20
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
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THE JUSTICE
24-HOUR MUSICAL
Actors skip sleep to learn lines By SARAH BAYER JUSTICE EDITOR
In a dynamic kickoff to the 2009 to 2010 Brandeis theater season, Hillel Theater Group and Tympanium Euphorium staged Legally Blonde: The Jewsical in Shapiro Theater Sunday night. As part of a four-year campus tradition, the play was cast, rehearsed and performed in only 24 hours. Over 80 students offered up their talents for a near-sleepless night and day without even knowing the title of the play—based on Broadway’s Legally Blonde: The Musical— ahead of time. Caitlin Partridge ’13 was one of many first-years who kicked off their collegiate theater careers this weekend, appearing as a member of protagonist Elle Woods’ “Delta Jew” sorority. Partridge was involved in theater in high school and plans to continue acting at Brandeis, starring as Juliet in Hold Thy Peace’s Romeo and Juliet later this semester. Partridge had previously seen the musical on TV and camped out in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium to rehearse in a schedule that she described as “crazy and busy all the time.” She praised the choice of musical, saying, “There’s a lot of parts so everyone gets to do their own thing.” She added, “It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m amazed at what we’ve managed to put together in such a short time.”
ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice
‘BLONDE’ AMBITION: Elle Woods (Johanna Wickenmeyer ’12, center) struggles with the challenges of Harvard Law School while maintaining a fashionable ensemble.
Going ‘Blonde’ for a day
MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice
ASHER KRELL/the Justice
ROBYN SPECTOR /the Justice
‘LEGAL’ TEAM: Counterclockwise from above: Elle Woods and her “Delta Jew” sorority sisters select the perfect outfit for a marriage proposal; accused murderer Brooke Wyndham (Ellyn Getz ’13, center) leads the dance corps in a musical workout routine; members of the Harvard Law School admissions committee (from left to right: Michael Rock ’13, Matthew Cohen ’11 and Jared Field ’11) discuss potential candidates; and Matthew Shear ’11 (left) prepares to perform as Elle Woods’ mentor, Professor Callahan.
ASHER KRELL/the Justice