Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods


Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Legally Blonde "? The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods is an MTV program created in order to cast an actress to replace Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde " The Musical. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.

The winner of the show, Bailey Hanks, in addition to being cast in the role, was given the opportunity to record her own single of the musical's first-act closer, "So Much Better". The show concluded on July 21, 2008. Autumn Hurlbert was the runner up. She served as Hanks' understudy and performed in the ensemble of the show. Bundy's last performance in the musical was on July 20, 2008. Hanks began performances on July 23, 2008 and remained with the show until it closed on October 19, 2008.

Two other show finalists "? Rhiannon Hansen and Lauren Zakrin, performed in the Legally Blonde National tour. Hansen played Margot in the musical and Zakrin performed in the ensemble as well serving as understudy to Becky Gulsvig as Elle Woods.

The show began with 15 contestants. All except the winner were eliminated over nine episodes, in which they performed songs and faced other challenges. A three-judge panel made the elimination decisions. Most episodes involved a small prize for the winner of the challenge.

Judges and mentors

  • Haylie Duff, singer, actress, and Broadway Performer
  • Jerry Mitchell, director and choreographer of Legally Blonde "? The Musical
  • Paul Canaan, ensemble member of Legally Blonde "? The Musical
  • Bernard Telsey, casting director
  • Heather Hach, librettist of Legally Blonde "? The Musical
  • Seth Rudetsky, musician, comedian, actor, writer, vocal coach
  • Denis Jones, Associate Choreographer of Legally Blonde "? The Musical
  • Marc Bruni, Associate Director of Legally Blonde "? The Musical

Contestants

Name Age Hometown Status
Bailey Hanks 20 Anderson, South Carolina Winner
Autumn Hurlbert 28 Mesa, Arizona 2nd Place
Rhiannon Hansen 19 Logan, Utah 3rd Place
Lauren Zakrin 18 Rochester Hills, Michigan Eliminated 7th
Natalie Lander 25 Malibu, California Eliminated 6th
Emma Zaks 26 New York City Eliminated 5th
Cassie Silva 19 Los Angeles Eliminated 4th
Celina Carvajal 28 San Francisco Eliminated 3rd
Lindsey Ridgway 24 Chicago Eliminated 2nd
Cassie Okenka 22 Toledo, Ohio Eliminated 1st
  • ^Age at the time of filming.

Episode summaries

In each episode, the contestants met different cast members from the Broadway cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical. They also studied a song from the show and faced various tests and challenges that were evaluated by the panel of judges. Most weeks, the challenge winner received a prize.

Episode Number 1 " "You're Cut" (Originally aired June 2, 2008)
50 contestants traveled to New York hoping to star as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. An initial dance audition ensued, and the field was narrowed down to 15 girls. After learning the song "So Much Better" and a dance, the girls auditioned for the judges. Five were eliminated, leaving 10 remaining contestants.

Episode Number 2 " "And Then There Were 10" (Originally aired June 9, 2008)
Episode 2 focused on acting auditions. Scene partner Nikki Snelson purposely drops a line during the contestants' auditions to see how the contestants react. The girls learned the song "Delta Nu Nu Nu". The challenge winner, Hanks, won personal time with Nikki Snelson. She shared the prize with Ridgway.

Episode Number 3 " "Omigod, She Threw Us Under the Bus!" (Originally aired June 16, 2008)
After a grueling vocal workshop on spin bikes to test the contestants' stamina, Cassie S. isolates herself from the other girls by complaining to the judges that the other contestants failed to give their all during her rehearsals. The episode also focused on the song "Omigod You Guys". The prize was a manicure and pedicure with Orfeh, won by Zakrin and shared with Silva.

Episode Number 4 " "It's Time to Get Serious" (Originally aired June 23, 2008)
The top eight contestants experience illness and nerves, while learning the song "Serious" and performing a challenging comedic scene. The prize was a date with Richard H. Blake, won by Hurlbert and shared with Carvajal.

Episode Number 5 " "These Pink Boots Are Made For Dancing" (Originally aired June 30, 2008)
The six contestants test their dancing skills on the cobblestoned streets of Brooklyn and face a Hip-Hop dancing challenge ("Shake Your Junk" dance sequence). The song for the episode was "Positive". Lander won a yoga lesson with Kate Shindle, which she shared with Hansen.

Episode Number 6 " "Blonde to the Bone" (Originally aired July 7, 2008)
The final five girls were given makeovers and performed the ballad "Legally Blonde." The episode's challenge involved modeling. The song was "Legally Blonde". Lander won a lunch date with Andy Karl.

Episode Number 7 " "Triple Threat Test" (Originally aired July 14, 2008)
Four finalists audition with a challenging number that tests singing, acting and dance. Their costume change skills were also tested, as was their stamina. The song featured was "What You Want". All the girls won dinner at the loft and Legally Blonde-style Tiffany necklaces.

Episode Number 8 " "A Star is Born!" (Originally aired July 21, 2008)
Autumn and Bailey performed three Legally Blonde numbers live at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, and Bailey was declared the winner. The three songs were "Omigod You Guys", "Positive" and "So Much Better". In addition to winning a contract to perform the role of Elle Woods on Broadway for at least three months, Hanks was given the opportunity to record her own single of the musical's first-act closer, "So Much Better". Hurlbert, as the runner up, will act as Hanks' understudy and perform in the ensemble of the show. Zakrin, the third runner up, will understudy the tour's Elle Woods, Becky Gulsvig, and will also be a member of the ensemble. And, Hansen, the second runner up, will play the role of Margot, Elle's best friend, on tour, as well as understudying Elle.

Broadway cast appearances

In each episode, the girls meet a cast member from Legally Blonde -The Musical. Usually, these opportunities were awarded as prizes.

  • Episode 1: Jerry Mitchell (Director), Laura Bell Bundy (Elle Woods)
  • Episode 2: Nikki Snelson (Brooke Wyndham)
  • Episode 3: Orfeh (Paulette Bonafonté)
  • Episode 4: Boo-Boo (Bruiser), Teddy (Bruiser), Richard H. Blake (Warner Huntington III)
  • Episode 5: Kate Shindle (Vivienne Kensington), Nick Kenkel (Ensemble)
  • Episode 6: Laura Bell Bundy, Andy Karl (Grandmaster Chad/Dewey/Kyle; u/s Emmett Forrest)
  • Episode 7: Rusty Mowery (Dance Captain, Swing), Michelle Kittrell (Ensemble, Dance Captain), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Pilar), April Berry (Ensemble/Kristine the Delta Nu), Manuel Herrera (Ensemble/Nikos), and Nick Kenkel (Ensemble)
  • Episode 8: Jerry Mitchell, and current cast members

Auditions

These were the following auditions or workshops for each episode. These are similar to "challenges" on other reality shows.

  • Episode 1: Dancing/Singing
  • Episode 2: Acting
  • Episode 3: Stamina
  • Episode 4: Bonding with Bruiser
  • Episode 5: Hip-Hop Dancing
  • Episode 6: Becoming Elle/Modeling
  • Episode 7: Being a Triple Threat (Singing, Dancing, Acting)/Costume Changes/Stamina
  • Episode 8: Performing Live at the Palace Theatre

Musical numbers

These were the musical numbers from the Broadway show that the contestants were taught during each episode.

  • Episode 1: So Much Better
  • Episode 2: Delta Nu Nu Nu
  • Episode 3: Omigod You Guys
  • Episode 4: Serious
  • Episode 5: Positive ("Shake Your Junk" Dance sequence)
  • Episode 6: Legally Blonde
  • Episode 7: What You Want
  • Episode 8: Omigod You Guys, Positive, and So Much Better

Rewards/Gifts

  • Episode 1: None
  • Episode 2: Personal time with Nikki Snelson. Won by Bailey and shared with Lindsey.
  • Episode 3: Manicure and pedicure with Orfeh. Won by Lauren and shared with Cassie S.
  • Episode 4: A date with Richard H. Blake. Won by Autumn and shared with Celina.
  • Episode 5: Yoga lesson with Kate Shindle. Won by Natalie and shared with Rhiannon.
  • Episode 6: Lunch date with Andy Karl. Won by Natalie.
  • Episode 7: Dinner at the loft and Legally Blonde-style Tiffany necklaces. Shared by all of the girls.
  • Episode 8: Becoming Elle Woods. Won by Bailey.

Competition

Elimination process

During the course of the auditions, the three judges determine which girls to eliminate and which ones to continue in the competition. After the judges figure out who will go and who will stay they write the names down, in order by best audition, on "the list" similar to the one referred to during the song So Much Better. Haylie Duff is then given the list and announces the list in order. The remaining girls who are not on the list must immediately head to the building's casting office where the three judges will determine the eliminated contestant.

Elimination chart

Call-Out Order
Number List Episodes
12345678
01 Autumn Bailey Bailey Autumn Rhiannon Natalie AutumnAutumn Autumn Bailey
02 Bailey Lindsey Lauren Bailey Emma Bailey Lauren BaileyBailey Autumn
03 Cassie O. Cassie O. Emma Natalie Lauren Lauren Bailey Rhiannon Rhiannon
04 Cassie S. Autumn Natalie Rhiannon Bailey Rhiannon Rhiannon Lauren
05 Celina Natalie Rhiannon Cassie S. Natalie Autumn Natalie
06 Chloe Celina Autumn Emma Autumn Emma
07 Emma Emma Celina Celina Cassie S.
08 Lauren Cassie S. Lindsey Lauren Celina
09 Libby Lauren Cassie S. Lindsey
10 Lindsey Rhiannon Cassie O.
11 Mara Rachel
12 Mary Mara
13 Natalie Mary
14 Rachel Libby
15 Rhiannon Chloe
{{colorbox}} The contestant will star as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical.
{{colorbox}} The contestant won the reward challenge.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was not on the casting list but remained in the competition.
{{colorbox}} The contestant won the reward challenge but was not on the casting list and remained in the competition.
{{colorbox}} The contestant won the reward challenge, but was eliminated.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was eliminated.
  • ^In episode 5, the panel of judges informed Natalie that she would be on the list prior to the official announcement of the list.
  • ^In episode 7 there was no one on the casting list. Additionally, Lauren was eliminated before Autumn, Bailey, or Rhiannon were told they were safe, so they are listed alphabetically. Also, all four girls shared the reward.
  • ^This elimination is based on the performances in episode 7. It narrowed down the competition to two girls before the second elimination in episode 8, which determined the winner. Also, Rhiannon's elimination was announced before Autumn and Bailey's continuing, so they are listed alphabetically.

After the show

Hanks was chosen as the winner by Jerry Mitchell during her final audition at the Palace Theatre.

Autumn Hurlbert was declared the runner-up and served as Hanks' understudy while also performing in the ensemble. Finalists Rhiannon Hansen (3rd place) and Lauren Zakrin (4th place) participated in the musical's first national tour, respectively, as Margot and as the understudy for Elle. Zakrin later starred in the 1st National Tour of Wicked in the ensemble and as an understudy for Glinda.

Natalie Lander has since moved on to video game voice acting and film roles.

Cassie Okenka performed as Dorothy Gale in the national tour of The Wizard of Oz and is currently in the 1st National Tour of Wicked in the ensemble and as an understudy for Glinda.

Rachel Potter performed in the ensemble of the 2nd National Tour of Wicked and as an understudy for Glinda from August 2010 to February 2011, as Wednesday in The Addams Family on Broadway from March 2011 to December 2011 and is currently playing The Mistress in the first Broadway revival of Evita.

Libby Servais performed as an original cast member of the 2nd National Tour of Wicked from March 2009 to February 2010 in the ensemble and as an understudy for Glinda. She became the standby for Glinda in the San Francisco company of the show from February 2010 to September 2010, when the production closed. She was most recently seen as a standby for several roles in the original Broadway musical Lysistrata Jones. She often covers many female roles as a swing in Wicked's Broadway company.



This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Legally Blonde – The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods". Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions this article may contain.































Page generated Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:53 am in 0.017068862915039 seconds


Page read in 0.0010058879852295 seconds