Legally Blonde AUDITION PACKET Hello! This document contains way, way too much information about auditioning for the ETHS 2019 Spring Musical, Legally Blonde. Here, I will answer every question you ​ ​ might ask (hopefully), but if you’re someone who just wants the basics and don’t want to read much: ● Auditions will be held January 21st (the MLK Holiday) and 22nd. The first day will be in A114 and the second day’s auditions will be in the Auditorium. ● The first round is just about singing. You can sign up for a five minute slot at ethstheatre.com. ● Your song should be about sixteen to thirty two bars (or a minute or two) of any song that shows off your voice at its best. Don’t shy away from songs from the show, but it is not required that you use one. Just be sure that the song you choose is in the style of the show. There is no accompanist. It’ll be okay. ● Dance auditions are required and will be held in the auditorium. You must attend one of the following sessions: Thursday, January 24th at four or Saturday, January 26th at ten. Just come on in. ● What to wear- Please wear comfortable clothes that you can move and sweat in! For shoes, sneakers or jazz shoes will work best. ● What to expect at dance auditions-Everyone in this show needs to move a bit. The goal of the dance audition is not only to find featured dancers, but to gauge everyone’s levels and abilities. If you have gymnastic stunts or tricks, be prepared to demonstrate or describe them. Get ready to have some fun! ● Please bring a signed conflict sheet to your singing audition (print page 6 of this document). You will not be considered without one. Come early, warm up, relax--there’s a little more paperwork you’ll have to fill out that day. ● We will have callbacks the next week and hope to meet with the cast on February4th. Okay, those are the basics. Now for a tremendous amount of detail. This is the table of contents for the rest of the document. 1. What is this show? What is the story? Why is it special? 2. A brief summary of the main characters (and some other characters as well). Included in this section is information about vocal range and songs we might be looking to hear from people auditioning for certain roles in the callbacks. 3. A short but emphatic note on casting. 4. A schedule, otherwise known as a conflict sheet. You should print this page, fill it out, list conflicts, sign it and have a parent/guardian sign it as well. So #1: What is this show? Why is this show? Legally Blonde is the story of Elle Woods and her journey towards self-discovery. It’s ​ based on a Reese Witherspoon movie, and before that it was a novel, but regardless of the incarnation this character’s journey is central. Elle starts out as the queen of Delta Nu, her sorority at the University of Southern California. She has straight As (Fashion Merchandising is her major), a supportive group of friends (most importantly Margot, Pilar and Serena), and an extremely attractive boyfriend named Warner. In fact, as the show begins, she is preparing for a date with Warner--it’s not just any date, this is the date when Elle thinks Warner will propose. Only he doesn’t. He dumps perfect, privileged Elle because she’s not serious marriage material. He’s going to Harvard Law, and he needs a partner more appropriate for that setting. So after her heartbreak, Elle and her friends develop a plan: she’ll get into Harvard, excel as she always has, thereby proving to Warner that she is the woman for him. And she does. Well, she gets in. (This is an extended musical number.) She meets her professor’s TA, Emmett, and then is humiliated in front of the class and then further humiliated when she meets Warner’s new girlfriend, Vivienne, who is Elle’s polar opposite. Anyway, Emmett tutors Elle and helps her figure out her place at Harvard. Elle makes a new best friend who works at the local hair salon named Paulette. Eventually, Elle finds her way onto a legal team defending a local fitness icon (and Delta Nu) named Brooke Wyndham who has been accused of murdering her elderly (and extremely wealthy) husband. Then we really get rolling in the second act--it’s a legal thriller, romantic comedy, and a coming of age story all working simultaneously. Elle finds her calling, falls in love, and solves a murder. Plus it’s basically song after song after song. So why this story? Why at ETHS? This is a simple one for me. Because of the extremely talented young women we have in this department and in this school. In the first number, there are ten named female soloists. There are eight female leads and a gigantic ensemble. It is really about the power of female friendship. If you want a complete synopsis, it’s available here: https://www.mtishows.com/legally-blonde-the-musical Characters: ELLE WOODS: Well, she’s a goddess, right? What you must remember is that it is easy for the other characters to underestimate Elle because she can come off as somewhat silly or superficial or even ignorant. Those qualities are where a lot of the comedy comes from. But underneath, she is quite smart and LOYAL. She is a great friend, to Bruiser, to Emmett, to Paulette, to Brooke, to everyone. Her positivity is what winds up inspiring those around her. This performer needs to dance and is in almost every moment onstage. Vocal range top: G5, vocal range bottom: Gb2. Must be able to best. Important note: because Elle is in virtually every scene and most every moment, whoever plays her must be completely available--no weekly conflicts. Songs to ​ consider, at least for callbacks: “So Much Better”, the title song.

EMMETT FORREST: Emmett is the person you want to meet when you go to college--he helps Elle figure out what it takes to be a dedicated student of the law. So he’s a kind man too, with a strong sense of justice. He is a champion of voices who would not otherwise be valued because he came from poverty and is still working an incredible amount to make his dream come true. Elle and Emmett present as opposites, but have a lot in common as the play develops. And eventually they fall in love. Emmett has to dance, but not so much. Vocal range top: A4, vocal range bottom: B2. Songs to consider: “Chip on My Shoulder”, “Take it Like a Man”, the title song.

PAULETTE BUONOFUONTE: This is a giant part that is only introduced most of the way through the first act. Paulette runs Hair Affair, a salon that’s a little rundown and depressing. She got out of a bad relationship and longs for a trip to Ireland. She also develops a major crush on the UPS guy. Really, she and Ellle become good friends and help the other to grow. This is a really funny role. Paulette needs to dance a bit, but really needs to bend and snap. Vocal range top: A5, vocal range bottom: A3. She’s got to belt as well. Songs to consider: “Ireland” and “Bend and Snap”.

WARNER HUNTINGTON III: Wartner is Elle’s perfect boyfriend who turns out to not be so perfect. He’s the true superficial one, but he’s more of a doofus than a villian. He also ends the play quitting the law and becoming a model. He’s truly shallow and more than a little full of himself. Vocal range top: Ab4, vocal range bottom: Eb3. Song to consider: “Serious”--it’s his breakup slow jam.

MARGOT, SERENA, PILAR: I’m not really sure how to separate these out for the purpose of the packet--these are three gigantic parts. They are Elle’s best friends at Delta Nu, so they basically run the show for the first twenty minutes. Then, after Elle goes to Harvard, they begin appearing to her as a Greek Chorus (once Elle finds out about Vivienne, her story becomes a tragedy that needs a chorus). Serena is a cheerleader, but beyond that we can build their personas around the actors who are cast. These roles sing and dance almost as much as Elle (actually, they dance more). The vocal ranges are challenging--G#3-F# and they must belt like crazy. Songs: “Ohmigod You Guys”, “What You Want”, “Bend and Snap”.

VIVIENNE KENSINGTON: Well, perhaps she’s a little uptight and severe. And mean! She humiliates Elle immediately upon her arrival at Harvard, because in many ways she is Elle’s opposite--serious, organized, and most importantly Warner’s new girlfriend. But ultimately we discover that Vivienne is really great--she is the instrumental voice getting Elle going again at the end of the play. Vocal range top: F5, vocal range bottom, A3. Songs: she sings a lot, but look at the “Legally Blonde Remix” because her part in it is a monster.

PROFESSOR CALLAHAN: The prototypical Harvard Law professor. Pompous, cruel, powerful--Callahan tries to get his students to destroy each other so he doesn’t have to. He relies on Emmett to the point of abuse. He also has no real moral center, no real belief in fairness within the justice system--he’s just out to win. Ultimately, he’s also kind of a creep and he makes inappropriate advances to Elle that bring about the climax of the play. He kind of talk-sings through some songs, but he has a major solo. Has to be able to play older than the others. Vocal range top: F#4, vocal range bottom: A2. He does not have to dance. Song to consider: “Blood in the Water”.

ENID HOOPES: Fellow student of Elle, Vivienne, Emmett and Warner. Enid is a comedic character who is incredibly politically active--her humorlessness is played as a joke. Enid is a strong feminist who will not allow anyone to talk down Gloria Steinem (look her up). But though she’s horrified by Elle through much of the show, eventually she comes around. Enid is a huge part of the Remix number at the end of the show. Vocal range: G3-G5 soprano belt. Songs to consider: “The Harvard Variations” and especially “Legally Blonde Remix”.

BROOKE WYNDHAM: The murder suspect! She is a Delta Nu, a fitness star and currently the most impressive workout leader at the Boston Women’s Correctional Facility. She has her secrets too! She bonds quickly with Elle, and the second act of the play is really Brooke’s case. Brooke’s opening number is performed while she is leading a jump rope workout. So this performer needs to have great cardiovascular fitness. Vocal range top: G5, vocal range bottom: A3. Listen (and you probably want to watch): “Whipped into Shape”.

There are other roles, too. Kyle is a physically fit UPS guy who doesn’t really have to sing (it’d be great if he had red hair) but might be called upon to learn some Irish dancing. There’s Kate, a Delta Nu who helps Elle get ready for the LSAT. A couple of other law students who have solos in “The Harvard Variations”, Grandmaster Chad (a poser USC student leading a reggae number in “What You Want”), Elle’s parents, Chutney Wyndham, Brooke’s badly coiffed stepdaughter...and on and on.

AN EMPHATIC NOTE ABOUT CASTING: The word blonde does not mean white. This is a blonde woman.

Elle is privileged and spoiled and wealthy, but can be any color or shade. The real likelihood is whoever plays Elle will wear a wig. It’s easier to mic her that way. These parts will be filled with the best actors, singers and dancers for the roles. Also, conflicts: on the next full page you will find a full rehearsal schedule. The expectation is not that you have no conflicts (unless you want to be considered for Elle), but that you share ALL of them as soon as you have them. Hopefully today. Because we want as many people involved in all our shows as possible, you cannot do this show and also audition for Writers’ Showcase.

LEGALLY BLONDE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: Most of our rehearsals go from 4-6:30 during the week, and 10-4 on Saturdays. If you are in the ensemble, you can expect to be called at least three/four days per week. Leads will be called most of the time. Circle the dates you know you cannot attend. At the bottom, you need to sign this and get a parent/guardian to sign it as well.

February 4: 4-6:30 March 4: 4-6:30 April 9: PSAT--probably February 5: 4-6:60 March 5: 4-6:30 go 1-5? February 6: 4-6:30 March 6: 4-6:30 April 10: 4-6:30 February 7: 4-6:30 March 7: 4-6:30 April 11: 4-6:30 February 8: 4-6:30 March 8: 4-6:30 April 12: 4-6:30 February 9: 10-4 March 9: 10-4 April 13: 10-4

February 11: 4-6:30 March 11: 4-6:30 TECH BEGINS February 12: 4-6:60 March 12: 4-6:30 April 15: 4-7:30 February 13: 4-6:30 March 13: 4-6:30 April 16: 4-7:30 February 14: 4-6:30 March 14: 4-6:30 April 17: 4-7:30 February 15: 4-6:30 March 15: 4-6:30 April 18: 4-7:30 February 16: 10-4 March 16: 10-4 April 19: Good Friday, but will work with those February 18: 10-4 March 18: 4-6:30 available 10-4 (President’s Day) March 19: 4-6:30 April 20: 9-6 February 19: 4-6:60 March 20: 4-6:30 February 20: 4-6:30 March 21: 4-6:30 April 22: 2:30-10 Tech February 21: No Then: Spring break rehearsal rehearsal (conferences) April 23: 4-10 Tech February 22: 10-4 April 1: 4-6:30 Rehearsal February 23: 10-4 April 2: 4-6:30 April 24: 4-10 Dress April 3: 4-6:30 Rehearsal February 25: 4-6:30 April 4: 4-6:30 April 25: 4-10 Final February 26: 4-6:60 April 5: 4-6:30 Dress Rehearsal February 27: 4-6:30 April 6: 10-4 April 26, 27, May 3, 4: February 28: 4-6:30 Performances. 6:00 call March 1: 4-6:30 April 8: 4-6:30 4/29 Potential District 65 March 2: 10-4 performance

Signatures below means that you won’t add any more conflicts beyond illness/emergency. Student signature: Parent/Guardian Signature: