Tickled Pink at Legally Blonde The Musical Day

Legally Blonde The Musical Day at The District at Tustin Legacy started at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 11 when Natalie Joy Johnson sang “Ireland,” one of the hit songs from Legally Blonde, to a crowd gathered to meet some of the stars from the hit Broadway show that is playing the Center through September 20. Johnson and her LB co-stars Cortney Wolfson, Rhiannon Hansen and Crystal Joy then showed all the guests the show’s signature move – the Bend & Snap. The cast stayed at The District to meet every fan, sign posters, programs and pose for photos. Play the video above to see the cast members in action.

Part II of Legally Blonde Day at The District featured a couture canine extravaganza – a doggy fashion show. The winners were judged from first to third place (pictured above): Meeko, owned by Thao Luong (center; first place); Chanel No. 5, owned by Melissa Christian (right; second place) and last but certainly not least Angelina (left; third place), owned by Brittany Ngo and Aaron Hunt. Seeing is believing – enjoy some of the latest fashion finds for pooches.

Photo: Judging scene

A big thanks to The District and everyone for coming out to Legally Blonde The Musical Day!

Photo: Daisy and Sara Bauguess and Mila with Lisa Lafayette

Photo: Parsnip with Todd and Jenielle Chaney

Photo: Milly with Tasha and Ashley Anderson

You Asked For it

The Center’s inquiring Facebook fans posed questions to Becky Gulsvig, who plays Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical. Becky read through the submitted questions and decided to answer the ones from Meghan Cleary, Julissa Salamanca, Helen Ngo and Irene Zelonka Hutton. Click on the video to see Becky’s responses. Thanks to all the Center’s Facebook fans for the great questions. The musical plays at the Center through September 20.

Mel Brooks and Dave Brubeck to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center announced yesterday that writer-director Mel Brooks and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck will receive Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement in the arts. Joining Brooks and Brubeck this year as recipients are rocker Bruce Springsteen, actor Robert De Niro and opera singer Grace Bumbry. They will be recognized at a gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event will be broadcast as a two-hour special on December 29 at 9 p.m. on CBS. (LtoR: Brooks, Brubeck)

Brooks’ career has spanned the stage, films and television. His Broadway credits include The Producers (which garnered 12 Tony® Awards), Young Frankenstein as well as books for the musicals All American and Shinbone Alley. Brooks’ many films include cult classics such as Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, High Anxiety and Young Frankenstein. He earned an Oscar for The Producers’ movie screenplay. On the small screen, Brooks has won Emmys for his appearances on the comedy series Mad About You and he also worked on Get Smart and Your Show of Shows. Orange County audiences will have the opportunity to see Brooks’ work when his musical Young Frankenstein visits the Center September 7 – 19, 2010.

Brubeck has been dazzling audiences for 60 years with his composing and piano playing. He’s appeared four times at the Center in the popular Jazz Series. Over the years, he’s written jazz standards such as "In Your Own Sweet Way," "The Duke” and “Take Five.” One of his most well-known works is the classic recording Time Out which was the first jazz album to sell one million copies. Credited with bringing jazz into the mainstream, Brubeck has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts and been inducted into Down Beat’s Hall of Fame.

Legally Fun!

Guest blogger Jacob Matsumiya is back with one of his reviews - this time for Legally Blonde the Musical which is at the Center through September 20. Read his thoughts on the show below and also find out when Jacob first became a Legally Blonde fan and what songs he'll humming when he's bored at a lecture.

Jacob's review is in pink.

In his review of Legally Blonde the Musical, Ben Brantley of The New York Times called the show a "nonstop sugar rush," full of "high-energy" and "empty-calories," like "eating a jumbo box of Gummi Bears in one sitting." Basically, if you're averse to large amounts of pep, perkiness, pizazz, and, well, pink this show is definitely not for you. But for the rest of us who do enjoy flashy dance numbers, over-the-top characters, and belting sorority sisters, Legally Blonde the Musical is an undeniably entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable night of theater.

Based on the MGM film of the same name, Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl that proves there is more to a blonde than meets the eye. Through a combination of hard work, determination, and the right outfit, Elle wins the case, gets the man and shows us all how to be true to ourselves.

Led by Becky Gulsvig as Elle, the principals all deliver solid performances, especially the endearing Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette (Photo: Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette, China as Rufus and Ven Daniel as Kyle (c) Joan Marcus.) Special notice must also be made to the ensemble members who in their various roles do their very best to steal the show. From Nikos to Kyle the UPS guy to Chutney, these bit players provide the wonderfully brilliant backbone to this quirky musical.

The book writer Heather Hach injects the show with the right dose of humor and poignancy, while also nailing the Valley girl vernacular. The songs by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin are the kind you can't help but find yourself singing for the next few days, if not weeks. I know for sure I'll be humming "Omigod You Guys" or "Bend and Snap" the next time I'm sitting through a boring lecture. They are the perfect complement to the story and in turn they are perfectly complemented by lively and infectious choreography by Jerry Mitchell. While the sets by David Rockwell are noticeably pared down from the Broadway production, I applaud the clever use of the adjustable proscenium to frame the action and overall I feel nothing was lost in translating the production to its current tourable incarnation (God only knows how many trucks it would have taken to haul a whole UCLA sorority house from city to city). Additional kudos to the costumes by Gregg Barnes and the lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, which also serve to complement the overall effervescence of this bubbly production. Truly, Legally Blonde is a musical crafted to please and in that respect it does not fail.

I first became a fan of the show when I watched it on MTV and I would be lying to you if I said that it didn't stay on my DVR for over a year. Whenever I needed a little pick me up or a quick dose of fun, even a few minutes of Legally Blonde the Musical were enough to send me happily on my way. I would also be lying if I told you that Legally Blonde the Musical was anything but old-fashioned musical comedy updated for the millennial generation. Like the candy Mr. Brantley likened it to, the show is an incredibly satisfying piece of sugary fun. Perfectly harmless and delightfully mind-numbing. Thankfully the show makes no apologies for itself, brandishing its bedazzled charm for the world to see. Like its leading lady Legally Blonde the Musical knows what it is and is thoroughly proud of it. And just like Elle it has every right to be.

The Bonnie Hunt Show Goes Blonde

For realz! The talented and gorgeous cast of Legally Blonde The Musical will make an appearance on the season premiere of The Bonnie Hunt Show this coming Tuesday, September 8. They will perform the popular number, "Omigod You Guys." The Bonnie Hunt Show airs weekdays on KNBC at 3 p.m.

Legally Blonde The Musical then makes its way to Orange County Tuesday evening for opening night in Segerstrom Hall. The show runs here through September 20.

Christine Andreas Talks Two for the Road

Christine Andreas has been wowing audiences for 30 years with her Broadway performances in Oklahoma, On Your Toes, My Fair Lady and The Scarlet Pimpernel to name just a few. And her engaging and entertaining cabaret shows have earned her a worldwide following. For her Center Cabaret Series engagement November 12 – 15, she’ll perform her new show, Two for the Road, which was created with her husband, composer and musician Martin Silvestri. To hear more from Christine herself, click on the video above. Christine was last here in the Tony® Award-winning The Light in the Piazza, and Orange County is excitedly awaiting her return visit!

Think Pink Week

To celebrate Legally Blonde The Musical’s highly anticipated arrival in Orange County next week, several premier spas, salons and fitness centers have created specially-themed offers and packages to help everyone look and feel their very best. These special deals start today, September 1 and run through September 7 at Circa 92 Spa, Code Pink Boot Camp, The Spa and Fitness Club and Vitalae Wellness. Be sure to catch these great offers! And then see Legally Blonde The Musical September 8 – 20 looking your hottest and fittest!

Circa 92 Spa
“Delta Nu Do” – $148 (regularly $228) includes highlights, hair cut, styling and make-up)
“Elle Fantastic Pink” – $10 add a splash of pink to your hair – a temporary streak
“Power Lunch” – $35 (regularly $65) blow dry and conditioning treatment
31 E. Macarthur Blvd., Suite 107, South Coast Metro
714.444-4166
Circa92.com

Code Pink Boot Camp
“Legally Buff” Packages – $199 (regularly $299) sign up for a five-day session for the price of a three-day session
Locations throughout Orange County
949.702.7548
Codepinkbootcamp.com

The Spa and Fitness Club
“Pretty in Pink” Pedicures – $40 (regularly $65) 50 minute intensive foot treatment with a callo-peel and polish of your choice
“Pretty in Pink” Manicures – $40 (regularly $47) 50 minute treatment for the hands with hand bath, hand massage and choice of polish
695 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
714.850.0050
Thespaandfitnessclub.com

Vitalae Wellness
“Tickle Me Pink” – $60 (regularly $90) relaxation massage using a blend of essential oils to melt away stress
“Bend & Snap Special” – $60 (regularly $90) severe pain relief to relieve sore muscles, increase flexibility and speed up muscle recovery
“Pamper & Polish” – $150 (regularly $195) visit to the dental spa includes a cleaning and polish for your teeth, a paraffin wax dip for your hands and a home teeth whitening kit (dental insurance accepted)
2500 Alton Parkway, Suite 208, Irvine
949.748.6220
Vitalaewellness.com

Photo: Lauren Ashley Zakrin in the National Tour of Legally Blonde The Musical (c) Joan Marcus.