![Chris Collins-Pisano as Emmett and Lawson Young as Elle in CCM's production of LEGALLY BLONDE](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/enews/2014/10/e20631/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1534516654300.jpg)
CCM's Mainstage Series Proudly Presents 'Legally Blonde - The Musical' Oct. 23-Nov. 2
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) continues its 2014-15 Mainstage Series with the upbeat musical,
Legally Blonde
. Directed and choreographed by Professor of Musical Theatre Diane Lala with musical direction by second-year graduate student Craig Dalton,
Legally Blonde
makes its CCM debut Oct. 23 - Nov. 2 in Patricia Corbett Theater.
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the MGM motion picture of the same name, Legally Blonde is a modern-day coming of age tale featuring perky and lovable sorority girl Elle Woods. Elle enrolls in Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her lost love, Warner. In order for Elle to make it at Harvard she must prove to everyone, including herself, that she has what it takes. When her resolution is tested, Elle discovers what she is truly made of, surpassing her own wildest expectations and finding her inner strength and intelligence.
Guest artist Joe Leonard provides the scenic design for this musical movie adaptation. A 1989 graduate of CCM's Department of Theatre Design and Production, Leonard's vision for Legally Blonde was incredibly dynamic. This result is a set in which everything moves, flips, turns and flies. "The positive energy of Elle's story is carried through to every element of the production," Lala explains.
Legally Blonde features 16 memorable musical numbers by the Drama Desk and Tony Award nominated composer and lyricist team of Laurence OKeefe and Nell Benjamin, with a book by Heather Hach.
About Diane Lala
CCM Professor of Musical Theatre Diane Lala choreographed for Tulane University, Black Hills Playhouse, Loyola University, True Brew Theatre, NOLA, Indian Hills High School, Cincinnati Men's Chorus and various regional and dinner theaters. Her choreography credits at CCM include Babes in Arms, Sweet Charity, The Wild Party, Oklahoma!, West Side Story and On the Town. Also at CCM, she was director/choreographer for Song and Dance, Under Construction and Songs for a New World. She taught summer workshop for Ballet Iowa and various jazz master classes in Kharkov, Ukraine. In 2003 she directed and choreographed CCM's Musical Theatre students as well as Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Denyce Graves and Nick Clooney in the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra's "Patriotic Broadway," which was televised on PBS.
On stage, Lala has appeared as Velma Kelly in Chicago, Woman 2 in Songs for a New World, the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, Morales in A Chorus Line, Anita in West Side Story and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Nominated numerous times, Lala has received Big Easy Entertainment Awards in New Orleans and a Storer Boone Award for Best Choreography for Tulane Summer Lyric's production of The Will Rogers' Follies. She also received a Marquee Award for best actress in a musical for Chicago.
In addition, Lala is a certified Pilates instructor, studying directly with Romana Kryzanowska, a Joseph Pilates protégée. She is also an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
About Joe Leonard
A 1989 graduate of CCMs Theater Design and Production Department, Joe Leonard has designed shows for the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, LaComedia Dinner Theater, Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Great America and Canadas Wonderland. His design credits include such shows as Into the Woods, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Pippin, Twelfth Night, One Flew Over the Cuckcoos Nest, A Christmas Carol, The Drowsy Chaperone, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Hairspray and Mary Poppins.
Performance Times
- 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23
- 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24
- 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26
- 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
- 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
- 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2
Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets to Legally Blonde are $31-35 for adults, $20-24 for non-UC students and $18-22 UC students with a valid ID, with $12-$15 student rush tickets available for both of the Saturday matinees beginning at 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.
Customizable subscription packages are also available. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/legally-blonde-mainstage.
Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.
For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.
For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
____
CCM Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macys
Mainstage Production Sponsor: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Community Partner: ArtsWave
Legally Blonde: The Musical
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 | Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 | www.MTIShows.com
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