Laura Bell Bundy: I started playing Elle Woods in July 2005, and that was in 2008. When I started playing Elle, I was a girl. And when I left the show, I was a woman. Elle Woods begins the show as a girl, and she ends the show as a woman. I`ve grown as an actress, I`ve grown as a person, and I`ve found this character every night in new ways. I knew that anyone who did this would undergo a personal transformation. As the competition was limited to Hanks and Hurlbert, the two were faced with their final audition: a showcase of three numbers from the show (“Omigod You Guys,” “Positive,” and “So Much Better”) on the Palace Theatre stage with all the technical elements, including costumes, sets, lights, and the Broadway company. Fans of the original movie can probably already predict which moments will become songs – and if they hit the corner and slam, they played well: there`s actually a song called “Bend and Snap”. “It`s such a number obvious,” says Kate Shindle, who plays Warner`s surrogate girlfriend, Vivienne. “I think that`s an example that used the musical very well.
It`s not just an isolated thing that happens once and never comes back. It`s nothing new, but it`s really helpful for Elle as she tries to complete her journey. Especially when she has to determine, for example, whether a particular witness for the prosecution is gay or not. Bailey Hanks: The show aired, I had a press day the next day, and on the third day I opened on Broadway. And Wednesdays are two days of show. So my opening night was a morning. They did not let the public know. Thus, the majority of people who came to the theatre this afternoon to see the show had no idea who they would see; Laura Bell has already had her last show. When I got up from the ground, the roar in that place was so loud that it threw me back. Bailey Hanks: Her name is Noelle Marie, but we call her Her. It makes me moved when I think of one day, when she will be old enough, to have the chance to show her the videos and tell her what I went through. I go through everything and they are funny memories. There are bad ones too, but they have shaped me.
It made me stronger and wiser. It made me braver. Adam Paul: Amanda and I quickly became friends. We realized that there were several masters at making entertaining television for MTV, but it`s also a real deal. It wasn`t like, “You`re the biggest loser; Here is a cheque. No, the person who wins this show has to be on Broadway. Autumn Hurlbert: When Bailey and I made our debut, there was a big party after the show. Photographer, champagne, works. I wasn`t aware of the party until a fellow artist mentioned it when I came home to take care of my puppy between shows. I had the ultimate actress` dilemma. I had nothing to wear, my hair was curled with needle loops and I didn`t have time to do anything.
I took out a cute summer dress from my closet and tried to hide in all the photos. I still shudder and laugh out loud when I see the photos from that night because I was the ultimate awkward turtle. Autumn Hurlbert: With Cassie, her worst crime was being impatient. She really wanted it. She wanted to introduce herself and be loved. And they loved it and twisted it to make it less appetizing. Because she`s just the sweetest, most energetic and most hilarious person. And they drove her crazy.
Seth Rudetsky (vocal coach): Amanda asked me to do it. She was so smart and I really trusted her. I had done a lot of reality shows at the time, including Made on MTV. Every reality show I`ve done was 80% true, and that always frustrated me. I wanted to make realistic reality shows. Rhiannon Hansen (candidate): I saw the [pre-Broadway] essay of Legally Blonde in San Francisco. I kept telling everyone, “I`m going to be legally blonde,” and not everyone believed me. We were all still in college. One day, my roommate looked at me and said, “Rhiannon, there`s an open call for this Legally Blonde show. You should go.
Autumn Hurlbert: I remember the food getting cold because they kept stopping us and saying, “OK, guys. We need you to talk about it. They wanted me to teach girls. And I fell into the trap. I thought, “Broadway is great, but there`s so much more out there.” This applies to all artists, whether it`s Sutton Foster or 19-year-old Bailey Hanks.