Crafton to go ‘pink’ with staging of “Legally Blonde: The Musical”

Publish Date: April 20, 2024

“Omigod! Omigod, you guys!”

It looks like Elle Woods will make her Finkelstein Performing Arts Center (PAC) debut this spring!

For three days, April 26, 27 and 28, Crafton Hills College’s (CHC) Theater Arts Department will stage “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” a Broadway adaptation of the 2001 hit film of the same name. 

Roadrunner Olivia Jacques will play the high-heeled pink shoes of its heroine, “Woods, Comma Elle.” 

“This has been a dream role of mine for eight years,” said the 18-year-old Riverside-based political science major. “It has been a challenge but a huge honor that I have been more than willing to put in the work for.”

The musical plays out like the movie “Legally Blonde.” It follows Elle as she navigates the emotions of heartbreak and her journey of self-discovery as a Harvard Law School graduate. How she gets there is the story told through a pop-rock soundtrack, from its high-energy opener, “Omigod You Guys,” to its ender, “Find My Way,” which invites Elle to summarize her experience from living in ignorant bliss to recognizing those who helped her along the way.

“Elle is such a complex character,” Oliva Jacques explained. “She comes from a very different background, where she has been sheltered her entire life in this cushy environment in Malibu, Calif. But now, she’s going into this ‘fish out of water' situation, this ‘dog-eat-dog’ environment where she is stepping out of her comfort zone all while trying to maintain the same femininity, perkiness and positivity as before.”

“Legally Blonde” is the second-to-last musical being staged inside the current PAC before the 2025 opening of an all-new, state-of-the-art facility on the other side of campus. The Roadrunner community is buzzing with excitement, shared CHC Professor of Theater Arts and Director Paul Jacques. He explained that auditions attracted the largest turnout since he joined the CHC family.

“This is a college-aged show, and I saw a lot of roles that were age-appropriate for our program,” Paul Jacques continued. “The music is fun, and the film is really well-known. It’s a modern pop-rock musical that just checked off a lot of boxes.”

In addition to Oliva Jacques, principal roles will be played by Elijah Heigl as Warner Huntington III; Elijah Lozano as Emmett Forrest; Jordan King as Vivienne Kensington; Esther Udvardi as Brooke Wyndham; Sebastian Hernandez as Professor Callahan; and Chelsey Banuelos as Paulette. Rounding out the cast are Paige Audet, Saige Azaria, Mirella Barriga, Rose Blatchley, Frederick Brashear, Arthur Buenaventura, Denise Garcia, Ivan Goward, Micah Healy, Meagan Lawson, Monty Muse, Bree Nielson, Hadriel Obillo, Flor Ortega, Dayani Ortiz, Hannah Peters, Scarlett Reyes, Matthew Riddle, Victoria Van Stee and Arwen Wells.

Performances of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” are set for 8 p.m. on April 26 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. on April 29. 

Crafton alumni are invited to a special reception to meet the cast prior to the April 27 performance from 6:45 - 7:45 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for general admission or $5 for students and seniors and are available online at craftonhills.edu or at the PAC box office. 

To RSVP or for questions, email CHC_alumni@craftonhills.edu or call 909-389-3391.