MURRELLS INLET, SC (WBTW) The excitement of opening night is quickly growing for students at St. James High School as the Sharks get ready to debut their performances of “Legally Blonde The Musical”
It’s a show that brings out a different side and a different personality for many members of the cast.
The musical is based on the movie and book with the same name detailing the life of Elle Woods and her quest to impress a guy by becoming a lawyer.
Junior Hannah Osborne plays the female lead and yes her hair will eventually be blonde to match the show’s namesake.
It’s a change in color and a change in personality that’s a new role for this young actress.
“It definitely stretches my ability,” Osborne said.
That’s because the happy, bubbly and sometime ditsy character she plays is nothing like her everyday persona.
“I never wear pink, never,” Osborne said.
Hannah says she’s much more comfortable in combat boots, leggings and a loose dark sweater. It’s her ability to play a role and transform through the theater that’s a common theme throughout the cast
“It really helps you see things through other people’s eyes in different situations and really helps you understand the world more,” Junior Kinley Thompson who plays Brooke Wyndham said.
The message of individuality may best be seen in the male lead player by junior Cain Lee. Each of his siblings has been a part of St. James and their extra curricular activities.
“Every single one of us is different,” Lee said of his family.
From a brother in football, a sister in basketball and now his spotlight of the stage.
“They (his family) always ask me to perform for them before I go on and I tell them it’s a surprise,” Lee said.
They’ll be there, a supporting and loving family watching eagerly in the audience as their son and brother wows the crowd through his own version of Friday Night Lights.
“You don’t have to be what the world tells you to be. Everyone is different, stereotypes aren’t a thing,” Lee said.
Some of the students and the show’s director, Angela Howard, were on News 13 Now Wednesday to talk a little more about why the department chose this show and the deeper, underlying message.
A few of them even gave a short performance to preview the show.
St. James High School will open “Legally Blonde The Musical” Thursday night at 7 p.m.
They have performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
There are matinees on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $12 dollars at the door, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for students and children.
Another challenge for the cast is working with live animals in the show. There are two dogs that help tell the story of “Legally Blonde The Musical.”
“It’s challenging because dogs can’t communicate with you. We love challenges here and it’s great because who doesn’t love dogs,” Junior Kinley Thompson said.
The theme of canine friends can also be seen in the cast and their charitable efforts in connection with the musical.
There is a table set up outside the doors with donation boxes for the humane society. They are accepting food and supplies to give to the animals.
The also helped save a dog named Dotty the Rotty from being euthanized by raising money to pay for a surgery the Rottweiler needed.
