VYT Goes Legally Blonde
Valley Youth Theatre kicks off its 24th season at the Herberger Theater Center with “Legally Blonde The Musical.” Based on the novel by Heather Hach and the MGM motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, “Legally Blonde” was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won the Touring Broadway Award for Best New Touring Musical.
“When I first heard about this show, I knew it would be both vocally and physically challenging for a teen cast, “ said Bobb Cooper, VYT producing artistic director, “but it’s also appealing to a broader audience at the Herberger.”
Cooper has won national acclaim for multiple past productions at the Herberger including “Grease,” “Peter Pan” and “AIDA.”
Jessica Arnold stars as Elle Woods, the Valley girl who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win her boyfriend back. Jessica was Glinda in VYT’s June 2012 production of “The Wiz” and played the mom in Freckleface Strawberry the Musical this past April. She won the 2012 junior singing competition for Idol in the Skye in Peoria, where she attends Ironwood High School.
Arnold is joined on stage by 40 cast members, including 15 who also appeared in “The Wiz” and 15 who are new to the Valley Youth Theatre experience. A winner of more than 30 National Youth Theatre Awards, VYT is a fee-free, professional quality theater company offering up to $300 in college scholarship funds to cast and crew during all six of its main-stage shows every season.
“Legally Blonde” contains mature themes, so parental guidance is suggested. However, the remaining shows of the season, “How I Became A Pirate,” “A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail,” “Rapunzel, They Chose Me” and a surprise show at the Herberger in June 2013 are suitable for all ages.
Tickets to see “Legally Blonde” are available online at herbergertheater.org or by calling the Herberger box office, 602-252-8497.
Individual tickets to see How I Became A Pirate go on sale to the public starting July 30 and may be purchased at VYT.com or by calling 602.253.8188 x2. Season members may reserve seats for Pirate by phone starting July 24. Money-saving memberships are available in six, five or four-ticket combinations and may also be purchased at VYT.com.
