This year, new Upper School drama teacher Ms. Lewis joined our Carrollton community with a bang, bringing the bright pink story of “Legally Blonde” to the stage. From the moment audience members stepped inside the Convocation Center, the energy was evident. On closing night, it was a packed house full of families and friends eager to support our incredible Carrollton actors. The instant the opening number, “OMG You Guys,” started, I was swept away in a whirlwind of color and liveliness.
This show is especially perfect for Carrollton, a school dedicated to helping young women become their best selves and find their passions. The story begins with our protagonist Elle Woods (Mariana Soto ‘26) expecting a proposal from her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Lyla Rufeh ‘26 ). Unfortunately, instead, Warner breaks up with her and sends Elle into a spiral of self doubt. Determined to get him back, she applies to Harvard Law school and gets in, set on showing him that she’s not just a dumb blonde. Along the way, she meets Vivian Kensington (Maria Fernandez Lage ‘27), Emmet Richmond (Elena Costa ‘26), and Paulette (Ariana Vasquez ‘26). This story is positive and empowering, and shows the importance of looking beyond someone’s appearance.
“A message I hope the audience took away,” Ms. Lewis said, “is the importance of believing in your own potential, even when others underestimate you. ‘Legally Blonde’ highlights resilience, friendship, and empowerment, showing that growth often comes when we challenge the expectations placed on us.”
The acting was incredible, bringing each of the characters to life and creating that onstage chemistry audiences love. Facial expressions, body language, and even costumes aided the storytelling, bringing the plot to light perfectly. Soto, for example, always kept Elle’s smile on her face, except for the rare moments to show a shift in emotions.
The music was lively and bright to match. Upper School vocal director Mr. Poore worked the actors hard, teaching them all the harmonies and melodies. In songs like “Ireland,” Paulette reminisces about her culture, speaking about trying to find a man that reminds her of that freedom. Not only did her voice reach the crowd, it also showed her deep longing and connection to her heritage.
Choreographer and Upper School dance teacher Ms. Sasloglou brought energy into the songs, using the stage to her full advantage to fill the space with movement.
Throughout the show, the audience was invested. For example, when Elle slapped her professor for making an inappropriate comment, the audience cheered.
Even the actors got to understand the characters on a deeper level and make important connections. “The message I took from my role as Elle,” said Soto, “was just her endless positivity in the sense that she knew she was smart…She stayed true to herself and her personality. I love that aspect of her character because she’s super intelligent, and she’s super strong. She’s a complicated person.”
For Ms. Lewis, the show was not just a performance, but a learning experience as well. “One message I hope the actors took away from the show is the value of commitment and preparation in the rehearsal process…Theatre requires dedication, teamwork, and a willingness to support one another,” she said.
This dedication came with a serious time commitment. “The hardest part was just getting home late, especially during tech week,” Costa said, “and…the feeling of having too much to do.”
However, Costa also noted that the Carrollton community was understanding. “The easiest part [was] the support system, how my teachers and friends understood the dedication the musical takes. I really appreciated that, and it made it 10 times easier.”
This was Ms. Lewis’ first show with Carrollton, and she swept us all away. Part of this success was due to her willingness to work together with the actors. “I really appreciated her openness to collaboration with students and how much she really valued our opinions,” Costa said.
All in all, this was an incredible show that reached the audience with the message of believing in yourself, no matter what others say you can or can’t do.
