Students at Correlieu have been working hard throughout the school year to prepare their Legally Blonde Jr. musical, with public shows kicking off on April 30 and running until May 3.
Teacher and director Shawn Smith said they started working on it in October and students have been working hard to create sets, learn lines and rehearse dances throughout the past few months.
"It's a lot of fun, it's very fast-paced, it's one of the fastest-paced shows that we have done here," he said. Because the show is the junior version of the musical, some of the more mature content has been removed, which Smith said speeds it up. "It's just fast. Fast scene changes, fast costume changes, I think there's 90 costume changes in just over an hour, it's a lot of fun."
The show has two casts, with each taking on two nights of the four-night run of the show.
During rehearsal of several scenes Smith worked to refine where the actors stand on the stage, gave them notes on line delivery and how to keep their breath while doing a very intensive dance.
"I'm totally pumped for these guys, they've been making my job easier because they've been putting so much time in," he said. "The singing and acting's great."
The two actresses playing the musical's lead, Elle Woods are Presley Hallsworth and Brook De Vuyst.
Elle Woods goes to Harvard Law School to chase her one true love and throughout the play, decides to be the best lawyer she can be.
"It's a musical I really enjoy, last year I watched it for the first time. It's super good, highly recommend watching the Broadway version and the movie," Presley said. "It's like a love story but it's also a story of an underdog rising to the top."
This will be Presley's first musical theatre performance, it's also her first year in public high school and being able to participate in a show like Legally Blonde is part of the reason she wanted to go to public school.
"I'm enjoying it so far and everyone's super nice," she said. "I really wanted to be in musical theatre because I love watching it so much and I was like 'I wish I could be part of that.'"
This isn't Brook's first show on stage, she's been in the school's theatre program for several years, including a leading role in last year's show: Newsies. She likes the character of Elle Woods and is a big fan of her story arc.
"I just absolutely love how she takes initiative and becomes her own person. Because she originally just went to go after a guy and then she becomes a really successful lawyer later," Brook said. "She goes against all the stereotypes of being a 'dumb blonde.'"
Brook has no nerves about the show starting and is confident in the cast and crew.
"People should come see the show because you're supporting high schoolers that have worked really hard for the last couple months to give you entertainment, good humour. We have spent a lot of time," she said. "And honestly, it's such an entertaining show that can really influence people in a positive way."
The boy who Elle follows to law school is Warner Huntington the third, played by Canyon Neufeld.
"I like that he's interested in law for a little bit at least even if it's not his passion, he still puts enough effort to get by," Canyon said of why he likes the character. He said the character goes to law school and dumps Elle because he follows what his parents want for him. "You won't find this in the musical, but after law school he actually goes and becomes a model so he finds something that's more creative and artsy."
Canyon also played a leading character in Newsies last year and feels like he's prepared to take the stage for the public as Warner Huntington the third.
The law teacher, professor Callahan is played by Caleb Tetreault. As the demanding teacher, he instructs students how to practice law and throughout the story has his charismatic, intelligent persona diminished.
"This is going to be my second year doing musical theatre. Last year I played Wiesel and Teddy Roosevelt in Newsies. One of them was also the villain," he said. "Every good theatre needs a good villain."
Emmett Forrest, played by Rylen Breen-Dumond, is a graduate of law school and is trying to become Callahan's associate.
"He meets Elle, she's kinda down in the dumps so he kind of helps her through her journey," Rylen said. "I feel like I can relate to him a lot. He just wants to do what's right for people. I feel like I do that in real life so that's what I like most about him."
Last year Rylen played Romeo in Newsies, he described the character as "the guy who tried to get the main girl, fails miserably."
While actors were rehearsing two weeks out from opening night, students worked with one another to remind each other of lines when they blank and refine deliveries. Smith said the cast and crew were extremely well organized and just putting the finishing touches on everything before the April 30 opening night.
People can attend the show at Correlieu's Chuck Mobley Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each of the four nights and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Bo Peep Boutique and the Correlieu box office.
