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 Bailey Hanks and Bruiser; photo by Michael Portantiere
A huge fan of the movie on which the musical is based, Hanks was so excited when she learned about the reality show that she drove from her hometown of Anderson, South Carolina to Nashville, Tennessee to try to place herself in competition for the coveted starring role. The casting process involved two months of workshops, training sessions, and repeated auditions. Ultimately, Hanks was chosen to play Elle by a panel of industry experts including Legally Blonde casting director Bernie Telsey; Heather Hach, the writer of the show's book; and cast member Paul Canaan. Her performance was perfected by the show's director-choreographer, Jerry Mitchell; Seth Rudetsky served as musical director and coach for the reality series.
The daughter of a pastor, Hanks has been dancing and performing for 15 years and has appeared in productions of The Wizard of Oz, Seussical the Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. But starring in a Broadway show is another kettle of fish entirely -- and she's well aware of the huge responsibility she has in replacing Laura Bell Bundy, who created the part of Elle in the musical, which has been running at the Palace since April 2007.
“I have some big little-pink-pumps to fill,” Hanks told TimesSquare.com during a recent photo shoot at the stage door of the Palace. “Not only do I want to step into these shoes and make this whole cast proud, I want to make Laura Bell proud as well. I saw her as Elle when we were filming the reality show; it was one of the first treats that the top 10 [contestants] got after we moved into the theater. She did a phenomenal job in originating the role.”
This is not Hanks' first high-stakes assignment. A former beauty queen, she won the Miss Liberty Teen pageant in 2006, and had an unforgettable experience in 2000 when she sang the national anthem for President Bill Clinton. Still, playing Elle on Broadway is a tremendous thrill for her. “I'm excited to bring something new to the part, and to have audiences see what I can bring,” she says. “I'm very grateful for the support I've received. The Legally Blonde family has been so welcoming. It's such a blessing to be a part of all this.”
Legally Blonde has music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin. James Sampliner is the show's music director. The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, and sound design by ACME Sound Partners. For more information, visit LegallyBlondeTheMusical.com.
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