Why do I always do this? Buy the CD of a new show and then not get round to listening to it for ages.

Finally got round to Legally Blonde yesterday and fell in love with it!

The score sounds slightly derivative - but it is full of punch and flair that it doesn't matter.

A quick google found me the MTV broadcast and have just watched that.

I don't normally gush - but I just loved it that much!

Yep it's great, although I only know the album.

Just been announced it's closing next month on Broadway too, which is a shame. Bring on the London production...

I'm a little worried about what the closure of the Broadway production will mean for the London production actually... they wouldn't cancel it, would they? I hope not, I've been looking forward to it for ages and I think it would be really well received here.

Me too. I REALLY hope that it doesn't have an implication for the London show. I love the CD and have been looking forward to seeing it over here. Fingers crossed they still go ahead.

I don't think the London production is in any doubt based on the comments on other boards from people in the industry. London will get the Broadway sets apparently.

The latest I've heard though is that it won't open until 2010 which is a depressing thought. I'm sure it was originally meant to be opening around now!

could you post the link for the mtv broadcast please?! i have seen the songs on youtube but i wants to see the whole thing!

They wanted to open it soon as possible but theyre having real trouble finding a venue. I really hope that Laura Bell Bundy brings it over.

I am absolutley, totally and utterly shocked and flabberghasted it is closing on broadway on oct. 19th! Poor Bailey she has only been in it for 3 months. I mean its bad...title of the show, xanadu closing puuled forward to this sunday, now legally blonde...please stop now!! I just cant believe it. I so wanted to see it on broadway aswell as xanadu. Gosh...bring on the london production.
What a shame...

is there any reason why october sees so many shows closing?

Really?? Gosh - the first (few) time(s) I heard it I really disliked it.

After many listenings I came round to "Ireland" (oddly enough); "Chip on My Shoulder" (which is fantastic); "Bend and Snap" (which is hilarious); and the lyrics and back-and-forth in "There! Right There!" (which was -- well -- amusing and tongue in cheek if you're not - well -- European -- but seems awfully American to me).

Ok, so that's four songs, but I can't say the rest of the cast recording grabbed me at all. Loved Laura Bell Bundy, but honestly, I far preferred In The Heights or Spring Awakening, and even (shoot me now) certain songs off Young Frankenstein (*ducks*).

[Edited to add: Willing to be convinced I'm wrong, as always, so please, convince me.]

I also really hope the Broadway closure doesn't impact on the London opening. I was really snobby about this (thought it would be terrible) so refused to go and see it when I was in NY last year and hugely regret it. I think I saw a bit of it on MTV and turned off, didn't get it at all. Then saw the MTV show (full recording, not the 'find a new Elle' one) on a downloads comm and DLed just so I could see if it was as terrible as I thought without paying for it ... and I fell in love.

I can't stop watching the MTV recording, have the words to loads of the songs flying around in my head. I love Andy Karl (am a huge fan of Altar Boyz also) and Orfeh, the girl who plays Kate/Chutney, the girl who plays Margot, Christian Borle is of course amazing (he was amazing as Prince Herbert in Spamalot, I love his vocal)...the Irish dancing is a definite favourite!

Man, it had better come to the West End, specially now I cannot see it in NY!

It was seeing the MTV broadcast on Google Video that sealed the deal for me. It has a huge amount of visual appeal and energy.

There is something horribly catchy about Oh My God. The descending motif at the end of the phrases is a great hook and I can't get it out of my head!

It is not as original as In the Heights - but it is warm and endearing.

I really wasn't expecting much - and so perhaps this heightened my pleasure at enjoying the score.

Simon, I think that's what did it for me too - I wasn't expecting much and got something pretty amazing. It's upbeat and fun and teaches you something without making it all sickly.

For those wanting the links:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6993804597533189639 - part 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7160060273351844092 - part 2

Tell me about it! It is one of the 'in' shows to do at student showcases at the moment, so I spend half my life trying to get omigod out of my head!

I'm sad to hear it's closing. It's definitely one of my favourite shows even if I havent seen it on stage yet. I think it has the right combination of charm, comedy and enthusiasm to make it work. I really hope that it still comes over here, I'm not totally sure how it will do over here. I'm hoping it'll do aswell as Wicked though (without the fangirls!)

OMG you guys! (I've been wanting to do that for ages!) go into the wikipedia and look at the legally blonde the musical page, they say that all the sets from the broadway show is coming to london and laura bell bundy will play elle woods!!! soooo happy! it also says it will be in the spring of 2009!

Havelooked at the wikipedia site.. cant find where it says about springnext year or LBB,where do I look?!!Thanks!

Ps sorry about no spaces.. my space bar is playing up!

that sounds great but wikipedia isnt exactly fact...?

There's also a legallyblonde.co.uk website where you can sign up for news updates which sounds pretty promising to me!

That site has been up for quite a while now.

it doesn't say spring next year, it says first quarter, but thats sort of spring time, if you look under Productions, thats where it tells you what i had said previously, however it doesn't say anything about laura bell bundy anymore

I am so surprised this is closing on broadway. Went to see it about 3 weeks ago and the theatre was vitually full. A great, fun show - can't wait for it to come to London.

Anyone else heard the rumour that the current Ellle will come to London?

Which one Bailey hanks or Laura bell bundy..?

Bailey Hanks

Please someone tell me thats not true!

It's not true!

Thank goodness for that! So no more news at all?

there are rumours going around the "mill" that the producers have pencilled in certain people they have in mind for the parts, in know this as i work for a certain west end agency and we've received information on break downs etc..
they are not bringing in the american cast. they want an all new cast over here.
they have people like sabrina aloueche in for vivian
ashleigh gray in for brooke windham
elle woods is yet to be confirmed. it is true they wanted rachel wooding but as its taking so long to cast rachel has now gone with evita. a wise choice i think.
the show won't be over here until at least summer next year.
i have heard that they are also thinking of people like adam garcia and jonathan wilkes for warner and emmit respectively.
all this is purely a pencilled in casting, when the americans came over to see shows to get inspiration these are the people that they thought would be good for those roles. whether they cast them or whether the performers in question take the roles is another story.

I cannot imagine Ashleigh as Brooke Windham.LOL.

NOT AT ALL! ashleigh is so not right for that part.
Strallenfan i can actually see one of the strallen sisters- doing most of those roles!
as for the rest, i wouldn't mind seeing adam garcia back in the west end (seeing being the operative word..!)
oliver thompsett is so suitable for emmit more so than jonathan wilkes!
sabrina i can see doing vivian- LOVE HER!
As for elle herself, there are loads of majorly talented people in the west end- I PRAY THEY DON'T GO TO REALITY TV FOR IT!

It's just not an Ashleigh role. No way. I could see her as Vivien maybe. But not even that is really Ashleigh.
The only one that will be available will be Summer as she finishes Sound of Music in february. Scarlett is contracted to Mary Poppins til October 2009, Zizi is contracted to Dirty Dancing til August 2009. I can see Summer as maybe Vivien or Brooke but not completely sure they are roles she'd want to play.

Elle is tricky. For once I must say, I actually want the original to kick start the West End premiere. Laura Bell Bundy is just fantastic and I'd love to see her in the role. If not, I think Dianne Pilkington would be fantastic. Or Rachael Wooding.

Really? I find this slightly strange

1) Breakdowns merely give information about the character (description, age, vocal range etc). They don't give any information about actors considered for the roles. In fact, why bother sending out breakdowns for roles you already have people in mind for?

2) I haven't received any break downs. Nor have any of my friends at any other agencies.

Pippa's offices advise casting breakdowns aren't going to go out until spring next year.

If you're going to pretend to know something at least do it convincingly.

Simon Grieff would be a fantastic Emmett.

Is this definately coming? where - which theatre? when? it didnt last that long on broadway so didnt think they'd want it here as wel!

Anyone know if this is still coming? I heard from someone who was at Hairspray that he was there and said its still coming over but there's been so many rumours and people pretending they know stuff that they dont that I dont know whats doing on!!!

are you an agent or an actres??

fyi...FACT - jerry mitchell is over in the UK right NOW and YES they are auditioning / meeting with potential "Elles."

so sorry if you or your friends haven't been called, it's probaly more because you're not being seen for the the role or don't have anyone on your books they're intersted in!

other roles wil be audioned next year.

who's gonna be elle?

no one knows anyone who is playing elle- it is top secret.
but the casting agents involved at Pippa alion casting have made it known who they want for each role. ideally.
breakdowns have gone out- whoever this person is saying that they haven't- you obviously know nothing.

From the kid who can't even spell "no one", "their" or "name"!

I have also heard that some people auditioned last week for legally blonde infront of the Producers the Writers AND THE Director! . I would guess that these are the first auditions if not the early stages of the audition process so i ask , Is it common for the entire creative and production team to be in on the first auditions? I thought that they would come into the process once the casting people have whittled it down to the people who are really suitable on the other hand i suppose its good that they want to make sure that someone doesnt slip through the net. I am very excited about this show hitting the west end. I hope Rachel Wooding gets Elle i cant think of anyone else who would come close as far as emmett and warner i would like to see them cast them closer to the film i think his name is luke wilson . . . ? anyway he is cute and a bit geeky rather than christian borle who as great as he is !! is geeky and not one bit cute . I also think they should stick a NAME in the warner role some hunky popstar just to secure a bit of press im not usually a fan of "NAMES" but if it means the show will run then do it do it do it please

Creatives dont come over for early auditions. What does that tell you?

Just wanted to add how ridiculously excited I am that 'Legally Blonde' is coming over! I think it's exactly what London needs right now. That and 'Hairspray' have totally restored my faith in new musicals!

Well...! That maybe so USUALLY !! But if your comment 'Creatives dont come over for early auditions. What does that tell you? '!!! suggest that they dont and they didnt then i guess Jerry mitchell who i believe is the Director and the Choreographer [ Clever Man! ] was just a figure of ---nicola brazil's/ summer strallen's/dianne pilkington's/ kerry ellis's/ jodie jacobs/damian humbley's?[not sur if thats his surname] oliver thomsett's/ ben ellis's/ haydn oakley's IMAGINATION ! So i,ll ask my question again is it common for the main creative team to attend the first auditions ?

What's happening with this anyway? The announced months ago that they had the Piccadilly then were severely reprimanded because Grease hadn't been given notice.

The website just says London 2009. Sister Act has been announced and is booking for the Palladium even while SOM is still there, same with Priscilla at the Palace. The previous announcement about LB at the Piccadilly just doesn't seem to have moved any further......???

I seriously dont want Summer!Elle. As much as I love her.. just no.

The difference is that Spamalot and SoM have both posted closing notices and the respective theatres are therefore free - Grease is still hanging on to the Piccadilly and can't be shifted until either they break the terms of their lease (number of bums on seats over a given period) or they (the Grease producers) decide to terminate the show (usually at a cast change if they feel it is not viable to recast and rehearse a new team).

Any announcement regarding the Piccadilly, by a hopeful incoming producer, was obviously premature.

Yes that was my understanding - SO - Legally Blonde still has not got a West End Theatre then?

It would appear not at present. But I suspect that there will be several coming free after the Xmas period. There are several shows that will not survive the effects of the credit crunch I predict!