Legally Blonde Opens This Weekend!

The Cumberland Theatre is pleased to announce the next installment of the 2019 Main Stage Season, Legally Blonde the Musical.  The show will be performed July 11th – 28th with Thursday – Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. 

 Based on the adored movie starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde The Musical, follows the transformation of Elle Woods whose life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law.  Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.

The musical premiered on Broadway in April of 2007 received seven Tony nominations and ten Drama Desk nominations.  It has since been produced frequently all over the world.

Heading the cast as Elle Woods is Mackenzie Newbury, who is making her debut at the

Cumberland Theatre.  She is a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical. Since graduating she has lived and worked in the DMV, New York City and the Philadelphia area.  Favorite credits include:  Shrek (Fiona), Evita (title role),  Kiss Me Kate (Lois/Bianca), Catch Me if You Can (Brenda Strong), City of Angels (Mallory/Avril).

Rhett Wolford will appear as Emmett Forrest and newcomer Bryan Austermann will play Warner Huntington III.  Wolford is the Co-Artistic Director of CT and was last seen as Ralph in Reefer Madness the Musical.  Austermann recently toured nationally with The Sound of Music and also performed on  board the Disney Cruise Line. 

Returning to the theatre in the roles of Vivienne Kensington and Enid Hoops will be Kristina Huegel and Alexandra Hemphill.  Huegel  was last seen on the CT stage as Betty Haynes in White Christmas.  Hemphill was part of the cast of last summer’s record-breaking production of Mamma Mia! 

The role of Elle’s new and unlikely best friend Paulette will be played by Kimberli Rowley and exercise guru Brooke Wyndham (who is on trial for murder!) will be portrayed by Marin Rose, also making her CT debut.   Rowley is the Co-Artistic Director of CT and last appeared as Blanch DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.  Rose is originally from Dallas, TX and has performed with Pittsburgh Musical Theater and Busch Gardens, Tampa.

Other CT debut performers include Dara Orland as Serena, Alexandra Garcia as Margo and Brianna Lopez as Pilar.  Orland is an actress and choreographer holding a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has toured nationally in the casts of Cruel Intentions and Cirque Dreams Holidaze. Garcia graduated from Temple University with a Master’s Degree in Musical Theater and has performed in regional theatre production of The Producers, Evita and Rock of Ages.  Lopez also received her degree from Temple and has appeared in regional production of A Chorus Line and 9 to 5.

Shawn Cox, last seen in CT’s 2018 production of Night of the Living Dead LIVE, will play Professor Callahan and Nate Smith, a newcomer to the CT stage is cast as Kyle the UPS guy.

The large cast also includes Lorenzo Ballesteros, Timothy Bambara, Tai Baumann, Melynda Burdette, MacKenzie Cutcliffe, Courtney Feiman, Emily Haworth, Patience Loscomb, Brendon McCabe, Connor McCabe, Whitney O’Haver, and Adrian Williams in a number of featured and supporting roles.

Two local canine stars will also make their debut “Lilly” will play “Bruiser”, Elle’s famous chihuahua and “Frank the Tank” will appear as “Rufus”, Paulette’s bulldog.

The show is under the direction of Kimberli Rowley with music direction by Chris McCabe and choreography by Danny Durr and MacKenzie Cutcliffe.  The design staff includes Jennifer Clark (costume design), Rhett Wolford (set design), Braxton Cooper (lighting design) and Madison Dolchan (props design).  Rebecca Brown is serving as the stage manager with Sarah Sandifer acting as assistant stage manager.

Following the July 12th performance will be wine and cheese party where patrons can meet the cast and crew.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling the theatre at 301-759-4990.  The VIP Star Box is available for parties of eight or more and includes food, beverages and private balcony seating.  Group rates are also available for groups of 10 or more.  To book the Star Box or inquire about group rates, email info@cumberlandtheatre.com.