What better show could there be for a girls school than one with 30 female roles? Also, St. Ursula would gain the distinction of being one of the first high schools in the country to stage it.
So production director Elizabeth Horrigan quickly decided to do Blonde even though she was about to start auditions for Thoroughly Modern Millie. "It was too much of an opportunity to pass up," she explained.
The $40,000 production, with 85 cast members, is to be staged in the theater at Lourdes University at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and 4 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and can be ordered through St. Ursula by calling 419-531-1693 or at toledosua.org.
The musical tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl from southern California who goes to Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend and ends up successfully defending a murder suspect. It was a novel and a successful movie of the same name before becoming a hit on Broadway and in London's West End.
Emma Burmeister, a senior, plays Elle. She said she loves the role even though it is physically demanding because her character is onstage for almost all of the two-act, two-hour show.
"It's all acting, singing, and dancing," she explained.
Emma said she has no trouble identifying with Elle. "Like her, I'm a very lively person. I'm very bubbly and girly. I'm always happy. I'm always smiling. That's how I think of Elle Woods," she explained.
The trio always appear together. Jackie said they are a nice touch for what she described as "a girlie show with a lot of pink and glitter."
The male roles were filled through open auditions by students from various high schools, including Anthony Wayne, Toledo School for the Arts, Perrysburg, St. Francis de Sales, Central Catholic, and St. John's Jesuit. The same is true of the male dancers. Ms. Horrigan said that over the years St. Ursula's productions have benefited greatly from "a lot of talent from all over."
Nick Case, a sophomore at St. John's Jesuit, plays Emmett Forrest, a law-school teaching assistant who recognizes the talent in Elle and renders assistance. Their relationship develops and at the finale she proposes to him and he accepts. "He is the first person to see what's inside Elle," Nick said. "He's a good role for me."
Rehearsals have been at St. Ursula, but will move to the Franciscan Theatre next week. Ms. Horrigan said the production is being financed by "pay to play" fees paid by cast members, donations from supporters, and ticket sales -- "It's important we break even."