UB Theatre & Dance presents: "Legally Blonde"

The University at Buffalo Theatre & Dance Department will present Legally Blonde from November 19-22 and December 3-6, 2015. Performance times are: Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. All performances will be held in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus. Tickets are $20, Students (any school) & Seniors $10.

LEGALLY BLONDE, the Musical, with a Book by Heather Hach, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, is based on the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, which was a surprise hit both in theaters and then on Broadway where it ran for over 600 performances.  The story, based on the book LEGALLY BLONDE by Amanda Brown, resonated with both audiences and critics alike because it hit on something that we can all relate and aspire to: believing in yourself and not letting any challenge get in your way.  Elle became this role model, especially to young women who were just starting out on their life paths, and represented a "never say no" attitude that connected with an entire younger generation throughout the early 2000's and through today.

The UB production is live, onstage, with live orchestra and will include newly designed and executed sets, lights, and costumes.  The production is directed and choreographed by KEITH ANDREWS. The show’s music director is NATHAN R. MATTHEWS.

Keith Andrews comes to UB from New York City and has directed the National Tours of THE FULL MONTY and HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDUH. He recently directed the regional premiere of Rock of Ages and productions of SPAMALOT, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.  Keith recently choreographed THE GIG at the New York Musical Theater Festival and world premiere of LOVE, INCORPORATED.

He has received a New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Production of a Musical.  On the ice, Keith has directed and choreographed Home for the Holidays- a Celebration on Ice, starring 2014 Olympic Gold Medalists, Charlie White and Meryl Davis, and 2010 Gold Medalist, Evan Lysacek. Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.

Nathan R. Matthews, UB Associate Professor of Music Theatre and Director of Music Theatre, is the founding Producing Artistic Director of New York’s Riverside Opera Ensemble where he has developed and produced new works of music theatre and has helmed events with the participation of Leonard Bernstein, Rosemary Harris and Harolyn Blackwell. Matthews served on the music staff of the Santa Fe Opera and has worked on Broadway, across North America and abroad with internationally acclaimed artists such as Dixie Carter, Mellissa Errico, Malcolm Gets, Mark Hamill and Anne Hathaway. In Western New York, Matthews has music directed/conducted at UB, the Irish Classical Theatre Company (A Man of No Importance), the Kavinoky Theatre (Glorious!), Musical fare Theatre (Sweeney Todd) and at Artpark (Smokey Joe’s Café). He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Amas Musical Theatre Company in New York City, a company celebrated for the development of new musicals.

The cast for LEGALLY BLONDE is comprised of students from the UB Department of Theatre and Dance including Buffalo area students Bailey Humiston, Tommy MacDonnell, Miranda Bosse, Leah Berst, and Kevin Nagel.

The UB Department of Theatre & Dance 2015-16 season takes inspiration from one of the five named UB 2020 themes, Justice.

Tickets: Center for the Arts Box Office (Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm) and tickets.com. To charge tickets call 1-888-223-6000.  For more information call 716-645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org or www.theatredance.buffalo.edu.