2018 LOCALS LOVE US: Burnet High School’s ‘Legally Blonde’ a Favorite with Audiences

BURNET — Even now, almost two months after the curtain dropped on the last performance of the Burnet Ensemble Theatre Company’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” people are still talking about it.
“I had someone just the other day tell me how much they loved it,” said Meghan Hoefling, who played Paulette in the Nov. 16-18 production at the Burnet High School auditorium. The members of the school’s theater arts program hoped people would dig a little deeper into the musical, beyond the obvious storyline, to see it’s really about a young woman trying to be true to herself and find her own path in the world.
The play, based on the book and movie by the same name (sans “The Musical”), seems to have struck a chord with The Picayune readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners. They voted it as the 2018 Locals Love Us favorite theater production in the Burnet area.
“That means a lot,” said Burnet High School senior Sarah Sanford, who played the lead role of Elle.
The story centers around Elle, who believes her boyfriend, Warner, is about to propose to her. Instead, he breaks up with her as he gets ready to leave for Harvard Law School. Elle isn’t serious enough for a man like him, Warners decides.
Elle studies hard to get into Harvard Law School and prove to Warner that she is a serious person. However, along the way, Elle discovers she doesn’t need Warner’s approval.
“It was a good story about being yourself,” Hoefling added.
During the show’s run, the cast received positive feedback from fellow students and others. Sanford was admittedly a bit surprised because she felt they had produced just as good plays in the past, yet this one seemed to resonate.
“I was surprised how much people talked about it,” Sanford said.
Hoefling agreed, noting that the buzz around it lived on, even past the last performance.
The Locals Love Us honor confirms how much audiences loved the production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” which was under the direction of theater arts teacher Amanda Brandenburg with choreography by Caity Clinton.
“It’s great to be recognized,” Hoefing added. “It makes us feel that we’re seen and appreciated.”
With the musical behind them, theater students aren’t taking a break. They’re preparing for the University Interscholastic League’s one-act play competition.
Go to bhs.burnetcisd.net for more information on the Burnet Ensemble Theatre Company and the school’s theater program.
daniel@thepicayune.com