Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods
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
Laura Bell Bundy
Laura Ashley Bell Bundy is an American actress and singer who has performed in a number of Broadway roles, both starring and supporting, as well as in television and film. Her best known Broadway roles are the original Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray and the original Elle Woods in the musical...

 in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde – The Musical
Legally Blonde (musical)
Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to...

. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.

The winner of the show, Bailey Hanks
Bailey Hanks
Bailey Noel Hanks is an American singer, actress, and dancer best known for winning MTV's Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. She performed on Broadway as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2008....

, 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
Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer known best as the runner up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods...

 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
    Haylie Duff
    Haylie Katherine Duff is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is the older sister of actress and singer Hilary Duff...

    , singer, actress, and Broadway Performer
  • Jerry Mitchell
    Jerry Mitchell
    Jerry Mitchell is an American theatre director and choreographer.-Early life and education:Born in Paw Paw, Michigan, Mitchell later moved to St. Louis where he pursued his acting, dancing and directing career in theatre. He graduated from the Fine Arts college at Webster University in St. Louis. ...

    , director and choreographer of Legally Blonde — The Musical
  • Paul Canaan, ensemble member of Legally Blonde — The Musical
  • Bernard Telsey, casting director
  • Heather Hach
    Heather Hach
    -Early life:Hach graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Journalism, and later worked as a research assistant at The New York Times Denver bureau and as a magazine editor at Sports and Fitness Publishing.-Career:...

    , librettist of Legally Blonde — The Musical
  • Seth Rudetsky
    Seth Rudetsky
    Seth Rudetsky is an American musician, actor, writer, and radio host. He currently is the host of "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's...

    , 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 Hometown Status
Bailey Hanks
Bailey Hanks
Bailey Noel Hanks is an American singer, actress, and dancer best known for winning MTV's Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. She performed on Broadway as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2008....

20 Anderson, SC Winner
Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer known best as the runner up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods...

28 Mesa, AZ 2nd Place
Rhiannon Hansen 19 Logan, UT 3rd Place
Lauren Zakrin
Lauren Zakrin
Lauren Ashley Zakrin is an American musical actress. She was first known as a finalist on MTV’s “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods.” She had done musical theater before, and auditioned for the show after being prompted by a friend...

18 Rochester, MI Eliminated 7th
Natalie Lander
Natalie Lander
Natalie Jenette Lander is an American actress, voice actress, and singer. She is the daughter of actors David Lander and Kathy Fields...

25 Malibu, CA 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, IL Eliminated 2nd
Cassie Okenka 22 Toledo, OH 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
Orfeh
Orfeh is an American singer, songwriter and Tony-nominated actress from New York City.-Biography:Orfeh, born and raised in Manhattan, began her career straight out of high school. She attended the famous LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, and got a record deal right after her graduation...

, 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
Richard H. Blake
Richard H. Blake is an American musical actor.One of his earliest stints on Broadway was taking over the role of Roger Davis in Rent. In 2001, Richard Blake took over the role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, a musical adaptation of the film of the same name, having previously starred in...

, 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
Andy Karl
Andy Karl is an American actor and singer, best known for performing in musical theatre. He has appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Legally Blonde and 9 to 5, as well as appearing in Wicked.-Early life:...

.

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
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...

 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
Palace Theatre, New York
The Palace Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1564 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.-History:Designed by architects Kirchoff & Rose, the theatre was built by Martin Beck a California vaudeville entrepreneur and Broadway impresario. The project experienced a number of business problems before...

 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
    Orfeh
    Orfeh is an American singer, songwriter and Tony-nominated actress from New York City.-Biography:Orfeh, born and raised in Manhattan, began her career straight out of high school. She attended the famous LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, and got a record deal right after her graduation...

     (Paulette Bonafonté)
  • Episode 4: Boo-Boo (Bruiser), Teddy (Bruiser), Richard H. Blake
    Richard H. Blake
    Richard H. Blake is an American musical actor.One of his earliest stints on Broadway was taking over the role of Roger Davis in Rent. In 2001, Richard Blake took over the role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, a musical adaptation of the film of the same name, having previously starred in...

     (Warner Huntington III)
  • Episode 5: Kate Shindle (Vivienne Kensington), Nick Kenkel (Ensemble)
  • Episode 6: Laura Bell Bundy, Andy Karl
    Andy Karl
    Andy Karl is an American actor and singer, best known for performing in musical theatre. He has appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Legally Blonde and 9 to 5, as well as appearing in Wicked.-Early life:...

     (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.

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

{| class="wikitable"
|+Call-Out Order
|-
!rowspan=2|Number
!rowspan=2|List
!colspan=9|Episodes
|-
!1!!2!!3!!4!!5!!6!!7!!colspan=2|8
|-
!01
|Autumn || Bailey || style="background:pink;"|Bailey || Autumn || Rhiannon ||style="background:pink;"|Natalie || Autumn||style="background:lightgreen;"|Autumn || style="background:lightgreen;"|Autumn ||style="background-color:hotpink;"| Bailey
|-
!02
|Bailey || Lindsey || Lauren || Bailey || Emma || Bailey || Lauren ||style="background:lightgreen;"|Bailey||style="background:lightgreen;"|Bailey || style="background-color:tomato;"| Autumn
|-
!03
|Cassie O. || Cassie O. || Emma || Natalie || Lauren || Lauren ||style="background-color:lightblue;"| Bailey ||style="background:lightgreen;"| Rhiannon || style="background:orange;"| Rhiannon|| style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="1" |
|-
!04
|Cassie S. || Autumn || Natalie || Rhiannon || Bailey || Rhiannon ||style="background-color:lightblue;"| Rhiannon || style="background:orange;"| Lauren|| style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="2" |
|-
!05
| Celina || Natalie || Rhiannon || Cassie S. || Natalie ||style="background:lightblue;"|Autumn || style="background:orange;"| Natalie || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="3" |
|-
!06
|Chloe || Celina || Autumn || style="background:lightblue;"| Emma || style="background:lightgreen;"|Autumn || style="background:tomato;"|Emma || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="4" |
|-
!07
|Emma || Emma || Celina || style="background:lightblue;"| Celina ||style="background:tomato;" | Cassie S. || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="5" |
|-
!08
|Lauren || Cassie S. || style="background:lightblue;"| Lindsey || style="background:lightgreen;"| Lauren || style="background:tomato;" | Celina || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="6" |
|-
!09
|Libby || Lauren || style="background:lightblue;"| Cassie S. || style="background:tomato;"|Lindsey || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="7" |
|-
!10
|Lindsey || Rhiannon || style="background:tomato;"| Cassie O.|| style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="8" |
|-
!11
|Mara || style="background:tomato;"|Rachel || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="9" |
|-
!12
|Mary || style="background:tomato;"|Mara || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="9" |
|-
!13
|Natalie || style="background:tomato;"|Mary || style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="9" |
|-
!14
|Rachel || style="background:tomato;"|Libby|| style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="9" |
|-
!15
|Rhiannon || style="background:tomato;"|Chloe|| style="background:#CCCCCC;" colspan="9" |
|}
The contestant will star as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical.
The contestant won the reward challenge.
The contestant was not on the casting list but remained in the competition.
The contestant won the reward challenge but was not on the casting list and remained in the competition.
The contestant won the reward challenge, but was eliminated.
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
Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchell is an American theatre director and choreographer.-Early life and education:Born in Paw Paw, Michigan, Mitchell later moved to St. Louis where he pursued his acting, dancing and directing career in theatre. He graduated from the Fine Arts college at Webster University in St. Louis. ...

 during her final audition at the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre, New York
The Palace Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1564 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.-History:Designed by architects Kirchoff & Rose, the theatre was built by Martin Beck a California vaudeville entrepreneur and Broadway impresario. The project experienced a number of business problems before...

.

Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert
Autumn Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer known best as the runner up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods...

 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.

Natalie Lander
Natalie Lander
Natalie Jenette Lander is an American actress, voice actress, and singer. She is the daughter of actors David Lander and Kathy Fields...

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

Cassie Okenka performed as Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...

 in the national tour of The Wizard of Oz.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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