Hempfield Area musical is in the pink with ‘Legally Blonde’

Shirley McMarlin | Tuesday, April 2, 2019 1:30 a.m.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Nick Fry (Emmett) and Heather Royer (Elle) rehearse a scene from the Hempfield Area High School spring musical, “Legally Blonde.”

The Hempfield Area High School spring musical, “Legally Blonde,” holds special significance for senior cast members Anthony Marino and Jenna Salvatore.

“It’s always fun playing opposite Jenna,” says Marino, who is double cast with senior Nick Fry in the role of Emmett, a schoolmate and admirer of the lead character, Elle. “We’re best friends, and this is our last high school production together.”

In the fall, Marino will attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, while Salvatore heads to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Salvatore is double cast with senior Heather Royer as Elle, the spunky, pink-loving sorority girl who struggles to be taken seriously in law school.

For her part, Salvatore finds inspiration in her character.

“She’s so confident with herself,” Salvatore says. “She’s not afraid to be who she is, even when people are trying to bring her down. Plus, the costumes are fun with all the pink.”

That pink will be a focal point onstage, says costume designer Tracey Donovan, whose daughter Ella Donovan is a cast member.

“There will be no pink in the costumes except for Elle,” Donovan says. “Our inspiration is from the Broadway musical, but we’ll have a couple of throwbacks to the movie, with the classic Elle sunglasses and the fuzzy pink coat.

“One of our Elles will wear a wig and the other will dye her hair,” she adds. “Neither has ever been blonde before.”

Directing his son and the rest of the 100-plus member cast is Tony Marino, founder and artistic director of Stage Right in Greensburg. Student stage managers are Megan Ambrose, Angela Mitchell, Katelyn Johnson and Chip Frederickson.

“Legally Blonde” will be presented at 7 p.m. April 4-5 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 6 at the high school, 4345 Route 136.

Tickets at $15, or $10 for students, can be purchased 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays through April 5 in the school’s administration office and beginning 1 1/2 hours prior to each performance at the auditorium.

Tickets also are available at showtix4u.com.