry the show as a lead) totally made me eat my words here. She is just as good as Annaleigh Ashford (whoever mentioned she was channeling Annaleigh was spot-on) and she is just a joy to watch in all her scenes.
-Natalie Joy Johnson - she made Paulette more like the Paulette from the movie - kinda crass and clumsy. Orfeh is more subdued and mature. But both can BELT and Natalie def stole the show with her numbers. Everyone loved her. I LOVE her.
-The only one I wasn't crazy about was Jeff McClean as Warner. I don't know what it was...but he just didn't have that "Warner vibe". Richard H. Blake is the kind of guys girls swoon after, and no offense to Jeff, but he just seemed kind of bland to me, especially in his introductory scene.
-Two things the audience LOVED- 1) Any time either dog was on stage. It's funny how the love for animals is so universal. All it takes is for one of the pooches to simply walk on stage and the audience lets out a massive collective "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"
2) Ven Daniel as Kyle. The crowd just ate him up (and why not - the boy truly is "walking porn") I was actually really impressed with Ven and after tonight he's my new crush. He's proof how an actor can take such a simple role and steal practically the entire show with only 2-3 small scenes. I liked him much better than Andy Karl too.
So overall an AMAZING show (like I knew it would be). and Ally I agree with you about 'Whipped Into Shape'. It seems sloppy at the end.
Oh and Bruiser's first scene was so cute. He ran out and hit his mark but was totally silent and just kind of looked back at the girls. Rhiannon had to coach the first bark out of him then he did fine :)
That's all!

The pictures in the souvenir program are all from the Broadway production. I presume that there will be a new book for the tour once they have a chance to do a photo call and get a new program printed up. Merchandise sales have been brisk, owing greatly to the number of kids and teens at the performances.

With all the negative reviews about Jeff McClean as Warner, I kind of hope I get to see Adam Zelasko go on in the role. Actually I be for it anyway since I went to college with him and I am very happy for his success.

Rooboy: nice job on your report. All of your observations are on the money.
Adam Zelasko was out of the show on Saturday night, his roles covered by Jay Garcia, who was not as good as Adam, but, in fairness, has probably had little or no rehearsal as Padamadan and Nikos.
As I'm sure will come as no surprise to anyone who watched the "Search for" program, Lauren is terrific in all the scenes that she is in. She has assorted solo singing lines which she belts with gusto -- though it strains credibility that she would ever have to be alone with her cat. She moves great, and executes a nice cartwheel at the end of "What You Want." Anyone seeing the production in future ports of call, watch Lauren as the court stenographer, in which role she has some funny bits, including her interaction with Nikos on the stand.
Another non-surprise: Rhiannon and Lauren are the main attraction at the stage door. They were standing out in the pouring rain after Saturday night's show signing autographs and posing for photos until everyone was accommodated, and they could not be any nicer to everyone.

Updated On: 9/28/08 at 01:12 AM

I've seen some stagedoor pics from last night, of D.B., Becky, Cortney, and of course Rhiannon and Lauren. Aside from going out the audience doors, the stage door seems to be the only way out for them.

I did not go to the stage door last night, the friend that I went with sort of rolled her eyes when I mentioned it. LOL!!!

So now I am "LB Withdrawal" mode until I see it again in December at The Bushnell.

I wonder if there will be any cast changes by then? Maybe Richard Blake could join the tour? How great would THAT be? And Michael Rupert?

But the real question is, does Megan Lawrence belt the A flat during the Remix?

think I'm def gonna catch it again at the Bushnell too. Colleenya- having never been there, how good are your seats? I was checking out availabilty for orchestra seating and it keeps giving me Row B or Row F, which are to the right and left towards the back. Any idea how good those are view-wise? and what about front balcony? it's much cheaper for balcony but I was wondering which to go with....

Yeah I looked at the website and the best seats available look to be section B. It seems like there's no more than 30 rows in the orchestra section anyway, so there doesn't look to be a bad seat in the house