Legally Blonde STUDY GUIDE
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Legally Blonde STUDY GUIDE SEPTEMBER 5-OCTOBER 21, 2018 MUSIC AND LYRICS BY LAURENCE O'KEEFE AND NELL BENJAMIN. BOOK BY HEATHER HACH. BASED ON THE NOVEL BY AMANDA BROWN AND THE METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER MOTION PICTURE. DIRECTED BY TRENT STORK. TABLE OF CONTENTS Legally Blonde Show Synopsis .........................................................................page 3 Page to Screen to Stage ...................................................................................page 5 Legally Blonde Class of 2018 ...........................................................................page 6 What is a Greek Chorus? .................................................................................page 10 Meet Elle’s Goddesses .....................................................................................page 11 The Journey to Law School ..............................................................................page 14 Women and the Law .......................................................................................page 16 Post-Show Discussion .....................................................................................page 18 Résumé Building Activity ...............................................................................page 19 Citations .........................................................................................................page 22 LEGALLY BLONDE SHOW SYNOPSIS Elle Woods has the perfect life. She's a senior at UCLA, president of the Delta Nu sorority and boasts a 4.0 GPA in fashion merchandising. On top of that, she and her boyfriend (of perfect of pedigree), Warner Huntington III, live like “gods among men” on campus. Elle knows the perfect way to end her senior year: a proposal from Warner. The show opens with the sisters of Delta Nu in a flutter, knowing tonight is the night for Warner's proposal to Elle. With her perfect dress, her chihuahua (Bruiser), and her sorority sisters at her side, Elle is ready for what she imagines will be the best night of her life. Warner escorts her to a romantic restaurant and as he takes her hand, everything appears to be going as planned. He starts discussing their future together, insisting it’s “time to get serious." Just as Elle is expecting Warner to drop down on one knee, Warner tells her they should break up. Heartbroken and in disbelief, Elle hides herself away in her sorority house where her sisters work to comfort her. During one of these comfort sessions, Elle spots a photo of Warner’s brother, Peyton Huntington IV, and his new bride. After taking one look at Warner’s new sister-in-law, Elle is struck with the notion that she now knows exactly the kind of girl Warner wants by his side: “Someone serious, someone lawyerly, someone who wears black even when nobody’s dead.” From that moment on, Elle decides she’ll get into Harvard Law as well and show Warner just how serious she can be. Despite having a 4.0 GPA, Elle soon learns that getting into Harvard is no easy task. She spends the latter half of her senior year studying to get a score of more than 174 on the LSAT, the exam necessary to enter law school. After months of hard work, Elle scores a 175, wows the admissions officers of Harvard Law with her music video-take on a personal essay and finds herself accepted into the hallowed halls of Harvard Law. Elle’s first few months at Harvard are completely overwhelming. Not only are her classmates’ résumés impressively extensive (Fulbright and Rhodes recipients and members of the Peace Corps), Warner has already moved onto a new girlfriend, Vivienne Kensington. Elle decides to go brunette, just like Vivienne, to prove how “serious” she is at winning back Warner’s love. She lands at Paulette Bonafonte’s salon “The Hair Affair." Paulette becomes a quick confidant and convinces her that she already has everything she needs to win him back, including the hair color. Despite her renewed confidence, Warner shows no interest in Elle. Due to her singular focus on Warner, Elle finds herself failing law school and often getting kicked out of class. Professor Callahan’s teaching assistant, Emmett Forrest, befriends Elle and convinces her she needs to get a “chip on her shoulder” and devote herself to her studies. Thanks to her new friends, Paulette and Emmett, Elle decides to give Harvard Law everything she has and prove to Warner once and for all they are meant to be together. 3 Elle puts her nose in a book and proves to Professor Callahan that she might have what it takes to become a serious lawyer. Elle learns the power of practicing law when she helps Paulette get back her dog from Dewey, Paulette’s deadbeat ex-boyfriend. Everything changes at the end of Act I when Callahan has been hired by Brooke Wyndham, a famous exercise star, to represent her in a murder trial. Callahan decides to post his intern list early so they may assist with the case. Warner, Vivienne and Enid all make the list and Emmett is asked to work as Callahan’s co-counsel. Overcome with happiness, Warner proposes to Vivienne as Elle watches nearby. Elle’s journey to Harvard and her hard work seem like a waste until Emmett points out that Elle has also made the team. Elle realizes that nothing has ever felt better than seeing her name up on that list. Although her journey starts as a way to find her man, Elle ends up finding herself. 4 end scene PAGE TO SCREEN TO STAGE The story of Legally Blonde has gone from being a best-selling book, to a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, and finally a knockout Broadway musical. Below are some of the key differences between the book, movie and musical. BOOK MOVIE MUSICAL Elle’s beloved chihuahua Elle’s beloved chihuahua Elle’s beloved is named Underdog. is named Bruiser. chihuahua is named Bruiser. Elle doesn’t tell anyone She has her friends help She has her friends help she’s taking the LSAT. her study for the LSAT. her study for the LSAT, getting the desired score 175 in the "What You Want" number. Elle follows Warner to Stanford did not want The musical also has Stanford Law. their school to appear Elle following Warner to in the film, so instead Harvard Law School. Elle followed Warner to Harvard Law. Warner’s fiancé's name is Warner’s fiancé's name is Warner’s fiancé's name Sarah Knottingham. Vivienne Kensington. is Vivienne Kensington. Elle’s manicurist is a Elle’s manicurist is a Elle’s manicurist is French woman named lovely woman named again a lovely woman Josette, who doesn’t give Paulette. She and Elle named Paulette. They Elle too much advice, but both look out for and still become fast friends, is a great listener. learn from each other. but this Paulette has an obsession with Ireland and Irish men. Brooke Wyndham is still Brooke Wyndham is a Brooke Wyndham is a fitness instructor, but fellow sorority sister of still a fellow sorority she is not a Delta Nu. Elle’s as a Delta Nu, as sister of Elle’s as a Delta She instead is a Delta well as a high profile Nu, and is also still Gamma with a less-than- fitness instructor. a high profile fitness stellar reputation. instructor. The characters of Emmett Richmond is Emmett Forrest is Emmett and Professor introduced as a trusted introduced as a trusted Callahan make no friend/advisor/love friend/advisor/love appearance. interest for Elle. Professor interest for Elle. Again, Callahan is introduced as Professor Callahan is a mentor turned foe. introduced as a mentor turned foe. 5 end scene LEGALLY BLONDE CLASS OF 2018 ELLE WOODS Casey Shuler* Meet our heroine, Miss Elle Woods. After having her heart broken by her longtime boyfriend, Warner, Elle puts her nose to the grindstone and studies hard enough to be accepted into Harvard Law School alongside him. On her way, though, she discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. BRUISER WOODS Frankie Bruiser is Elle’s constant sidekick. He’s smart, loyal and always available for a good cuddle whenever Elle needs it. WARNER HUNTINGTON III Tyler Lain* Warner Huntington III is the love of Elle Woods’ life. However, with his sights set on a law career, he feels Elle isn’t “serious” enough for him. He breaks her heart before heading to Harvard Law, and soon becomes engaged to Vivienne Kensington. *denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. 6 LEGALLY BLONDE CLASS OF 2018 VIVIENNE KENSINGTON Jacquelyne Jones* Vivienne is an extremely smart, take-charge-woman, who finds herself at odds with Elle Woods as Warner’s new fiancé. EMMETT FORREST Gerald Caesar* Emmett is Professor Callahan’s Teaching Assistant. He’s worked extremely hard to get where he is at Harvard Law, and takes Elle under his wing to help her see her potential. He helps her develop a “chip on her shoulder” so she can find the passion and drive she needs to succeed. PROFESSOR CALLAHAN James Rank* Professor Callahan may be one of the most feared professors to ever roam the halls of Harvard Law, with good reason, too. Students will fight to the death for a chance to be one of the lucky few picked for Callahan’s internship program. Making it on Callahan’s “list” guarantees a high-powered law career for the graduates. *denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. 7 LEGALLY BLONDE CLASS OF 2018 PAULETTE Sophie Grimm* Paulette is a stylist with self-esteem issues who Elle pours her heart out to in a moment of despair. Paulette comforts Elle, and the two soon form an unbreakable-bond of sisterhood. Elle quickly learns of Paulette’s bad luck in love, her great sadness at being seperated from her dog Rufus thanks to her ex, Dewey, and her great love of Ireland. SERENA MARGOT PILAR Lucy Godinez Sara Reinecke Kyrie Courter Serena, Margot and Pilar are three of Elle’s Delta Nu sisters, and her best friends. Elle always looks to them for guidance, so much so that they even appear to Elle as her very own Greek Chorus.