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Charleston Stage: Legally Blonde Curriculum Guide Page 1 Legally Blonde Education Guide

Legally Blonde the Musical Study Guide

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Page 1: Legally Blonde the Musical Study Guide

Charleston Stage: Legally Blonde Curriculum Guide Page 1

Legally Blonde

Education Guide

Page 2: Legally Blonde the Musical Study Guide

Charleston Stage: Legally Blonde Curriculum Guide Page 2

Setting The Stage

Credits

Book and Lyrics written by Heather HachMusic written by Laurence O’Keefe

Directed by Marybeth ClarkMusic Directed by Sam HendersonCostume Design by Barbara YoungSet Design by Ken BarnettLighting Design by Paul Hartmann

Theatre EtiquetteDiscuss proper audience behavior with your students. While applause, laughter, andreaction, when appropriate, are appreciated and anticipated, unnecessary noise ormovement can distract the actors and audience members, while also affecting the qualityof the performance. It is very important that students understand how their behavior canaffect a live performance. You, the teacher, and other adult chaperones for your group areresponsible for your student’s behavior. We ask that the chaperones sit among thestudents rather than together in a group behind the students. Our ushers will react todisruptions and attempt to quell them. We reserve the right to remove any student causinga distraction from the theatre. When entering the theatre venue please make sure all ofyour students have name tags with their name and your school’s name.

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MEET THE CREATORS!Music by Laurence O’Keefe(b. 1969) – also known as LarryO'Keefe is a graduate of Harvard College, where hestudied anthropology and wrote humor for the HarvardLampoon and sang with the Harvard Krokodiloes. He wasbest known for writing the score for Bat Boy: The Musical,which ran off-Broadway from March 3 to December 2,2001, followed by over 200 regional and amateurproductions all over the USA.In 2001, O'Keefe received the Jonathan LarsonPerforming Arts Foundation Award. In 2004 O'Keefe wonthe Ed Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyrics, a $100,000prize.In February 2004, he guest conducted the Harvard PopsOrchestra in an evening of his songs, as well aspremiered his short opera The Magic Futon.O'Keefe is currently working with New York's Fiorello H.LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and PerformingArts for the premiere of an upcoming musical, "Life of TheParty." The work focuses on the creation of Stalinistmovie musicals.Book by Heather HachHeather Hach is an American screenwriter, librettist andnovelist.Hach graduated from the University of Colorado atBoulder's School of Journalism, and later worked as aresearch assistant at The New York Times' Denverbureau and as a magazine editor at Sports and FitnessPublishing.A 1999 recipient of the Walt Disney ScreenwritingFellowship, Hach wrote the screenplay for the 2003remake Freaky Friday with Leslie Dixon, and both werenominated for a Saturn Award for Best Screenplay for thefilm.Hach wrote the libretto for the 2007 musical LegallyBlonde, based on the Amanda Brown novel and the 2001film of the same name, and was subsequently nominatedfor a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and a DramaDesk Award for Outstanding Musical.Hach is the co-author (with Mary Rodgers) of FreakyMonday, a novel.

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CHARACTERS

Elle WoodsUCLA Homecoming Queen, Delta Nu

President, and main character

Margot, Serena, Pilar, and Delta NusElle’s best friends and “sisters”– also

serve as a “Greek Chorus”Warner Huntington III

Elle’s college boyfriend; comes from agood family; intends to be a Senator

EmmettProfessor Callahan’s Teaching

AssistantVivienne

Warner’s Harvard girlfriendBrooke Wyndham

Television workout instructor – accusedof killing her husband

Paulette BuonofounteA hairdresser – becomes Elle’s friend

Professor CallahanCriminal Law professor at Harvard Law

Elle’s Mom and Elle’s Dad Nikos ArgitakosBrooke Wyndham’s pool boy

WhitneyVivienne’s Harvard friend – throws a

party

CarlosNikos’ friend

Chutney WyndhamBrooke’s stepdaughter

DeweyPaulette’s ex-boyfriend

Winthrop, Lowell, and PforzheimerHarvard Admissions Officers

Enid HoopesAggressive and smart Harvard law

studentKyle Brendan O’Boyle

UPS Delivery Guy, Paulette’s crushPadaman

Featured Harvard law studentJudge and Bailiff Aaron

Features law student.Won a Fulbright and a Rhodes.

BruiserElle’s dog

Rufus Paulette’s dog

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Synopsis of Legally Blonde

Spoiler alert, you may not want to read this before seeing the play.Important people, places, and terms are in red

The overjoyed girls of UCLA’s sorority Delta Nu, led by Margot, Serena, and Pilar, celebratetheir assumption that their blonde sorority president, Elle Woods, is going to be engaged toWarner Huntington III. Elle is fretting over finding the perfect dress for the occasion Once sheacquires her dream dress, Elle goes to dinner with Warner, where he tells her that he needssomeone more serious and breaks up with her. Elle is devastated and sulks for twelve daysbut decides to chase Warner to Harvard Law School to show him that she can be serious. Withhelp from Delta Nu sister Kate, Elle studies for the LSATS. Instead of writing a personalessay, Elle bursts into the Harvard admission offices backed by a squad of cheerleaders. Sheis accepted after revealing she is motivated by love.

Elle's snobby Harvard classmates disapprove of her, and the only person who is willing to helpher is law teaching assistant, Emmett Forrest (in the song "The Harvard Variations"). However,he cannot protect her in class from the blood-thirsty Professor Callahan, who sings "Blood inthe Water". Callahan kicks the under-prepared Elle out of class at the suggestion of herclassmate Vivienne Kensington, who happens to be Warner's new girlfriend. This "tragedy"summons the apparitions of the sisters of Delta Nu, who, acting as a “Greek Chorus” visibleand audible only to Elle, tell her to stay "Positive". Elle, deciding that being blonde is theproblem, decides to become a brunette. She heads to the Hair Affair salon where she meetsthe spunky beautician Paulette, who tells Elle that when she is down, she puts on her favoriteCD, and dreams of "Ireland". At the salon, Vivienne gives Elle an unexpected invitation to acostume party…Paulette sends Elle off with a costume for the party.

Walking into the party as a Bunny Elle soon realizes that she was tricked by Vivienne butcourageously seeks Warner in an effort to win him back, leaving him unimpressed. Elle runsfrom the party, only to meet Emmett, who struggles to understand Elle's love problems. He hasElle assess her priorities until she realizes it is her obsession with Warner that keeps her fromearning his respect. Freed from her need to please Warner, she defeats him in a classroomdebate. Elle then helps Paulette in a way that proves she is beginning to understand law.Warner and Vivienne win two of Callahan's coveted internship positions, and Warner proposesto Vivienne on the spot right in front of Elle. Vivienne accepts, with a kiss and a yes. BeforeElle's heart can break, Emmett shows her the internship list. Below the names of Vivienne,Warner, and classmate Enid Hoopes is the name Elle Woods, at which she is ecstatic.

Act II begins with fitness queen, Brooke Wyndham, and her fitness team's workout video,which is being viewed by Elle, Callahan, Emmett, Vivian, Warner, and Enid. Callahan tells thelegal team that Brooke is accused of murdering her billionaire husband. The "video" then turnsinto a scene from the jail, where Brooke leads the inmates into a fitness frenzy.

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Back at the Hair Affair, Elle is getting a manicure when Kyle, the sexy UPS guy, walks into thesalon to deliver a package to Paulette. When he leaves, Pilar, Serena, and Margot aresummoned by Paulette's amazing "Bend and Snap". The sorority girls tell Paulette to use the"Bend and Snap" on Kyle, but when she does, she accidentally breaks his nose.

Later that night in Callahan's office, the interns celebrate Elle's skill. However, after dismissingEmmett and the other interns, Callahan forcibly kisses Elle, who slaps him. In turn, Callahanfires her. Warner and Vivienne both saw the kiss, though only Vivienne saw the slap. Warnermocks Elle, but Vivienne tells him to shut up and they both leave. A defeated Elle prepares togo home, even though Emmett asks her to stay, finally realizing that he is in love with her.

Elle heads to the Hair Affair to say goodbye to Paulette, but before she can leave, Vivienneand Enid convince Elle otherwise. Elle discards her lawyerly navy suits, dons a pink dress andleads a parade back to the courtroom. They meet Kyle on the way, who takes a liking toPaulette, and reveals himself to be the Irish man of her dreams, prompting dance among theensemble. Back at the trial, Brooke fires Callahan and hires Elle. Brooke's stepdaughterChutney goes to the witness stand and her testimony is damning, but Elle triumphs byrevealing Chutney's lie with her knowledge of hair maintenance. Chutney accidentallyconfesses that she killed her father. Warner proposes to Elle, having been dumped byVivienne. Elle gently refuses, claiming to have been changed by the experience.

Three years later, Elle ends up as the valedictorian of her class. Paulette tells the audiencethat Enid practices family law, Vivienne is training for the Peace Corps and Warner pursues amodeling career. Callahan ran for governor but was defeated, and his wife hired Emmett tohandle their divorce. Paulette married Kyle, had two kids, and is pregnant with a third. Theylive in Massachusetts and Paulette bought a new salon. At the end of the graduation, Elleproposes to Emmett, and Emmett accepts.

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Curriculum Connections

List of Legal Terms

ALIBIA provable account of someone’s

whereabouts during a crime – can prove thatthey weren’t present for it

DEFENSEThe evidence and testimony offered by the

defendant and their team of attorneys toclear their charge

ASSOCIATEAn individual working at a firm or place who is

not a partner nor owner

DISTRICT ATTORNEY (D.A.)The attorney of the state – who prosecutes a

criminal “on behalf of the people”BAILIFF

A court attendant who keeps order and/orcustody of the prisoners

LSATLaw School Admission Test

Measures basic reasoning abilities for lawCROSS EXAMINATION

The questioning of a witness by the attorneywho didn’t call that witness to the stand (the

other team)

PLEA BARGAINA deal where the D.A. and defense team

mutually agree on the resolution of a case.

DEFENDANTThe person accused of the crime

PERJURYA crime that involves making false

statements (lying) while testifying under oath

NOTABLE Court Cases in AmericaElle Woods faces the daunting task of serving on a defense team for a defendant who clearlyappeared guilty. She also faces prejudice from her peers towards her intellect and ability tohandle such a difficult case. This case requires an entire team of attorneys!There are many notable court cases throughout US History. Here are some of the ones thatgarnered recognition either through their significance to the US judicial system, the mediacoverage, or the social battles that ensued due to their outcome.

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The Salem Witchcraft Trials1692

A series of hearings and prosecutions of peopleaccused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts,

between February 1692 and May 1693.

The episode is one of the most famous cases ofmass hysteria, and has been used in political

rhetoric and popular literature as a vivid cautionarytale about the dangers of isolationism, religiousextremism, false accusations and lapses in due

process.

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka1954

Declared state laws establishing separatepublic schools for black and white students

unconstitutional. The decision overturned thePlessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which

allowed state-sponsored segregation.

Marbury vs. Madison1803

A law passed Congress is unconstitutional.This case established the Supreme Court’s

power of Judicial Review

Miranda vs. Arizona1966

Ruled that Criminal suspects must beinformed of their rights before being

questioned by police.Plessy vs. Ferguson

1898upheld the constitutionality of state laws

requiring racial segregation in public facilitiesunder the doctrine of "separate but equal

United States vs. Nixon1974

A unanimous 8-0 ruling falling againstPresident Richard Nixon and was important to

the late stages of the Watergate scandal.It basically limits the President’s Executive

Privilege.Dred Scott vs. Sanford

1857also known as the Dred Scott Decision, was

a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court thatpeople of African descent brought into theUnited States and held as slaves (or theirdescendants, whether or not they were

slaves) were not protected by the Constitutionand were not U.S. citizens. This ruling fueled

the beginning of the Civil War.

Williams vs. California2004

A class action suit out of San Francisco in2000 alleged that schools in California wereoffering less educational opportunity for low-

income children and English LanguageLearners than for middle-income children. Thesuit alleged that the teaching quality, books,

and school conditions were worse in low-income schools. The case was settled out of

court and resulted in an extra $1 billionallocated to equalize conditions, including the

phasing out of the chaotic and expensive"multi-track" year-round school calendar.

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Notable Women in American Law

Clara Shortridge Foltz• First female lawyer in California• Inventor of “Public Defender”- she

defended many poor people forFREE

• Drafted the Women Lawyer’s Bill –became law in 1877

• In 1911, Foltz became the firstfemale deputy district attorney forLos Angeles County

Belva Lockwood• First woman to be admitted to the

federal bar (1892)• First female lawyer to argue in the

Supreme Court• Opened the first woman’s suffrage

group in D.C.• Ran for President through Equal

Rights Party

Charlotte E. Ray• First African-American woman

admitted to a state bar• Applied to law school with initials

and got in – was allowed to go• Opened her own law practice in D.C.

Sandra Day O’Conner• First female to be appointed to the

Supreme Court• Served as AZ Assistant Att. General• 24 years of service on Supreme

Court

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ACTIVITIES FOR AFTER THE SHOW

True and FalseWrite T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False.

Elle decides to pursue a law degree at Yale University.

At the end of the play, Elle and Warner finally get back together!

Paulette works at a hair salon

Elle catches Chutney in a lie due to her knowledge of hair perms

Kyle (Paulette’s crush) is a janitor.

Elle’s tremendous high score on her LSAT gets her into Law school

Vivienne and Elle become friends

Elle is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi (A-D-Pi) sorority

Matching

Delta Nu Workplace of Paulette

Dewey Assistant to Callahan

Padaman Actor who played Elle’s Dad also played him

Callahan Actor who played Nikos also played him

Emmett Where Elle takes Emmett for a change of look

Department Store “Club” that Elle belongs to and is President of

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Salon Is the head of the law firm that gives Elle an internship

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Discussion before the Performance

All Language Arts completes the following standards:o Developing and using oral communicationo Understanding and reading literary textso Understanding and using informational textso Building Better vocabularyo Developing written communicationo Developing and using research strategies

All Social Studies meets the following standards:o Understanding of different life around them and across the worldo Understanding of different regions and human systems

All Theatre Activities meet the following standards:– Connecting ideas and action– Understanding characters

DISCUSSION PROMPTS

1. There are a number of examples in this show that show how one’s point of view can bechanged through a persuasive argument. When was a time that you felt a certain wayabout an issue and someone, through a persuasive argument, changed your mind?

2. Legally Blonde deals with stereotypes and how they can be positive or negative. Namesome stereotypes of kids today, or even in your own classroom. Do those individuals fitthe stereotype?

3. Elle has big dreams of becoming a lawyer? What’s your dream? What’s your dreamcareer? Share!

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Activities After the Performance

DISCUSSION PROMPTS

1. What were some of the stereotypes shown and discussed in Legally Blonde?2. Now that you’ve seen what it took for Elle to become a successful lawyer and graduate

of Harvard, what will it take you to achieve your dream or your desired career? Whatkind of education will it take? Discuss saving plans, potential side jobs, and locationswhere you would have to live to attain your goal.

3. How can the sets, costumes, or lights help create the play? What kind of sets,costumes, or lights do you expect to see when you see the show? What kind of colorsdo you expect to see?

ACTIVITIES

1. Costumes! Pick a character from the show and design a costume for them, as theywere portrayed in the show. Then, considering the opposite of their “look” or style,design them a 2nd costume that would make them look (and maybe act) totally different.

2. Elle wins over the Harvard Admissions team by bringing in the Drill Team and preparinga musical number for them. Create your own cheer, chant, or song about why a schoolor a team should accept you! Be specific about what kind of school or team it is

Resources

BOOKS

Legally Blonde by Amanda BrownFamily Trust by Amanda Brown (another book by the same author!)Legally Elle Woods: Blonde at Heart by Natalie Standiford

FILMS

Legally BlondeLegally Blonde II: Red White and Blonde

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WEB RESOURCES

TV Show:Legally Blonde: the Search for Elle Woodswww.mtv.com/shows/legally_blonde_the_musical/series.jhtml

Show Website (Licensing, music samples, and more information):http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000332