Bend, Snap, and Slay: “Legally Blonde” closes out season for Theatre Calgary

What if the thing you’ve been mocked for your whole life turns out to be your superpower?

Legally Blonde has painted the stage pink at the Max Bell Theatre, closing out Theatre Calgary’s 2024–2025 season.

But don’t let the sparkle fool you — this musical version’s got bite.

At the helm is director-choreographer Stephanie Graham, who knows the pink-coated plot comes with built-in assumptions — much like its main character.

“People have the same expectations about the musical that they do about Elle,” Graham says. “That it’s this pink fluffy bow. But that’s the whole point —  Legally Blonde challenges how we judge others, and how we limit ourselves.”

Calgary’s own Kelsey Verzotti steps into the heels of Elle Woods: a sorority queen turned legal powerhouse, with her tiny purse dog Bruiser always in tow.

At first glance, Legally Blonde plays like a comedy. But beneath the laughs is something more lasting: a story about owning who you are in a world that tells you not to.

“You can be feminine and smart at the same time,” says Graham. “Society often associates femininity with not being intelligent. But Elle doesn’t have to change who she is to succeed and that’s a message I want everyone to walk away with.”

Graham, who’s spent the past year working on musicals at Sheridan College, the Stratford Festival, and Thousand Islands Playhouse, brings that same sense of conviction and joy to this staging.

Even if you’ve seen the movie, this production is a bit different. With updates that make the plot feel contemporary, the original writers have reworked the script to reflect 2025.

“You’re going to hear different lyrics, see some new characters — the writers have modernized the script,” she says. “We’ve leaned into that. This isn’t a 2001 time capsule. It’s Legally Blonde for now.”

It’s also a show with real-world impact. The  “Legally Blonde Effect” is backed by data.

When the movie premiered in 2001, women made up just under 40 per cent of Harvard Law School’s incoming class. By 2017, that number had climbed to 50 per cent, with some students citing Elle Woods as inspiration.

“There’s been a massive effect,” Graham confirms. “Not just for law  I think this story has encouraged women to pursue male-dominated fields like engineering and STEM while still embracing who they are.”

The ensemble is packed with Calgary talent and scene-stealing newcomers.  Oh, and there are real dogs on stage playing key roles as well.

“We have a chihuahua, Mr. Mojave, playing Bruiser,” Graham laughs. “And a bulldog named Fergus playing Rufus. They’ve completely stolen our hearts.”

Still, the soul of the show belongs to Elle — and to the audiences who see themselves in her unapologetic optimism. In a world so serious, it’s okay to be something else.

“She leads with kindness,” says Graham. “She uses her gifts to help others. And honestly? I think we all need a little more Elle in our lives right now.”

Legally Blonde runs at Theatre Calgary until June 15, tickets are becoming very limited.

Tickets can be purchased on the Theatre Calgary website.