Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods

OMIGOD you guys……Bailey is the new Elle Woods on Broadway. Snaps!! Illegally Brunette here for the last time- I can’t believe the finale is here already. I must say I am still in a daze after witnessing the brilliance of Laura Bell Bundy’s last performance last night in Legally Blonde: The Musical. I think that is how I will remember this show. But onto whom the new pink-clad Elle Woods is…

No shock to see Rhiannon was the second girl to go home. There is no way she could handle the role of Elle eight times a week. Now it was down to Bailey and Autumn to audition one final time. The casting sheet had the girls heading off to the famed Palace Theater. Having been to the show quite a few times, it was neat to get a look on the other side of theater going through the stage door, backstage, then seeing the view from the stage.

The audition pieces where going to be “OMIGOD You Guys”, “Positive”, and “So Much Better” with real cast members, live orchestra, sets, etc…and all with only one day’s rehearsal. Once the cast came out and the whole montage of rehearsals for the rest of the day really had me worrying as both girls looked like they were really struggling. This could turn out to be a Greek tragedy.

While waiting in their dressing rooms before the audition, the girls get the shock of having their families surprise them. Round one of auditions was the “OMIGOD” number, and while the judges looked in awe of both girls, I think Autumn with her powerful voice clearly won that round. Though next round when it came to shaking junk, Autumn flubbed one line and missed some of her dances moves. Bailey hit her dance moves, but seemed to lose steam vocally towards the end of “Positive.” Up next was “So Much Better” but the girls seemed to decline since the first number, and um, where is Christian Borle? Autumn was good until the end when it seemed like she didn’t even attempt the high note and Bailey had the Elle personality but I am not sure her vocals can carry this show.

I was thrilled to hear Jerry Mitchell agree that neither of the girls are there yet and have what he wants. He did really praised Autumn for her vocals, and gave Bailey some props for her dancing skills though. I really wish we didn’t have to endure Haylie telling us the winner…couldn’t the judges have told us? Well anyway, it was Bailey who saw her name up on that list and will be starring as Elle Woods starting this Wednesday on Broadway.

Not that I liked or favored any of the girls as I am partial to Ms. Bundy (but who wouldn’t be?) but I think the judges only picked Bailey because of her likeness to the role, as Autumn and a few others had more talent potential. Bailey has had a couple months since the show ended to get her vocals up to par, so perhaps her real debut will be a good surprise. She will also release a pop single version of “So Much Better” this week.


It was nice to see all the girls again at the end of the show. My own Bruiser tells me that you will catch some of them this year if you happen to see the touring cast of Legally Blonde. For those not hitting the road, I bet they will pop up on stage sometime soon as contrary to statements from the show claiming to have auditioned all no-names, most of the finale ten have been in movies or on the stage before I learned thanks to some research by my Delta Nu.

So did the right Elle Woods get accepted to Broadway? Will you go see Bailey as Elle Woods?

One last time, “Keep it positive” and leave some mad props on what you thought this week.

OMIGOD you guys…who was the other girl that got cut tonight? Illegally Brunette here with week seven in the Search for the New Elle Woods and we saw the final four girls fight for a spot in the finale next week.

Lauren and Autumn seemed really surprised to see Rhiannon come back to the house instead of Natalie. This week the girls really started analyzing each other more and getting more into the competition of things and not being so best friends anymore. I do feel Autumn’s pain as being the “older’ one of the group and having to listen to the dreams of the other girls all under 20. The house spilt up as it was Rhiannon and Bailey versus Lauren and Autumn.

The girls attended a Triple Threat workshop where Legally Blonde dance captains tried to whip the girls into shape having them sing, dance and constantly move around. I was surprised the girls seemed to handle it all pretty well that is until the tap shoes appeared! The looks on some of their faces – mainly Autumn’s- was priceless.

The audition piece this week is the big spectacle of the show stopping musical number of “What You Want.” This number has it all and sure proved to be a challenge for our Elle wannabes. The girls had 48 hours to learn the lyrics, dance moves, and tapping before they had to perform in front of the judges. It became very clear that Rhiannon just does not have a voice compared to the other girls watching her painful and winded audition. Bailey had a wardrobe malfunction when during her quick change she was given the wrong hat which was too big and kept falling down. In the end however it seems that hat is what saved her in the judge’s eyes and they finally saw another side of Bailey. Autumn actually made it through all the dance moves, and clearly had the best vocals of the night, second to Lauren. Lauren was good but still too young looking for Ms. Woods I believe.

Frankly none of the girls have “what I want” for a new Elle Woods, but it seemed youth ruled out this week in the casting office. All the girls, in no surprise at all – who didn’t see that coming? – got sent to the casting office. Though Lauren was given praise for her voice and fresh look about her – the judges felt her youth was too much to get passed. I did have to agree that Lauren is too young to pull off the role, but Rhiannon doesn’t even come close to having the voice and stamina to be Elle Woods 8 shows a week so…. I am guessing she will be the next to fall in the first moments of next’s week finale. That will leave us with Bailey and Autumn taking center stage at the famed Palace Theater.

Next week is it, what we have been waiting for…the new pink clad Elle Woods on Broadway will be announced. Who do you want to win?

This Sunday at the Palace Theater will be bittersweet as Laura Bell Bundy will leave the hallow halls of Harvard behind. I am thrilled to get the chance to be there to say goodbye to the real Elle Woods of Broadway, before we find out on Monday who gets admitted to Harvard.

‘Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMGIOD You guys, it’s Laura Bell Bundy! Illegally Brunette here with week six in the Search for the New Elle Woods and “I need a salon” as its makeover week!

Blonde advantage? The makeovers seemed to put the blondes vs. the brunettes and the nature blondes were not too thrilled that the playing field was going to be evened out. I was a little worried how Autumn would look blonde as her skin tone is so fair; but it was more strawberry blonde. Was Bailey really crying over her little trim of a haircut?? And Natalie really did look like a whole new person blonde, but is she legally blonde now?

Not going to lie, I was so excited to see Laura Bell Bundy; though it is a sad reminder that she is leaving Harvard Law School soon, and graduating on to bigger and better things. Laura Bell was on hand to dole out some insight to the inner Elle Woods. She choked up as she explained how much her journey as Elle Woods has changed her as a human being. I hope the girls really listened to the good advice she sharing with them.

Laura Bell left the girls in the hands of the PR man for a photo shoot with their new Elle selves. I thought it was a copout for Bailey in her photo shoot to emulate the signature pose of the Legally Blonde posters. Mad props to Natalie for winning two weeks in a row, and she got a solo dinner date with Legally Blonde’s Andy Karl also known as the UPS guy. Andy is a sweetheart but from what we saw he did not offer Natalie much help.

It seemed like all the girls had emotional breakdowns this week while auditioning the titled ballad “Legally Blonde.” The girls had to perform the ballad with Andy Karl in front of the judges. Autumn really proved herself this week in her strong audition, showing the judges she does belong to be here. While other new blonde, Natalie was a disappointment and really fell flat.

Predictable this week who’s names was on the list as Lauren and Autumn were truly shown as the real singers of the bunch. The other three were shown the casting office, and Bailey was first to be marked safe this week – leaving it down to Rhiannon and Natalie. Despite Rhiannon’s weak singing it was Natalie cut this week as the judges just could not see her as Elle Woods even with her new makeover. I am sure as she left, Natalie was reflecting on the lyrics of this week’s audition piece...

Back to the sun
Back to the shore
Back to what I was before

Back where I'm known
Back in my own
Very small pond

Next week the pink claws are out as the girls divide and try to show us they got “what we want” in the auditions.

‘Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMIGOD you guys, It’s positively time to….’shake your junk.’ Illegally Brunette here with week five in the Search for the New Elle Woods – and it looks like the aftermath of two girls getting sent home last week is setting in. I was thrilled to actually see the girls work hard and give it a real effort this week as they were challenged with some ‘positive’ dance moves.

The six remaining Elle wannabes took to the cobble-stoned streets of Brooklyn to work on their dancing skills – and did some need work! For trying to wear heels in the past to workshop rehearsals they sure made a fuss when it was actually time to slip on the pink stiletto boots of Ms. Woods. No one fell while ‘shaking junk’ in the streets so that was a good sign. Not a good sign was Emma still being sick this week, and barely able to breathe through practice. The winner of the dance challenge was Natalie – who dances more like a Lakers girl then Elle Woods – and she picked Rhiannon as her partner.

Natalie and Rhiannon got to go to a private yoga class with former Miss America turned Broadway star Kate Shindle (this week’s Legally Blonde cast member appearance). Resident Vivienne Kensington had sound advice for the girls, to never play the dumb blonde. After their tea time with Kate it was back to join the other girls in the dance studio to learn the parts of Elle and the Delta Nu’s that they would be performing in front of the judges. Surprisingly, the teachers cut the lesson short, and let the girls go early to see how well they would perform with a quick rehearsal to get all the dance steps.

I was happy to see the girls did actually go back to the house and all work together until the wee hours of the morning on their dance moves. They were interrupted however with a late night casting call that really brought out the ‘blood in the water.’ The girls were presented with a list of questions that made them really question and evaluate everyone's talents. After most of them bursted into tears, for not finding it “in the spirit of Elle”, mad props goes to Autumn for taking reigns of the situation and turning the questions into positive feedback for all the girls.

During auditions you could see three girls – Natalie, Lauren, and Bailey, really caught the judges attention, while two others just fell ill. Emma though still sick, I thought did fairly well during her dance routine. But it was Autumn that was a train wreck this week then ran off stage during the judges commentary – leaving us to wonder if she was just upset over what they were saying or sick. Leave it to MTV to follow the poor girl in the bathroom to hear her getting sick –ugh!

A first this week, one of the girls was announced to be “on the list” even before we had our forced visit from host Haylie Duff. So Natalie was safe and joined by Bailey, Lauren, and Rhiannon – leaving the two under the weather girls sent to casting. The way this week played out I thought for sure Autumn was going home, which was sad since I never liked Emma with her tough attitude. But I was pleasantly shocked to see that Emma was given the pink slip this week! All I have to say is, this is Elle Woods we are casting not Regina George of Mean Girls – sorry Emma!

Next week, the girls really go ‘legally blonde’ with some makeovers!

Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMIGOD you guys, two girls got sent home this week!?! Illegally Brunette here with week four in the Search for the New Elle woods – we are half- way there! Thank goodness.

Snap it out girls! As the remaining “Elle’s” waited it out in the apartment to see who would be returning you could see a confrontation was brewing. As Lauren, Emma, and Celina walked in the girls seemed truly sad to see Lindsey was gone. Instead of dishing what went down in the casting office, Celina decided it was finally time to call Cassie on her actions. I was shocked Cassie seemed so flabbergasted by their revelations – I thought she knew all this, hence why she threw them under the bus. It was laughable her shrugging it all off as she doesn’t have any girlfriends so she doesn’t know how to act. Oh, Cassie…

On the call sheet in the morning (side note: why are they always so shocked when it says dress casual and comfortable? It’s the same every week!) the girls are called into work with the dogs. I think seeing them walk in the rehearsal studio and seeing the two Bruiser Woods was the most excited and animated I have ever seen them. Where is that enthusiasm in the auditions? So all the girls love dogs and were thrilled to have a doggie sleep over. Rightfully winning the challenge of bonding with “Bruiser” was Autumn who got a date with Warner Huntington III – Richard Blake - and took Celina as her guest.

Audition part two this week the girls finally had to get “Serious” with some acting. The girls were put to the test acting with Legally Blonde cast mate Richard in a scene in front of the judges. Now, personally I believe the song “Serious” is so perfectly done comedic-wise by Laura Bell Bundy, and was happy no one tried to copy all of the little touches Laura Bell brings to this scene. I thought Rhiannon and Lauren stood out in the auditions and even though Emma was sick with bronchitis she still managed to out sing some of the girls. Cassie was officially on my nerves this whole episode with her whiney audition and major attitude.

Elimination this week sent Cassie, Celina, and Autumn to the casting office. Right off the bat, Cassie starts with an attitude when the judges expressed she would be a better as a swing/understudy. I think that was the final straw as not only was the never Elle Woods-like Celina sent to ‘find her way’, so was Cassie. It wasn’t as shocking a moment to see two girls sent home this week as MTV made it out to be – frankly I could cut half of them every week. Ha! But I am happy to see Celina and Cassie go.

Up next week the girls are “Bending and Snaping” and looks like more drama in the house.

‘Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMIGOD my ears! Illegally Brunette here back for week three in the Search for the New Elle Woods – who said these girls could sing? Wow, this week was some painful viewing – for the ears that is- as the girls got some serious vocally training with the ever-delightful Seth Rudetsky.

Our Elle’s were given vocal lessons while exercising – and they did not handle it well. You would think they were asked to walk, talk, and chew gum at the same time. Ha! But as Seth and host Haylie pointed out, this show – like many – is all about the stamina. Laura Bell Bundy, I mean Elle Woods, doesn’t have a second in this show to relax and is going full force throughout. Our new Woods, Elle has to find their way and masterfully handle the demands of this role. I was slightly impressed with Lauren’s vocals while on the bike – but later on in the audition she disappointed. Emma – the ex-smoker (well of 2 weeks) actually got through her vocal solo while peddling away. Cassie S. on the other hand was just way off vocally – yet thought she did great herself. You can really see she is the one all the girls are out to get in this show, and yet I was surprised to see winner of the challenge- Lauren pick Cassie as her partner for the prize.

I feel bad for these forced original Legally Blonde cast member appearances week after week. This time it was Ms. Hair-care Paulette, also known as Orfeh, who met the two winners at the Dashing Diva spa. Lauren and Cassie were pampered and given advice about the business from Orfeh.

Much to the dismay of the girls, this week they would each be doubling up and be Elle Woods as well as Delta Nu sorority girls. I did not understand why they seemed so offended to have to learn the Delta Nu roles for the song “OMIGOD You Guys” – is it that beneath them? They should relish in the opportunity to experience different roles, as remember only one of them gets to be the Elle Woods.

As previewed on last week, I was waiting for the ‘blood in the water’ as Cassie was throwing the other girls under the bus. Ugh, not much fuss. I think Cassie was validated as the other girls – especially that Bailey – did not seem to give it their alls as Daughters of Delta Nu’s. The scene they performed for the judges were worrisome as I am not seeing a lot of improvement week after week, and we only have a month left! We might be needing that Greek Chorus soon.

This week’s elimination saw 4 girls instead of 3 get sent to the casting office. Jaw dropper for the girls – not us – was Cassie was marked safe this week; however Lauren, Celina, Lindsey, and Emma were not so lucky. I really thought – hoped maybe – that Emma was going home this week, but then when it was down between Lauren and Lindsey I thought for sure Ms. Spears was hitting the pavement – wrong! I was a little shocked that Lindsey – the girl the judges have said from week one is the only Elle Woods out of the bunch was sent packing. What logic is that?! Surely there were some other better suited candidates to go home this week.

Next week, looks like more drama in the house for Cassie, as the girls voice their concerns to her, and Legally Blonde cast alert! Looks like Warren Huntington III; I mean Richard Blake is stopping by.

‘Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMIGOD you guys, Illegally Brunette here back with your week two recap for the search for the new Elle Woods! This week the top ten Elle wannabes moved into their pink palace and once again seemed more enthusiastic over a non-competition thing than anything else. On their activity calendar for week two was acting. The girls took part in an acting workshop that host Haylie Duff described as “nothing no one on Broadway has experienced before” – Um, ok!

In the workshop, the girls ran lines with “Emmett” and where judged by Associate Director of Legally Blonde, Marc Bruni. Bailey seemed to be getting the brunt of it this week – first getting scolding at for wearing heels to a comfortable attire rehearsal, then for her southern accent. Lauren, our Spears look-a-like, informed us she is not here to make friends and is here for the competition.

Our resident Legally Blonde guest this week was (former) Brooke Wyndham – Nikki Snelson who definitely had her hands full trying to ‘whip into shape” these Delta Nu’s. Having won the acting challenge, Bailey and Lindsey got some personal time with Nikki to learn the Delta Nu handshake and run lines before the other girls.

At audition time in front of the judges, they tell Nikki to drop a line in her dialogue with each girl so they can evaluate how each Elle Woods would react. What followed was a lot of painfully awkward long silent pauses as none of the girls really picked up what was going on. Seven girls’ names we called as safe, and Cassie S., Cassie O., and Lindsey were sent to the casting office to find out their fate.

In the end, Cassie O did not see her name up on the list and was sent home. Of the girls left: Rhiannon I think is quiet now, but might have something, Autumn did better than I thought this week, Cassie S. is kooky yet endearing, Emma is too “new york”, Natalie is too intense in her acting, Lauren is too young, Lindsay has potential if she works at it, Celina just not right for Elle, and Bailey just irks me. I am still not seeing the next Elle Woods; the girls really need to get more into the competition. Like Emmett would say, “with the chance they’ve been given, why are they not driven as hell?”

Sadly, once again the best part for me was that short clip of Laura Bell Bundy singing from “So Much Better,” and can we please get rid of those melodramatic helpful tip shots from our host Haylie Duff? Thanks.

Next week certainly looks like there will be some ‘blood in the water’ as Cassie S. calls the girls out in her audition. OMIGOD you guys!

'Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

OMIGOD you guys! Illegally Brunette here, I may have a major ‘chip on my shoulder’ to confess- I cannot imagine Legally Blonde the Musical without the knock out talent of the charming Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods. I have been lucky enough to have seen this show on Broadway four times; once without the resident B and it just was not the same show. Laura Bell Bundy owns that role, but I must give mad props to anyone who attempts to fill those shoes.

MTV is making that journey in just eight weeks to fill those pink stilettos of Elle Woods, and the road looks like it will be overflowing with drama – judging by those previews. Lucky for us, getting down to the top 10 girls was a short and somewhat painless process – as the start of the show kicked off with taking the top 50 from the open call auditions across the country and narrowing it down to 15 girls to fight out for this week’s top 10. Overseeing the show is Legally Blonde director and choreographer, Jerry Mitchell who is joined by dance coach Denis Jones, and vocal coach Seth Rudetsky. Judging our pink ladies every week will be: casting director Bernie Telsey, Legally Blonde the Musical writer Heather Huck, and Legally Blonde cast mate Paul Cannan. Host and mentor(really?)of the show is provided by actress Haylie Duff.

Our 15 girls had to learn some quick dances moves and then were really put to the test with learning the hardest song in the show first! You could tell they wanted to weed out the “fake” blondes when they broke out the pink sheet music for “So Much Better.” I was really surprised they were starting with the most challenging song, and it was such a tease for them to keep showing the home audience what we were missing with clips of Laura Bell singing in the show.

I am a little worried how tired and worn out the girls looked already after a few days of rehearsal. They are going to need to be seriously ‘whipped into shape’ to make it 8 times a week on Broadway. I hope they can do it! The questions portion seemed to really have the girls stumbling as well– it was like a bad (or normal) pageant segment.

Sent home this week were: Chloe, Libby, Mary, Mara, and the surprise (and non-too happy) Rachel. The girls staying are an eclectic group with Celina (the rocker), Cassie ( a little kooky), Rhiannon (goofy, yet likeable), Lauren (a young Spears look-alike), to name some- though I am not sure I saw the next Woods, Elle in the bunch. And was it just me or where the girls more thrilled about the limo ride than anything else? Best part of the show, for me, was seeing Ms. Bundy outside the Palace.

Will the new Elle Woods ‘find their way’ or will this be a Greek tragedy not even the Delta Nu sorority sisters can fix?

'Keep it positive' and leave some mad props on what you thought this week!

In between perfecting your 'Bend & Snap,' check out our interview with host Haylie Duff.