Bow-wow-WOW! The new musical Legally Blonde opened last night at the Palace Theater, followed by a glittery party at Cipriani 42nd Street. Here’s leading lady Laura Bell Bundy, who plays fashion-obsessed law student Elle Woods, with her canine co-star, Chico.
Lucky Laura gets two on-stage love interests: Richard H. Blake as the rich-but-obnxious Warner and Christan Borle as the poor-but lovable Emmett. Guess who wins?
The fabulous Orfeh and her hunky husband Andy Karl play beauty salon owner Paulette and UPS guy Kyle — who end up living happily ever after. We can’t wait to her Orfeh’s big number “Ireland” on the show’s CD, which will be released on July 17 by Ghostlight Records.
Former Miss America Kate Shindle makes a welcome return to Broadway as Elle’s arch-enemy Vivienne…
…as does Nikki Snelson, pictured here with longtime beau Christian Campbell, in the role of fitness guru/murder suspect Brooke Wyndham.
Legally Blonde marks the directing debut of Tony Award-winner choreographer Jerry Mitchell (right), seen here with fellow director-choreographer Denis Jones, who has worked with Mitchell on the annual Broadway Bares benefits.
Here’s director Jack O’Brien (left), who worked with Mitchell on Hairspray, with world-renowned designer David Rockwell, who designed the sets for Legally Blonde as well as Hairspray and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels…
…and here are Hairspray‘s Tony-winning stars, Dick Latessa and Harvey Fierstein.
Kathie Lee Gifford, whose new musical Saving Aimee is playing to enthusiastic crowds at Virginia’s Signature Theater, brought her daughter, Cassidy Erin Gifford…
…while Rescue Me star Denis Leary was accompanied by his lovely daughter, Devin.
Among the others celebrities in attendance were High School Musical star Corbin Bleu…
…Company star Raúl Esparza and his wife, Michele…
…Broadway choreographer Sergio Trujillo and actor Jack Noseworthy…
… Jersey Boys leading man John Lloyd Young…
