Legally Blonde The Musical

In This Program

• About the Show
• Credits
• Musical Numbers
• A Note from Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director
• Who’s Who
• Becoming Bruiser Woods: One Dog's Journey to Stardom
• Sponsor Spotlights
• Print Edition
• More About Village Theatre

About the Show

ADAM IMMERWAHR, Artistic Director

DEREK WATANABE, Managing Director

Music and Lyrics by

Laurence O’Keefe
and Nell Benjamin 

Book by

Heather Hach

Based on the novel by Amanda Brown
and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture

Original Production by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals, Dori Berinstein, James L. Nederlander, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, Amanda Lipitz, Broadway Asia, Barbara Whitman, FWPM Group, Hendel/Wiesenfeld, Goldberg/Binder, Stern/Meyer, Lane/Comley, Bartner-Jenkins/Nocciolino and Warren Trepp; Produced in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
November 12–December 22, 2024

Everett Performing Arts Center
January 4–26, 2025

Set Designer
LEX LIANG

Costume Designer
HARMONY ARNOLD

Lighting Designer
YAEL LUBETZKY

Sound Designer
KURT CONWAY

Stage Manager
MIRANDA MIKOLAIZIK*

Music Director
TIM SYMONS

Choreographer
KATY TABB

Director
MEREDITH MCDONOUGH

LEGALLY BLONDE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Show Sponsors

Rowley Properties
Warm 106.9

Season Sponsors

Artsfund
Boeing
Microsoft
Hook & Cleaver | Lombardi's Italian Restaurant and Bar

Producing Sponsors

4Culture
Everett, WA
City of Issaquah Arts Commission
Seattle NorthCountry, made possible in part by assistance from the Snohomish County Hotel-Motel Tax Fund.
Wm Grassie Wine Estates

Credits

*The Actors and Stage Managers are members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. 

Special Thanks

Robert Aguilar, Seattle Rep
Rod “Red” Gibson, Christie Lites Seattle
Legit Adorable Pets
Totem Lake Shoe Repair

Act I

“Overture”
Orchestra

“Omigod You Guys”
Margot, Serena, Pilar, Elle, Delta Nus

“Serious”
Warner, Elle

“Daughter of Delta Nu”
Delta Nus

“What You Want”
Elle, Company

“The Harvard Variations”
Aaron, Cezar, Enid, Harvard Students

“Blood in the Water”
Callahan, Harvard Students

“Positive”
Serena, Margot, Pilar, Elle, Greek Chorus

“Ireland”
Paulette

“Ireland (Reprise)”
Paulette

“Serious (Reprise)”
Warner, Elle

“Chip on My Shoulder”
Emmett, Elle, Company

“So Much Better”
Elle, Company

Act II

“Entr’acte”
Orchestra

“Whipped into Shape”
Brooke, Callahan, Company

“Take It Like a Man”
Elle, Emmett, Company

“Bend and Snap”
Serena, Margot, Pilar, Elle, Paulette, Company

“There! Right There!”
Elle, Callahan, Nikos, Carlos, Company

“Legally Blonde”
Elle, Emmett

“Legally Blonde Remix”
Vivienne, Elle, Enid, Brooke, Company

“Scene of the Crime”
Company

“Find My Way/Finale”
Elle, Paulette, Emmett, Company

Dear Patrons,

OMG, you guys! You made it to Legally Blonde The Musical!
I’m so glad you’re here.

I never thought I’d fall in love with Legally Blonde.

When it was first suggested to me by the Artistic Staff at Village, I scoffed. But once I started reading and listening to it, I couldn’t put it down. Who would have thought that it would prove to be both so fun and so smart. Of course, that’s one of the messages of the musical: that you can be both fun and smart, positive and serious; that you can bring your authentic self and still change the world; that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Just as I shouldn’t have judged Legally Blonde!

Producing musicals like Legally Blonde is joyful—and also a lot of work. I’m always amazed by the artistry and talent of Village’s carpenters, painters, welders, artisans, cutters, stitchers, drapers, wigmakers, prop shoppers, electricians, engineers and stage managers. As you watch today’s performance, please remember that everything you see on stage has been created in our tech studios and costume shop—by a Village (get it?) of some of the hardest working and talented teams of theater makers. Shows like this wouldn’t happen without them.

Next up at Village will be a terrific thriller—Dial M for Murder. It’s a new adaptation of the classic tale of a woman whose husband tries to frame her for murder, and it promises an evening of bone-chills and spellbinding performances. After that, we’ll be producing our own versions of the smash hits Jersey Boys and The Color Purple. We’re honored to bring professional live theater to our community, show after show and year after year, but we can’t do it without you. If you want more shows like this one, please consider supporting Village by becoming a donor or a subscriber (or both!). Visit us at VillageTheatre.org to learn more.

I’ll see you in the lobby!

Adam Immerwahr       
Artistic Director              

P.S. I always welcome your thoughts about the work at Village Theatre. You can email me directly at adam@villagetheatre.org.

Who’s Who

Cast

KRISTIN BURCH, she/her (Serena, u/s Elle). OMG Snaps! Kristin is absolutely jazzed to make her Village Theatre debut! BFA in theatre from Pacific Lutheran University (Go Lutes!). Select credits: Frolika in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mamma Mia!, Rock of Ages, White Christmas (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Andrina in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (National Tour); Anybodys in West Side Story (International Tour). Endless love to her daughter Sienna, Mom & Dad, shout out to TJ’s #156 crew! Instagram: @kristinburch

ETHAN CARPENTER, (Warner Huntington III). Legally Blonde marks Ethan’s 10th Mainstage show with Village Theatre! Favorites include: Hairspray, Les Misérables, Matilda, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Disney’s Newsies. Ethan also appeared in the Beta production of MISS STEP. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paint Your Wagon, Austen’s Pride, and A Chorus Line. Indiana University Alumni. Endless thanks to the cast and creative team. Love to friends and fam.

DANIEL CRUZ, (Nikos, Ensemble, Associate Choreographer) is excited to return to the stage as a performer and Associate Choreographer. Village Theatre: Graffiti Pete in In the Heights, Simon of Legree in The King & I. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Paul in A Chorus Line, Chino in West Side Story. First National Tours: Dance Captain, u/s Graffiti Pete in In the Heights, and with artists Macklemore in Dance Off; Prince in Musicology, and Michael Jackson/*NSync in the MTV Video Music Awards. Bending & snapping for RJ, Brandon, Katy, Tim & Meredith.

COLEMAN CUMMINGS, he/they (Emmett Forrest) is elated to be returning to Village Theatre and this time on the Mainstage! Coleman was last seen at Village as Shrek in Shrek (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE)! Every KIDSTAGE kid’s dream is to perform in a Mainstage show, and this could not be a more perfect show or team to make that dream come true! Favorite credits: Roger in Rent (National Tour), Dmitry in Anastasia, Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Jon in Tick, Tick…Boom! @colemanscummings

ANTEIA DᴇLANEY, she/her (Whitney, Ensemble) is so totally stoked to welcome you to Legally Blonde! Village Theatre credits include Ensemble in Hello, Dolly! and Little Eva and a Shirelle in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other credits include Ana in Spring Awakening (The 5th Avenue Theatre). Anteia invites you to pay rent to RealRentDuwamish.com for our continued use of their land as we carry on the oldest human tradition, storytelling. Come find me on YouTube! Love to Mommy and Nana. @forest.exe

BEN DOW, he/him (Aaron Schultz, Ensemble, u/s Emmett) is honored to be making his Village Theatre debut! Theater credits include Elf: The Musical, Grease (Drury Lane Theatre); Dames at Sea (Peninsula Players Theatre); Sons of Hollywood (Windy City Playhouse); and Disney’s Newsies (Bigfork Summer Playhouse). Ben has a BFA in musical theatre from Indiana University Bloomington and is proudly represented by Stewart Talent - Chicago. Love to Maya and family. bennelsondow.com

MARK EMERSON, he/him (Professor Callahan). Village Theatre: The Fantasticks, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Mamma Mia!, She Loves Me, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The 5th Ave Theatre: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. National Tours: The Phantom of the Opera. London: Angels in America (Lyric Hammersmith). Regional: Sunday in the Park with George (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); Merton of the Movies (Dorset Theatre Festival). TV: “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” BS: Northwestern University; MFA: University of California San Diego. Much love to Jake & Family! markemersonactor.com

NALICA HENNINGS, she/her (Pilar) graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in music and a minor in theatre. She has performed as Lucille and Ensemble in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and u/s Ti Moune/Asaka in Once on This Island (Village Theatre); Chorus in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Seattle Opera); and Aquata and Ensemble in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The 5th Avenue Theatre). Feel free to follow her on Instagram @nalica.performs

DANNY KAM, he/they (Dewey, Carlos, Ensemble u/s, Callahan, Vocal Captain) is a Seattle-based actor/singer and vocal coach who works with Village Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Rep, Taproot Theatre and Cornish College of the Arts, among others. Select favorite credits include: Lewis in The Passage, Solomon/Abraham in ZM, George Westinghouse in Nikola Tesla Drops The Beat (Village Theatre); Sir Toby in Twelfth Night (Seattle Shakespeare Company); and Curtis/Monsignor in Sister Act (Taproot Theatre). Thank you for supporting live theatre! 

CASSI Q KOHL, she/her (Enid, Kate, Ensemble) is a carpenter by day who is thrilled to be back on the Village Theatre stage! You may recognize her as the Fairy Godmother from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, or from String, She Loves Me, and MISS STEP. Favorite local credits: Flotsam in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Grace Banker in The Hello Girls (Taproot Theatre), and Bernadette in POTUS (ACT Theatre). Love to her fiancée Amanda for always setting out her favorite breakfast. @thunderdyke

CHERISSE MARTINELLI, (Vivienne) is ecstatic to return to Village Theatre after previously performing in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, String, and Disney’s Newsies. She recently returned home to the Pacific Northwest after a few years of singing her way around the globe on luxury cruise ships. Other credits: Sister Act (Taproot Theatre), Legally Blonde (Showtunes Theatre Company), Into the Woods (Icicle Creek Center for the Arts). Forever grateful for the gift! Psalms 30:11-12

ARIKA MATOBA, she/her (Margot). Village Theatre: Deorwynn Miller in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Little Red in Into the Woods. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Little Sally in Urinetown. Arika is an artist, a Lagree fitness instructor, and an avid cloud watcher. Life is “So Much Better” with Kumo, my family, my friends, and you! @arikamatoba

TRINA MILLS, (Paulette) is so happy to be back at Village Theatre! Born and raised in Seattle, Mills’ regional credits include Tanya in Mamma Mia! and June in Chicago (Village Theatre); Sheila in A Chorus Line and Glinda in The Wiz (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Evita and The Sound of Music (Asolo Repertory Theatre), Jersey Boys and Chess (The MUNY); Cabaret (The Old Globe Theatre); and The Who’s Tommy (The Kennedy Center).

GCH CH GRANELLO D’ORO DI SAN GIMIGNANO, CALL NAME NUGGET (Bruiser) was born in Italy and moved to Costa Rica. Nugget started his show career as a junior in Costa Rica where he became a JrCh. After moving to Portland, Oregon in 2021, he quickly attained his Grand Champion status in the United States and Canada. Following that he took some time off to sire two litters. He is excited to start a different type of show career in Legally Blonde The Musical.

CY PAOLANTONIO, (Brooke Wyndham, Ensemble) is an actor/director/choreographer whose work has been seen at The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, The Arad Fort in Bahrain, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Rep, The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Smithsonian, SXSW, VH1, BET, NYC Workshop Theatre, and many other regional theatres around the country. Wilde Award recipient for Outstanding Choreography for Ragtime (Flint Repertory Theatre), where she also choreographed Godspell in a pool. Next up: choreographing The Merry Wives of Windsor at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Godspell at the Hangar Theatre.

LAUREN PARIS, she/her (Ensemble, u/s Paulette). Village Theatre credits: The Book Club Play and Welcome Home. Favorite Chicago credits: Percy in The Spitfire Grill; Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar; Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch; working hands-on with playwright Sarah Ruhl on Chicago premiere of Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical; and first Chicago productions of Rent (directed by David Cromer) and Spring Awakening. @theelaurenparis

RICHARD PEACOCK, he/they (Kyle, Ensemble, Dance Captain) is a Seattle-based multidisciplinary artist and founder of the Queer/BIPOC artist collective Yusephinum, LLC. He has worked professionally in musical theatre for over a decade. Richard has been seen at Village in Once on This Island and The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes. Recently, Richard was seen in Fat Ham at Seattle Rep. Some of his favorite Seattle credits include Ragtime; Rock of Ages; Kiss Me, Kate; and A Chorus Line (The 5th Avenue Theatre).

GCH CH CHEROKEE LEGEND ROXANNE, CALL NAME ROXANNE (Rufus) is a Best in Specialty Show winner and a Grand Champion. She was the foundation for Cascade Bulldogs and grandmother to their current puppies. She was on an episode of “Treehouse Masters” when Pete Nelson and his crew built our treehouse in 2017. She is very excited to be a part of Legally Blonde The Musical.

CHARLES L. SIMMONS, he/him (Cezar Tepesh, Ensemble) is a performing artist from Tacoma, WA and is thrilled to return to Village Theatre’s stage with such a fun show! Previous credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Village Theatre); Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Wiz (The 5th Avenue Theatre). IG: @Shiemmons18

GENNAVIEVE SMITH, she/her (Chutney, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her professional debut with Village Theatre! She recently graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with her BFA in musical theatre. Her Cornish credits include: Gynecia in Head Over Heels, Reza in Once, Frenchy and Assistant Choreographer in Cabaret. Today’s performance is brought to you by the love and support of her family and friends. IG: @gennavieve_smith

BETSY STEWART, she/her (Elle Woods) is beyond honored to be bringing her childhood hero and favorite story to life! Previous credits include: Cruel Intentions (First National Tour); Hooded; or Being Black for Dummies (Echo Theatre Company); October Sky (Old Globe Theatre); Spring Awakening (Marriott Theatre). She’s a proud Northwestern graduate and AEA member. Endless gratitude to her Aperture team, her family, and Alex for their steadfast support. @beetstew

SHELBY WILLIS, she/her (Ensemble) is excited to be back performing at Village Theatre in this production of Legally Blonde! Previous Village shows include: In the Heights, My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain, Hello, Dolly!, and u/s Michelle Morris in Dreamgirls. Shelby was last seen in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of White Christmas, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Wiz, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Love you Zach/Fam-Bam and OMIGOD enjoy the show!

Understudies

SUSANNA CATHRYN BALLENSKI, she/they (Swing, u/s Margot, u/s Serena) is thrilled to be making her Village Theatre debut! Susanna was classically trained in dance at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, musical theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and gymnastics and aerial arts in Denver. Favorite credits include: Anya in Anastasia (Regional Theatre of the Palouse), Ariel in Footloose and Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde (Candlelight Dinner Playhouse). Thank you for supporting live theater! Insta: @susanna.ballenski

ANIA BRIGGS, she/her (Swing, u/s Pilar) is a Seattle-based actress, vocalist, and cat mom. In her decade of acting, some of her favorite roles include: Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (Village Theatre), Rita in White Christmas (The 5th Avenue Theatre), and Fabian in Twelfth Night (Seattle Shakespeare Company). Ania wants to say a big thank you to her friends and family for their continued support and encouragement. As always, this one is for you Michelle.

KEKOA DILAY, he/him (Swing) is thrilled to be making his professional theatre debut with Village Theatre! He is a teaching artist for Village Theatre Institute. Select performance credits include: Davey in Disney’s Newsies, Herb in Junie B. Jones, and Marius in Les Misérables. Choreography/Directing credits: associate director/choreographer for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, associate choreographer for Guys and Dolls, and choreographer for While They Last (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE). Love & gratitude always to Mom, Dad, Keoni, Kapono, & Ariona! @kekoadilay

HANNAH MOONEY, she/her (Swing, u/s Vivienne, u/s Brooke) is incredibly grateful to be making her professional theater debut with Village Theatre! Hannah is a professional dancer, choreographer, and cabaret performer in the Seattle area. She can be seen in Verlain and McCann Productions at the Triple Door and singing with a vintage ‘40s trio, The Memphis Belles. She also teaches heels dance through Ztheory. Enormous thanks to her dance community for all their continued support!
@hrmooney548

JEFFERY WALLACE, (Swing, u/s Warner) is thrilled to return to the Village Theatre stage. Previous credits include: Once on This Island, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Hello, Dolly! (Village Theatre); Once on This Island (Tacoma Musical Playhouse); All Shook Up (ManeStage Theatre Company), Peter and the Starcatcher, and more! Off-stage, Jeff is an interior designer and event decorator. He is blessed to share his God-given gifts and for the love and support of his family and friends. @JBrianjr_

Creative Team

MEREDITH McDONOUGH, (Director) was the Associate Artistic Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville where favorites include: Angels in America, Peter and the Starcatcher, and the premieres of Colman Domingo’s Dot and Airness. Regional favorites: The Lily’s Revenge with Taylor Mac, the world premiere of Emma and Noises Off (Guthrie Theater), Falsettos (Theater Latté Da), and The 39 Steps (Denver Center for the Performing Arts). She was the Director of New Works at TheatreWorks and the New Works Director for National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Education: Northwestern University; MFA, University of California San Diego.

TIM SYMONS, (Music Director) is the Resident Music Supervisor at Village Theatre, where he has overseen all aspects of music for the company since 2005. Select credits: Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, The Fantasticks, Songs for a New World, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Hart Island, Billy Elliot, and The Who’s Tommy (Village Theatre); Rock of Ages, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Assassins (ACT Theatre); Man of La Mancha and Xanadu (Arizona Theatre Company). Original scores for Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Village Theatre. Love to Taylor, Cedar, and Winslow!

KATY TABB, she/her (Choreographer) is thrilled to return to Village Theatre after previously choreographing: The Fantasticks, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Mamma Mia!, Singin’ in the Rain, Billy Elliot, ZM, and Disney’s Newsies (Gregory Award recipient). Katy’s work has been presented at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Theatre Aspen, The Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Olney Theatre Center, Seattle Symphony, Cornish College of the Arts, The Triple Door, Taproot Theatre, Showtunes Theatre Company, and numerous Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE productions.

LEX LIANG, (Scenic Designer). NYC/Off-Broadway: 50+ productions; Select Regional: Alliance Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Cincinnati Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Denver Center, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre. Other: Founder and owner of LDC Design Associates, an experiential event design and production company in NYC. Recent projects/clients include Absolut Vodka, Johnson & Johnson, The Kardashians, Tony Awards Gala, NY Fashion Week, NYC Wine & Food Festival. lexliang.com @MrLexLiang

HARMONY ARNOLD, (Costume Designer) is an accomplished costume designer, wardrobe stylist for stage, film, and commercial work, and an image consultant for private clients. She is an associate professor in the Department of Performing Arts and Arts Leadership at Seattle University. Harmony is delighted to rejoin Village Theatre, having previously designed costumes for String, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, and Snapshots. Harmony is a member of the United Scenic Artists Local USA 829.

YAEL LUBETZKY, (Lighting Designer). Credits include: Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam (Broadway); Off-Broadway productions with The New Group, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, WP Theater. Regional designs at American Conservatory Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Repertory Company. Recent designs include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Writer’s Theatre); Matilda (Wichita Music Theatre); On Your Feet, Kinky Boots (Riverside Theatre); Master Class (Arizona Theatre Company).

KURT CONWAY, (Sound Designer) Previous credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, Songs for a New World (Village Theatre). He also designs shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Originally from the mountains of North Carolina, Kurt currently works for The 5th Avenue Theatre as well as freelances as a designer and mix engineer in Seattle and internationally.

MIRANDA MIKOLAIZIK, (Stage Manager) is so excited to be working on this bucket list show! She is also grateful to be serving as the theatre’s Resident Stage Manager. Miranda has worked on a number of shows at Village since 2014 including Dreamgirls, Matilda the Musical, Songs for a New World, and Cabaret. She also tries to stage manage for The 14/48 Projects whenever possible and loves lifting heavy things. All the love to Chris and the kittens.

ISABELLA MARZIELLO, she/her/ella (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at Village Theatre for Legally Blonde! Isabella has had the pleasure of working with Village Theatre, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ArtsWest, ACT Theatre, and Washington Ensemble Theatre. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hiking. Isabella holds a BA in theatre arts from the University of Puget Sound. She sends endless love and thanks to her friends, family, and fiancé for their unfaltering love and support. 

LAUREL NICHOLS, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is delighted to be backstage for this fun show! Previously at Village Theatre: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Songs for a New World, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Disney’s Newsies, Pump Boys & Dinettes, Billy Elliot. Regional credits: The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT Theatre, The Feast, Intiman Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Proud AEA member. Love to Mr. Nichols! @laurelleemarie 

GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA (Casting Director) is thrilled to continue collaborating with Village Theatre. Select credits include Broadway: Spamalot, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods (Artios Award winner), The Velocity of Autumn. Off-Broadway: Cellino v. Barnes, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Altar Boyz, Southern Comfort, Yank!. Select New York and Regional Theatre companies include Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Baltimore Center Stage, Irish Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Studio Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre and York Theatre Company. @josscasting

HEATHER HACH, (Book) received 2007 Tony and Drama Desk nominations for her work on Legally Blonde. Graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, School of Journalism. Worked at The New York Times Denver Bureau as a research assistant and Sports and Fitness Publishing in Boulder, Colorado, as a magazine editor. Member of Denver’s Comedy Sports improv comedy troupe. Worked on the TV shows “Caroline in the City” and “Dilbert.” Won Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship in 1999. Film credits include Disney’s Freaky Friday and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Also wrote the young adult novel Freaky Monday with Mary Rodgers. Much love to friends and family, especially Jason, Harper and Drake.

LAURENCE O’KEEFE, (Music & Lyrics) received 2007 Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his work on Legally Blonde. Larry thanks all Blonde producers and creative team. He won the Ed Kleban Award, the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award and a Jonathan Larson award for his music and lyrics. Off-Broadway credits: Bat Boy: The Musical (Lucille Lortel, Richard Rodgers, Outer Critics’ Circle awards), which has received 100+ productions worldwide; music for Sarah, Plain and Tall, lyrics by Nell Benjamin (touring with TheatreWorksUSA). Co-author with Nell Benjamin of Cam Jansen (Drama Desk nomination) and The Mice. Larry is a product of his education with the Harvard Krokodiloes, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the Harvard Lampoon and the Actors’ Gang, but especially the incomparable Nell Benjamin.

NELL BENJAMIN, (Music & Lyrics) co-wrote the score to Legally Blonde the Musical with composer Laurence O’Keefe, which received Tony Award nominations, Drama Desk nominations, and the Olivier and Helpmann Awards for Best Musical. Nell wrote the lyrics to Mean Girls, which received multiple Tony Award nominations, including for Best Original Score and Best Musical. Nell’s play, The Explorers Club, won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant. Nell has written book and/or lyrics for Pirates! (or Gilbert and Sullivan plunder’d), Sarah, Plain and Tall, Cam Jansen (Drama Desk-nominated), I Want My Hat Back, How I Became a Pirate, The Mice, Life of the Party, and Because of Winn Dixie. Upcoming musicals are: Huzzah!, Life of the Party, Dave. Television writing includes: “Unhappily Ever After”, Animal Planet’s “Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca”, “Electric Company”, “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris”, “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway”, “Julie’s Greenroom.” Nell is the recipient of the Kleban Foundation Award and a Jonathan Larson Grant.

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. MTI maintains its global headquarters in  New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).

ADAM IMMERWAHR, (Artistic Director) is responsible for season selection and also oversees the artistic, education, and production departments. He recently directed Village’s productions of Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Fantasticks. He previously served as Artistic Director of Theater J, the Associate Artistic Director at McCarter Theatre, and the Resident Director of Passage Theatre. Adam’s producing credits include new works by Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, Danai Gurira, Fiasco Theater, Will Power, Stephen Wadsworth, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Ken Ludwig, several of which have transferred to Broadway or off-Broadway. As a director, Adam’s work has been seen from Aspen to Zimbabwe, including at some of the top theaters in the country: The Public and Theater Row (both for Summer Play Festival), Ensemble Studio Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, McCarter Theater, Cleveland Play House, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Theater J, Passage Theater, Hangar Theater, Bristol Riverside, and many others. He serves on the Board of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and is an inaugural member of the Drama League Director’s Council.

DEREK WATANABE, (Managing Director) has served as the Managing Director of Village Theatre since the beginning of the 2024-25 season and oversees the marketing, finance, fundraising, patron services, operations, and facilities areas of the organization. He and Adam work closely together to coordinate the business and artistic sides of the theater to create the best possible product and maximize the experience for patrons, employees and creative talent alike. Derek has been a long-term champion of Village Theatre, as subscriber (27 years), Board member
(15 years), Village Originals member, KIDSTAGE parent, and donor. During his tenure as Board President, he helped lead Village through the construction of the Watjen Technical Studios, the Hunt Family Theatre and the Cope Gillette Theatre. Originally from Honolulu, Derek moved to the West Coast to pursue his bachelor’s and graduate degrees at Pomona College, UCLA, and USC.  He and his wife, Anne, have lived in Issaquah for 27 years, where they raised three theater-savvy kids and where their appreciation for the performing arts positively blossomed, thanks to Village Theatre.

The Director is a member of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

All stage work performed by members of IATSE Local 15.

All costume construction and hair/make-up work is performed by employees represented by IATSE TWU Local #887.

All scenic painting work is performed by employees represented by IATSE Local 488.

United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The theatre operates under an agreement with Local 76-493, American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO, representing the musicians.

Village Theatre proudly participates in the Theatre Puget Sound presented Gregory Awards for Excellence in Local Performing Arts.

Becoming Bruiser Woods:

One Dog's Journey to Stardom

By Ellen Morgan Peltz

For many actors, getting their first big break is cause for celebration. Canine actors are no exception. When Nugget the chihuahua got the call that he had been cast as Bruiser Woods, Elle Woods’ loyal canine companion, in Village Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde, his owner, Cindy Carroccio, did some celebrating on his behalf. 

“I posted on my Facebook page, bragged to friends and co-workers, and sent out an impromptu press release to a local station,” Carroccio says. “I’m pretty proud and excited for him. Our bags are packed to move to NYC or Hollywood.”

Even though Legally Blonde is Nugget’s first production, he’s no stranger to the limelight. Born in Italy, Nugget’s show dog career has taken him to Costa Rica, Canada, and across the United States. 

“He has a fan base when he goes to dog shows,” says Carroccio. “Everybody wants to hold him. He’s won over a lot of people who otherwise hate chihuahuas.”

Finding and training dogs like Nugget to perform in stage productions can be a challenge. But whoever said “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has never met Kayley Paylor. Paylor owns a local dog training business, In Stride Azawakh & Training, which specializes in training and high-level competition. She’s also a theatre practitioner and a former member of Village Theatre’s stage crew.  The combination of theater and dog training experience makes her ideally suited to cast and train the two dogs who appear in Legally Blonde, says Brandon Ivie, Village Theatre’s associate artistic director. “We are very lucky to have her.”

“The show world is small,” says Paylor. “You meet people. And you meet people who know people. So I put out the word that I was looking for a retired show dog or breeding dog that still wants to be active, and I actually had a lot of interest.”

As Bruiser, Nugget has to perform some particularly challenging behaviors including “speaking” to Elle’s friends and going to a mark. Learning these behaviors took a month and a half of focused training, during which time Nugget boarded with Paylor. 

Paylor says the most difficult behavior to teach is comfort while being handled by actors, which ultimately boils down to breeding. “People have this stereotype of Chihuahuas that they’re nervous and they’re shaky and they’re biters. When I met Nugget, he came right out and let me pick him up and handle him.  And that’s exactly what I would expect from a well-bred dog.”

While most of the dogs’ pre-production training involved working on behaviors with Paylor, they also made occasional visits to rehearsals so that both the dogs and the cast could get comfortable working with one another.

“The dogs are a critical part of the show, so finding cast members who were comfortable with handling dogs was part of the vetting process during casting,” says Ivie. “Everyone needs to share the stage with them, so in many ways, it’s an entire cast of ‘dog people’!”

During rehearsals and production, the dogs have a separate off-stage area with
crates and beds where they can relax with their handler. “They need time to turn off their brains,” says Paylor. “Even though they have lovely temperaments, it’s a lot to ask of them.”

In Paylor’s experience, many show dogs who spend years of their lives on the road end up missing the excitement of doing tricks for a crowd after they retire. 

Carroccio says this is definitely true for Nugget. “Before, when we would get ready to go on the show circuit, he’d get a bath before we left and he would get so excited because he knew he was fixing to go on the road,” says Carroccio. “I gave him a bath before he left to start training with Kayley, and he knew. He knew he was about to do something fun.”

Welcome to show biz, Nugget. Now take a well-deserved bow-wow-wow.

ArtsFund is proud to support Village Theatre’s mission as they continue to produce dynamic programming that highlights innovative artists in the Pacific Northwest. ArtsFund’s support of local arts organizations is only possible through the contributions of donors in this community, and we are immensely grateful to the generous individuals and businesses who have supported ArtsFund as well as Village Theatre. We will continue to support arts organizations, like Village Theatre, that elevate the voices of Washington state through our leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking programs. We are excited to see what will be performed throughout this season!

The Boeing Company is committed to improving the quality of life within the communities where our employees live and work. Our Global Engagement programs implement Boeing’s philanthropy through local charitable investments, volunteerism, employee drives, personal giving, disaster response, and other integrated programs. Boeing is proud to be a supporter of Village Theatre’s productions and musical theatre education programs, and we are pleased to welcome you back to live theatre. Enjoy the show!

Microsoft is pleased to sponsor Village Theatre’s 2024–2025 Season, and to welcome you to this production of Legally Blonde. Village Theatre is a favorite among our employees and their families, and we are delighted to support a vibrant community arts organization that brings high quality entertainment to the Eastside. We encourage employee engagement and volunteerism in the community throughout the year and through support of great organizations like Village Theatre, we aim to foster a strong community culture where the arts will thrive for generations to come. Enjoy the show!

Lombardi’s Italian Restaurants & Catering is honored to be a long-time Village Theatre sponsor! Lombardi’s delights diners at their three locations: at the scenic Everett Marina, the bustling Bellingham Marina, and their newest culinary venture, Hook & Cleaver, in Mukilteo. Date night or any night, experience Lombardi’s classic and contemporary Italian cuisine from all around Italy. Sip your favorite Washington and Italian wines, savor a handcrafted cocktail, or enjoy one of the many local brews with your meal. Village Theatre and Lombardi’s, the perfect pairing!

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