After 15 years, Legally Blonde the Musical is finally back to bending and snapping on the Philippine stage as Ateneo Blue Repertory’s finale production for its 33rd season. Opening on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Doreen Black Box, Areté Ateneo, join Elle Woods as she does whatever it takes to chase love at Harvard Law School—only to find it in places she never expected.

‍

Based on the iconic 2001 Reese Witherspoon film, the musical follows Elle Woods, head of the Delta Nu sorority, and her thrilling and ingenious plan to win her ex-boyfriend Warner Huntington III back. 

‍

If Warner wants someone serious, then she’ll get serious! Getting into Harvard Law? What, like it’s hard?

‍

After the film’s success, Legally Blonde whipped its way onto Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 2007, starring Laura Bell Bundy and Christian Borle, after premiering in the San Francisco Golden Gate Theatre. In retelling Elle’s quest for love on stage, the production was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, whose excellence allowed the production to capture three Laurence Olivier Awards for best new musical, best actress, and best supporting performer in 2011. Mitchell is also known to have worked on the choreography of Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can.

‍

As Elle finds her way into Harvard, Katipunan, the revival falls in the magical hands of Meann Espinosa, with musical direction by Matthew Chang and choreography by Jim Ferrer. 

‍

Meann Espinosa is an accomplished actor in theater, film, and television who has been a Senior Artist-Teacher at Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)  since 2007. She won a Gawad Buhay award in 2011 for her role in William and has had many international achievements, including completing two creative residencies in South Korea. As a director, she worked on Identité at the 2024 Virgin Labfest and Hustisya.exe for PETA’s Ctrl+Shift.

‍

Matthew Chang is a musical director, singer-songwriter, composer, violinist, and actor. He is most known for his music and composition direction in Chasing Dick: A Love Story in Australia.

‍

Jim Ferrer is an actor-dancer most known for his time in the company of Here Lies Love in the United Kingdom which won a Beyond Theater Award at the 2014 London Evening Standard Theatre Awards. One of his most recent acting performances was being part of the cast of Buruguduystunstugudunstuy at Newport Performing Arts Theatre. 

‍

Completing the artistic and technical team are Ohm David on production design, Jethro Nibaten on lighting design, Regina De Vera on intimacy choreography, Sofie Lleander and Trisha Blas on stage management, Adriane Ungriano and Emma Oranza on technical direction, and Ghie Bernardo on sound engineering, with Kabaitan Bautista as Sound Design Consultant. Alexis Chua and Ugi Quijote are on brand design with Regina Manalo as brand manager, and Rommielle Morada as the musical’s production manager.

‍

Making this production feel so much better is the carefully curated and talented cast. Danielle Nicole Tan and LJ Bala enter their blonde eras to play the fabulous role of Elle Woods. With her are her sorority girls: Chim Tam as Margot, Zella Aspiras as Serena, and Tini Flores as Pilar.

‍

‍

MC dela Cruz and Ron Balgos portray Emmett Forest, while Theo Gaspar takes on the role of Warner Huntington III. Completing the lawyerly team are Norbs Portales and JV Fulgencio as Professor Callahan, Sara Sicam and Bea Nunag as Vivienne Kensington, and Aleczandra Luna as Enid Hoopes. Misha Fabian and Senanda embody fitness queen Brooke Wyndham, Gel Basa and Raflesia Bravo step into the shoes of Paulette Bonafonté, while Matt Gardor flexes his way into the face of Kyle B. O’Boyle.

‍

Among the flurry of colors in the theatre is the heart-pumping and hair-raising synergy of vocals and dance by the ensemble. Andre Blas, Bea Racoma, Cheyenne Kohchet-Chua, Dia Papio, Katriel Garcia, Marta Muñoz, Paul Atienza, Aryanna Raliza Guanlao, Rona Badilla, Sabel Lamadrid, Toni Santos, and Zyrah Abejuela will be bringing the exhilarating energy and magic to the stage.  

‍

As a women-empowering success story, this production is a must-see for anyone in need of a spirit of ambition, hope, and resilience. What you want is right in front of you, and it is time to get SERIOUS! Experience the magic and whimsy of Legally Blonde on May 3,4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11!

‍

Catch the latest updates on Legally Blonde at Ateneo Blue Repertory on Facebook and Instagram. For more fun and pink things, check out @ateneobluerep on TikTok!

‍

Raine Goco is an AB Communication freshman attempting to beatify her not-so-saintly encounters in the heart of Metro Manila. She hopes to write as she thinks and as easy as she breathes, drawing everyone to the unique sensibilities of her words. Otherwise, you’ll find her lost in her digital wonderland, caught in a love-hate relationship with the Internet.

‍

Breanna Limsenkhe is a junior student taking BS CTM (Communications Technology Management) at the Ateneo de Manila Univeristy. Though a business girlie, she also enjoys dabbling in various forms of media including writing, digital art, self-shoot photography, and music. Follow her journey to find a lost passion in art @swkhs4 on TikTok or instagram.