MGM ON STAGE

Photo: Becky Gulsvig as Elle Woods and the cast of the National Tour of
Legally Blonde The Musical

Before it opened on Broadway, Legally Blonde was a hit movie for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2001.  The film was such a sensation that it was followed by a sequel called Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. 

In January 2002, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer founded MGM ON STAGE.  This new division of the studio successfully brought MGM back to the live stage for the first time in years.  MGM ON STAGE uses its film library to develop into stage productions. 

MGM Broadway productions have included Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL!  Other MGM stage properties in production are in the United Kingdom:  Midnight Cowboy and in Australia:  Priscilla Queen of the Desert.  Additional films under consideration to become stage productions include:  Get Shorty, The Thomas Crown Affair, Rain Man, Moonstruck, Mermaids, The Pink Panther, Weekend at Bernie’s and The Man in the Iron Mask.

Dean Stolber, head of MGM ON STAGE, along with Darcie Denkert, has said, “this is a great way to create new works based on our outstanding library.”  Denkert adds, “With so many great MGM movies adaptable into entertaining musicals and stage plays, this is a natural area of growth for the studio.”

For more information read Darcie Denkert’s book: 
A Fine Romance Hollywood/Broadway (The Magic. The Mayhem. The Musicals.)

HOW DID LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL MAKE IT TO THE STAGE?

1. MGM ON STAGE grants a license for the film to be made into a stage play.

2. Producers Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals; Dori Berinstein, Darcie Denkert and Dean Solber in association with MGM On Stage; James L. Nederlander; and a host of other producers raise funds and sign up HEATHER HACH who “nicely condensed the story and even managed to add a few new jokes with up-to-the-minute popular references” (Brendan Lemon, The Financial Times).  Ms. Hach  expands the character of Emmett, making him a man with a chip on his shoulder, no sympathy for slackers, who encourages Elle to do the work instead of the parties. Hach adds a Greek Chorus to let the audience know Elle’s inner thoughts.  Other differences with the film include the essay that gets Elle into Harvard involves the UCLA marching band, the female professor of the film is replaced by giving Vivienne (Warner’s new girlfriend) more to do, Paulette of the Salon has dreams of Ireland, and the surprise question Elle asks Emmett at the end.

3. Husband and wife team NELL BENJAMIN and LAURENCE O’KEEFE create a “pop-rock score to skate along upon CHRISTOPHER JANKE’s bright orchestrations”  (Jacques le Sourd, The Journal News).  The opening “Omigod You Guys” sets the tone and the whirlwind pace for the entire show.

4. The Producers get Tony Award winner JERRY MITCHELL to direct/choregraph.  Choreographer of La Cage Aux Folles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray and The Full Monty, Mitchell makes his directorial debut “a break-out turn with dances that are always lively and direction that keeps the action moving all the time”  (Jacques le Sourd, The Journal News).   The amazing jump-rope inmate video dance, the “Riverdance” of love, and the “Bend and Snap” that guarantees guys come running charge the show with electricity.

5. DAVID ROCKWELL set designer for Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and All Shook Up comes on board creating “vibrant cartoonish sets with the playful use of skewed perspective and the candykissed lighting of KEN POSNER and
PAUL MILLER"  (David Rooney, Variety).  Rockwell zips the audience in moments from the Delta Nu Sorority house and golf course in California to New England’s ivy league of Harvard, women’s prison, Hansen-Harkness Department Store, Wyndham Mansion, law office, dorm, conference room, trailer and courtroom.

6. “GREGG BARNES’ hilarious costumes add the right comic accent”  (David Sheward,
Backstage).  Various pinks mix with salon style and legal shades of blue and black to create trendy statements of fashion and make the characters look fabulous.

7. Famed animal trainer, BILL BERLONI rescues dogs from animal shelters to play
Bruiser and Rufus.

8. The creative team adds a theater, actors, unions, publicity, other design, technical, backstage, and front-of-house staff, an audience and voila - LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is a hit, runs on Broadway, then the National Tour brings the MGM Theatrical production to people across the nation.

9. The Original Broadway Cast Recording hits #1 on Billboard’s Cast Album chart, #86 on Billboard’s Top 200 and the Top 10 on iTunes.

10. MTV brings Broadway and Legally Blonde The Musical to 6.9 million TV viewers. 

11. The show is a hit!  Omigod!  The Producers smile.