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When Skylar Jones was considering First Year Players’ annual spring musical, he was originally hesitant about choosing a movie adaptation. But after watching “Legally Blonde the Musical,” he knew the group should perform it at Syracuse University.

“It has this overt level of fantasy that you can kind of see, that you can buy into when you go into a musical and so it’s just really, really fun,” Jones, the director for FYP’s production, said.

FYP, SU’s only theater organization for non-performance majors, is bringing “Legally Blonde” to campus for their annual spring musical. The musical follows sorority girl Elle Woods, played by Vittoria Gill, as she attends Harvard Law School to pursue Warner, her ex-boyfriend, played by Connor McGorty. Along the way, she discovers her own strengths and smarts.

Students can watch the show this Thursday through Saturday in Goldstein Auditorium at the Schine Student Center.

Only first-year students can join the cast, crew or pit for FYP’s shows. Upperclassmen who joined as freshmen go on to hold leadership roles. Since it’s a first-year focused organization, the freshmen hold plenty of creative control over their parts.

“The first years help a lot with adding their own flair and their own style to all their characters,” Jones said. “That just makes it unique and special.”

First Year Players is performing “Legally Blonde” at Syracuse University this spring. The musical follows Elle Woods, played by Vittoria Gill, as she attends Harvard Law School to pursue Warner, her ex-boyfriend, played by Connor McGorty. Courtesy of Elizabeth Gelber

The organization started behind-the-scenes work on the show in October before official rehearsals began in January. Though being part of the show is a major time commitment, students said they’re glad to have the opportunity to pursue their passions.

“If you look at the people in the org, we’re all theater kids at heart,” Mario Esteb, SU junior and FYP’s co-public relations director, said. “Majoring in theater is something we all kind of think of, but we never actually pursue. But it’s still something that we miss, especially going to college.”

The process for choosing the musical was a lengthy one. The organization’s upperclassmen reviewed their options and nominated four top choices — “Footloose,” “Anastasia,” “Freaky Friday” and “Legally Blonde” — before voting for the final decision.

FYP co-producer Emma LeVaca said the themes in the musical encapsulate the college-student experience: despite external pressures, no dream is too big to accomplish.

One factor that made “Legally Blonde” so attractive to students was its song lineup.

“The music really adds to the storytelling,” Jones said. “It’s this fun, rom-com world that really adds to the musical sense of it. It’s incredibly well paced and it’s just something that I’ve had so much fun with.”

First Year Players’ upperclassmen chose the spring musical. Before landing on “Legally Blonde,” the organization’s upperclassmen considered three other options, including “Footloose” and “Freaky Friday.” Joe Zhao | Design Editor

Eliza Halteman, who plays Paulette, said her favorite song is “Find My Way/Finale,” when Elle decides to take her life into her own hands at the end of the show. She said the show’s cast members agree the music allows each of the characters to fully develop.

“When you’re able to have a little bit more time for exposition, especially through song, it really develops each of the minor character’s story and a characterization, which is lost in the movie,” Halteman said.

She also said the show’s longer runtime gives every cast member a chance to showcase their talents, like her dance and vocal experience. Everyone in the ensemble has a few lines or a singing solo, allowing them to shine onstage too, she said.

Halteman brings a seasoned perspective to the show since she played Paulette last summer and spring at her hometown community theater. She said she’s grateful for the upcoming show because it gave her a chance to get to know and reinvent the character all over again. She also stressed the overall importance of the show in today’s world.

“The story is an important story for this time, especially all the themes of feminism,” Halteman said. “A lot of the things that are said in the show really ring true, even though the show is 15 years old.”

Esteb agreed; despite the show’s lighthearted feel, it sends a strong message.

“It’s about female empowerment, which we need more of, and it takes place on a college campus, so it’s a perfect college show,” Esteb said.

Published on March 31, 2025 at 11:17 pm