Sofia Boccaccio, Reporter
Photos by Milo Zinser-Trudel
The NCHS Theatre Department opened Legally Blonde at the end of November with four performances between November 20 to 22.
Based on the 2001 film, Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority sister who challenges stereotypes to find her voice at Harvard Law School. What begins as an effort to win her boyfriend back soon turns into a journey of self-discovery. Over the course of the show, Elle Woods achieves much success, while also overcoming many difficulties.
From the exciting opening song of “Omigod You Guys,” to the celebratory anthem of “So Much Better,” her growth is highlighted throughout the story.
According to senior Andrew Meli, who played the role of Emmett Forest, preparing for the show required both dedication and commitment. “Rehearsals were from 2:30 – 6:00 for roughly nine weeks, and then 2:30 – 8:00 for the last two weeks of the production,” he said.
Performing alongside Andrew was senior Frankie Limone, who starred as Elle Woods. “No two days of rehearsal ever looked exactly the same,” Frankie said. “Some days were full-out choreography for big ensemble numbers, and other days were a mix of music rehearsal and scene blocking, depending on what we needed most.”
While the early days of rehearsals were focused on the basics like staging, vocal work and choreography, as opening night approached, the cast shifted their focus. “The latter half of the production was focused on cleaning and running the show top to bottom,” Andrew said.
Behind the scenes, new changes to the rehearsal schedule created some obstacles for the cast. While NCHS Theatre normally performs a musical in the winter, they moved the production to the fall this year. “The theatre had to navigate an entirely new schedule that introduced quite a few challenges,” Andrew said. “But, it generally followed the same framework.”
“There was a lot of nervousness about adjusting to the new timeline, and honestly, it was stressful at times. But I’m so happy with how it turned out,” Frankie said.
In addition to weekday rehearsals, cast members dedicated their Saturdays to preparing for the show. “We also ‘rehearsed’ on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but those were more hands-on production days,” Frankie said. “Everyone came together to build the set, make props, and work on costumes, hair, and makeup, which was one of the most fun parts.”
For Frankie, playing the role of Elle Woods required immense vocal and physical strength, as she remained onstage for nearly the entire show. She described the role to be both fun and challenging. “She’s such an iconic, fun role, but also way more challenging and demanding than people expect,” Frankie said. “I loved getting to find the best parts of myself in her and leaning into everything she stands for. ‘Keep being you’ is Elle Woods’ motto. Being yourself never goes out of style.”
As seniors, both Andrew and Frankie appreciate how the NCHS theatre community has helped them grow as performers and leaders. “The department is incredibly unique and I have loved every second of my time in it,” Andrew said.
Frankie shared a similar point of view in terms of connectivity to the department. “When I finally joined theatre freshman year, it genuinely changed my life,” she said. “I found my people, my place and something I felt deeply connected to almost immediately. The NCHS theatre community isn’t just a program to me, it’s a family.”
Following the success of Legally Blonde, the theatre department looks ahead to the rest of the year, with upcoming productions of Macbeth, And the World Goes ‘Round and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
