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[0:06] Alan Seales: Hey there, Broadway fans. Welcome to another episode of the Broadway Exclusive on the Broadway Podcast Network. This is Alan Seales, and I'll be getting you into this episode, a much-anticipated reunion between many members of the original Legally Blonde Broadway cast.

[0:21] Alan Seales: And it was recorded live from the Museum of Broadway, located right in the heart of Times Square on their Legally Blonde Day on April 29th, 2025. As a quick technical heads up, there were way more people participating than there were microphones, but you know, Christian Borle never needs to be mic'd up. Am I right? So let's kick into this episode with some opening remarks from the co-founder and executive producer of the museum herself, Julie Boardman.

[0:47] Julie Boardman: It's like the free park at all. Oh my god, you guys. All right. Hi, I'm Julie Boardman. I'm the co-founder and executive producer of the Museum of Broadway. Thank you. Thanks so much for being here and dressing in pink, all in theme. It's so cute. Um, we're really, really happy to have so many people from the original Broadway cast of Legally Blonde here today. Um, and so um, if you wouldn't mind just turning your cell phones on silent so they don't go off in the middle of the panel. That would be amazing. Um, and I'm gonna turn it over to Caitlin Hornick, who's the deputy lifestyle and culture editor at The Independent.

[1:28] Caitlin Hornick: Here we go. Yeah. There you are. Thank you. Um, let's give some snaps to the original Broadway cast of Legally Blonde. What a thrill to be with you today. Again, I'm Caitlin. I am the deputy lifestyle and culture editor at The Independent, and I am thrilled beyond words to be here with all of you today and these fabulous, fabulous people. Um just to uh I I know we all know who they are, but you know, just in case. Um today we are joined by none other than Laura Bell Bundy, Miss Elle Woods herself. We have Mr. Christian Borle in the house. The lovely Miss Orfeh. Kate Shindle. Paul Canaan. Kevin Pariseau. Matthew Risch. And Natalie Joy Johnson.

[2:39] Caitlin Hornick: Uh should we get started? Yeah. Okay, so some fun facts about Legally Blonde. I'm sure you already know, but it just feels disingenuous to not give you a little recap of why we're all here. So, exactly 18 years ago today, Legally Blonde opened at the Palace Theater. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. Um, yeah, I know, I know. Didn't mean to rub it in. We were 10 years old when we started the show. Um, but Legally Blonde is legal. Right. The show ran for 30 previews and 595 performances, received seven Tony Award nominations, and uh right here. Amen. And now we're here to celebrate. So let's get down to it.

[3:31] Caitlin Hornick: Hey. Hi. How's it going? All right, let's do it. Um just a regular, it's well, it's Tuesday. Tuesday, Tuesday. I love it. So let's start um by talking about the fun shoes that broke the internet. Um, all the fun items that are gonna be living at the museum now. Wow. Um I have had in my basement or garage or storage unit for 18 years, two big bins of uh, well, that robe was in it. Uh uh all my show shoes and uh my rehearsal clothes and opening night gifts and jackets and and the dog bag and and uh when I heard about the Museum of Broadway, I thought, wow, this is a really great time to Marie Kondo it and offload these items to the museum.

[4:46] Laura Bell Bundy: So um probably the most famous item in in I t yeah, item in the bins was the infamous shoe that flew off my foot during "So Much Better," which surprisingly millions of people have seen now. So set the scene. Set the scene. Set the scene in the back one. Talk about Elle's emotional journey up to that point. Elle was very excited because she was feeling so much better. And it was at the end of the number, and she got so excited that she, method acted. Wow. That she picked her leg up. And when she did it the first time in San Francisco, with no straps on. Hey, oh. It flew all the way to the back of the house. Now, I don't know if you guys know this, but I did not wear theater shoes in the show. I didn't, I refuse to wear those ugly dance shoes because she had the line, you've got the best freaking shoes. That's why.

[5:58] Laura Bell Bundy: And I see they're, you know, in rehearsals, they bring the shoes over, they're fitting me for the shoes, and they looked hideous. Like hospital shoes. So Jerry and I had a discussion. We were like, Jerry Mitchell, the director. I am going to. He goes, would you, you know, well, should we just get like Pradas and Guccis and you know, designer shoes for you? And I said, And Laura Bell said, absolutely not. So yeah, so that's why they didn't have a strap at first, then they put a strap on, and then it happened again, and that's the one that's on the internet. The second one, and then they put an industrial strength elastic. And that is now in the glass display that you will be able to see. What are we doing sitting here? Where are the shows? Incredible. I love it.

[7:00] Laura Bell Bundy: Um speaking of the internet, I think one of the this came up in the panel this morning. For those who aren't here, there was an amazing panel on uh Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods. Snaps. It was great. Um I streamed it from work, don't tell my boss. Um so they were talking this morning about how the show has had such amazing life beyond Broadway, and how the internet wasn't really as big a deal back then. Um it didn't exist. I'm just trying not to age. Not really not like this. No, not like this. Exactly. You couldn't get a record deal because you were on TikTok. Don't you remember MySpace? No, I I'm choosing to delete that unless the show, you know, there are so many viral online moments that have become part of the zeitgeist, like "Courtney, Take Your Break."

[7:53] Laura Bell Bundy: So what does it mean to know that you are part of, you know, something that has like the original cast um in a show that has taken on life that is just so far beyond what kind of ever existed on Broadway? There it the culture around the show is so exquisite and it has such a devout following. Um did you ever imagine back then in the early days of Broadway that we would be here today?

[8:24] Christian Borle: Yeah, I mean it's amazing. And for I had so much fun doing this show, and it was by far the like lightest fluffiest thing I'd done, especially for a long time. Because if you're a girl and you're tall and you're in the theater, you're much more likely to be cast as like a sex worker or someone who does a lot of drugs. So I played those roles. Um it's true. Vivian wasn't a sex worker drug addict. Can you imagine? Okay. We're not. She was in my version of Legally Blocked. Anyway. Yes. The other thing, the other thing that was wild was that we opened the same season as Spring Awakening. And so, like my back of the envelope calculation was that all the sort of teenagers who were trying to find their place in the world would flock to Spring Awakening. And they did. But I didn't anticipate that same group or that same age group, that same season showing up for us in the way that they did, and continued to. Like it was, it was amazing.

[9:29] Christian Borle: I think when your show is taped for Prime Television and MTV, and then it gets uploaded to YouTube, it becomes something that's much easier for schools to put on because they just tell the kids to watch the video and do that. Yeah. Am I right? I can't tell them whether you have a parent. No, no. No, I think it's great. I think it's great that that happened. But I think I believe that that's why that the show had the life because you you got people got to see the show, you know, because it was illegally uploaded to it was in it was the illegally blonde. But I'm so glad it's still there.

[10:10] Laura Bell Bundy: Yeah, I think I I mean obviously with art and theater and everything, timing is everything, right? And I think I had always thought that this show was brilliant, and I thought it was so funny and so irreverent and so spot on and so of the moment, and yet also somehow timeless. And it just was the quote unquote wrong year for it. And I think when that happens, it's like we could have come out in the right year, quote unquote, and been exploded with popularity and all this attention, and then sort of maybe fizzled or plateaued. And instead, it came out in a year that everyone flocked to Spring Awakening. It was like sort of everyone was doing that. And then over time, doing the TV thing, people just finally tuned in and were like, wait, this this one, this one.

[10:54] Christian Borle: Um, and I think that's why it has the life that it has, and why all of you are here, and it's so I I always say to everybody, because you know, Laura Bell and I hang out to this, like Paulette and Elle, it's a real thing. Um, but I always say it's so unbelievable that we're so much more well known now than we were when we were in the show. So, like it's had this incredible life beyond that because of the MTV thing, and then now people do the taping and the filming and all that, and I'm always the one like we didn't it first. So, but it's in incredible that TikTok is like there's something like eight billion views for Legally Blonde, and it's like seriously, and you know, I I fancy myself a millennial, but um anyway, so that's who would have ever known that the life beyond that point in time would have existed because we should, yes, we should have had a much longer run. We really should have, and that's the truth. But but what now we really have, and where are all those other shows? I'm just saying, so huh? Not up to us.

[12:04] Caitlin Hornick: Well, that's a great segue to my next question. If the show were to have renewed life on Broadway, give me your dream cast right now. I'm sure you've done this, you've thought about this.

[12:17] Laura Bell Bundy: Uh yeah, but I was casting myself again. And there's nothing wrong with that. Like, but and then I would like like Christian would play Callahan. Like, like you know what I mean? Like, it would, you know, I the Lord Bow would still play Elle in my motherfucking version. So I'm just saying, Kate would still be Vivi. I but in my perfect world. I I I refuse to think of other people. But I do have, I do have my dream cast. What is yours, dream cast? And if you don't mention me, I'm leaving.

[12:55] Christian Borle: Thank you. Yes, like Cher's West Side Story, whoever said absolutely. So, but you know, who knows? I see that every day. I'd be exhausted, but it'd be fabulous. Um, I don't know who would you're oh I I don't know. Every time I think of somebody could be Elle, it takes too long for a revival to happen and they age out. I had always thought Dove Cameron would be a great Elle. Uh, but I don't know. Anyone else have thoughts? Kiki the hairstylist is timeless, and I could play it at any age, I feel like. And maybe like Jordan Fisher could understudy me, or I don't know, just spitballing. No, but I said this a little bit in the the panel this morning. I think the show's life is so beautiful in young people's lives, especially during the pandemic with TikTok. It's such positive messaging for the spirit of Elle Woods and the entire cast. Young, queer people can get on board with it with Gary European and their icon legend, Matthew Risch.

[13:57] Orfeh: Um, but I teach a lot and I go to so many schools, and to see the way the show affects them, it's accessible. They can do it in their schools. They're singing these songs, they're saying these lines, and it's more powerful than maybe a lot of the other shows they're doing that they may not connect to so much in this like modern empowerment way. So it's a great they are doing their very best to sing those songs. I will truly, uh, I will never get over Courtney Take Your Break. I will never get over the way that that has become such a thing, and that you don't realize that honey, that actually is like a tricky little part of the voice. Where are you gonna put it? Where are you gonna put it? Um, and I just will never get over the way Courtney Take Your Break.

I truly went into a full K-hole one day and watched like a it was just a Courtney Take Your Break like montage. And I was like 15 minutes in, and I was like with my pal, and we were watching it, and we were like, oh shit, there's like 30 more minutes. I think we're done. I think we're done. But it was like it was wild. It is little girls. I really do. Here's the question though, is Amber Ife a part of that movement? I have not heard her chime in about it. I don't see her on social media. She's the OG Courtney Take Your Break. And she and she's Galen does the hell out of it. We ran into each other. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She's a smarty smart. She'll like, I'm out. Yeah, we ran into each other one day in Harlem on the street, and she has like a beautiful baby, and she's living in slang. So snaps! Courtney is taking her break. You know what I'm saying? That's incredible.

[15:36] Laura Bell Bundy: Um, speaking of the relationships you've forged, kind of in this show and building a show, um, who are you still in touch with? Obviously, Bestie's over here. You hang out all the time.

[15:46] Orfeh: All the time. All the time.

[15:48] Laura Bell Bundy: Um, who else are you still tight with? Are there any bonds that um kind of emerged after the show's life on Broadway?

[15:58] Christian Borle: Me and Orfeh. We worked right before the show.

[16:00] Orfeh: Microphone.

[16:05] Christian Borle: And then we became very close through, and then we've stayed close ever since. Yeah, Paul and I, we basically um shared a hotel room in San Francisco when we took this show out of town and spooned. I would make her get up and do ruthless numbers from Ruthless as we go to bed. I was like, ha, do it again. I think we've all all of us here have remained close. At least I've remained close to all of you.

[16:38] Orfeh: Just saying on my interest.

[16:42] Laura Bell Bundy: Live stream.

[16:44] Christian Borle: We are all still in a giant group chat.

[16:47] Orfeh: Yes.

[16:48] Christian Borle: Yeah, we're on a giant group chat. I mean, Jerry Mitchell, the director, he's on it. Larry now. It's it's so fun. So I, uh, I have remained really close friends with Christian since the show. And, uh, last summer I had the pleasure of having the uh honor of marrying him to his uh to his wife at our house to me.

[17:19] Laura Bell Bundy: That's how close the friendship is.

[17:21] Christian Borle: Yeah. No, but I mean we've remained, and, uh, it's uh, it's lovely. And Paul is in my wedding. I was one of my bridesmen. And yeah, I think this I really feel like we all connected deeply during the show. And I love all of you guys.

[17:41] Orfeh: Wait, I want to say a thing. Kevin will also do your wedding as Elle's dad.

[17:50] Laura Bell Bundy: That's a good thing.

[17:51] Christian Borle: Wait, that's a good gig, Kevin.

[17:53] Orfeh: As soon as he did who's still available.

[17:58] Christian Borle: Yeah. I mean, the thing is when it comes to casting the revival, I mean it's not that most of us had never worked on Broadway before, but people didn't, everybody didn't know who we were, you know. And I feel like the show got to shine because of that. Like we all got to show up and do our best job. And there wasn't, you know, obviously Laura Bell had a much bigger uh burden to carry, like carrying that whole show. But the show was the star and she was the star. So I don't think about stunt casting it. I think about like young actors who are probably younger than we were when we did it.

[18:32] Orfeh: Um, also you know, we're the thing that happens when you do a show for that long, especially a show you really like, is that it creates a community. So I haven't seen some of these folks in a few years, but it doesn't mean that we aren't like we sort of picked up where we left off about 45 minutes ago downstairs.

[18:53] Laura Bell Bundy: Well, then I mean, being a part of the Broadway community, which is the best community there possibly is. Um, we do like Christian and I downstairs, there was a Thoroughly Modern Millie program. We joined Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2003, like the same time the same week. Then we went on to do Blonde. Natalie joined Kinky Boots on the tail end of me performing, and there was like my sister coming into the show. I'm like, welcome. And then Galen joined Kinky Boots. And Jerry Mitchell has that, he's kind of the father of a cast that is so tight and so led with positivity and light that is so beautiful, which is why I'd follow him anywhere.

[19:29] Orfeh: On just to get on that train.

[19:33] Christian Borle: Jerry is, I mean, Jerry, let me check a break. Jerry is really good at putting people together. I mean, he's always said, like, I want to have dinner with you. Like, I want to be able to have dinner with these people. Like, that's his thing. He's so good at knowing who's gonna get along and who's gonna have fun. And he knows that it all trickles down from the top.

[19:51] Orfeh: And that fun times equals, you know, a wonderful, a good show.

[19:56] Christian Borle: Yeah. He he's so good at that. And I don't take that for granted because honey, I've been in some shows where that's not the case.

[20:03] Orfeh: Yeah.

[20:03] Christian Borle: And it's not as fun. And the show isn't as good. Yeah. I always thought like Jerry is vibrating at a certain level, and he brings in people that are vibrating at a similar level, and then we all end up connecting because we're there, you know, together.

[20:19] Orfeh: Yeah.

[20:20] Christian Borle: And, uh, because he is so full out, like I mean, Jerry would do the jump rope like every day with everyone. And he's oh, of course, let me be you, let me be you. But when it was like the first couple days of rehearsal, he invited those of us that weren't in the number that were, you know, had lines in the number and weren't jumping the rope. Hey, if you want to come in and jump with us, go for it. I made it a day and a half, uh, never to return for that early hour. It's like, have fun, you guys. Um, but he would jump that rope every day with everyone, and he just has this um, he he is full out and he demands that you also be that, but because he is leading by such like a strong example of fun and dedication and just going for it, you have no choice but want to like rise to that occasion.

[21:17] Orfeh: And like literally, I would take Rusty aside and poor Michelle Catrell every five or ten minute break that we had, they didn't have one because I was like shuffle hop step, shuffle hop step. Let's do it. Teach me this Irish dance because I am not getting fired because I don't know how to do this goddamn 16 bars of a tap.

[21:36] Laura Bell Bundy: So anyway, full out, babe. It's also like I completely forgot about this till we started talking about Jerry. But it's hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure wasn't this the first Broadway show he directed?

[21:49] Christian Borle: Yeah.

[21:49] Laura Bell Bundy: Yeah. Like it's wild because of everything he's done since then. And because he was always going to be a Broadway director, but um, I've worked with him since, and it's just awesome to see like somebody at the top of their game for so long and how they grow and develop.

[22:04] Orfeh: Yeah, it's the best.

[22:07] Laura Bell Bundy: I love we just went on like a whole journey there. That was that was amazing. Um, what is one thing that stands out that you remember 18 years later that was a pivotal moment during the show, during rehearsals?

[22:24] Christian Borle: Um, give us give us a memory.

[22:27] Orfeh: Perhaps you're not familiar with the um golf cart incident.

[22:33] Christian Borle: Was that yours?

[22:35] Orfeh: Oh, it's because it was absolutely unbelievable when it happened. We were all doing it was the remix, it was the remix. Right. And the guy who was uh driving the golf cart was the uh of Jody.

[22:50] Christian Borle: Jodi Bernal.

[22:51] Orfeh: Right. We're naming names. But Jody had never had a chance to drive the car. He had never driven it in in real time on the stage, you know, in that scenario with lights, the whole thing, we're dancing, the remix. The cart comes out and does this wide circle, and uh I could just tell that it was not gonna make the turn. And the rear left wheel of the car went off the apron of the stage. So now the cart is like upended a little bit on stage left. The di all of us on stage, dancing monkeys, we're still going, ah, you know, there's no stopping that the cart's there, and two guy two crew guys come out and they're trying to get the cart, but because the weight of the cart is now hanging over the the pit, there's no way to lift it.

Two men in the house in suit and tie walk down the aisle to the cart and pushed the cart back up onto the stage. And literally saved that thing from not, you know, because there was no way we were gonna have to stop the show. So you got people in that pit. I don't I swear the people in that pit did not know that that cart was hanging over their head. And then I my back was in the audience the entire time. That's when you like run and go. That's that's where you run and go. And it they were like the the our new Kyle came over and he's like, Paulette, what's going on? I said, I have no fucking idea. And the entire audience, because I didn't know why everybody was laughing. I couldn't see my back was to the audience, and literally they're like all laughing.

She's she's always this is Laura Bell. You know something's going on when this is happening, and she's doing this. Everyone's like this. I'm going, are my pants off? Did something happen? I didn't know. Remember that we'll talk about that. Um, but literally, I'm going, and he's like, Paulette, what's going on? And I look back, and there's a mass of people literally shoving the golf cart back on the stage. And then we just finished the number, and we never had to stop the show because of the the fine strong burlingan that came and put the thing back on stage, and we're crying. She's crying. He's crying. This one breaks. You could just go, uh, and he's like convulsing. So Kate's trying to keep it together. Well, not that day, but we were all like, what is and I'm not I'm clueless. I'm going, oh, that and I went, oh, oh, you know, whatever. So yeah, that was one of the times.

[25:25] Laura Bell Bundy: I think that I wasn't there. I was on the road doing Legally Blonde at that point, but I heard about it, and my favorite detail that I heard about it is that Jody was playing Elle's single black gay dad. Because there was there were so many people out of the show that also there was no mom. There was no Elle's mother. So it was literally just giving like single gay dad of El Woods driving the golf cart into the audience. Which I just love. I think that's amazing. It tracked so ahead of its time in so many ways, this show.

[26:06] Orfeh: Well, there was also what what please talk about the wig incident.

[26:10] Christian Borle: Oh, well, um, there was more than one wig incident.

[26:15] Orfeh: You asked.

[26:16] Christian Borle: Um, but my favorite one was when I been and snapped so hard my wig flew off. And, uh, I had a lot it just went um And there's the wig cap and I'm like grabbing the wig go it was it was right before Ben and Snap happened. She's like Ben and Snap, what's that? And I'm like, the Ben's flew off. And yes, yeah, it everybody who is so I was like, we're in the um, you know, I want to thank everybody for coming to see Legally Bald. And, uh, and I was like, hey Paulette, want to help me put my hair back on? And she was like, Yeah, welcome. Yes, you're in the hair fair, sit in the chair, and so you know everybody, all of the Delta News in the scene, the PMS girls, they took out their hairpins, and you did too, and you brought the wig over that you were fluffing and teasing, and they put the wig back on, but what they didn't realize is that they put the back in the front and the front and the back, and the whole rest of the number, I'm like this. Oh, they realized it. I look like cousin it. And I and then and then I'm trying to do Ben and Snap after that. The wig is not secure, and every time, with how many bin and snaps are in bin and snap?

[27:50] Laura Bell Bundy: Well, you had like 73 at the end. It was just like I kept grabbing my head. And uh so that was one of my favorite moments. Or other moments, what other moments? Um sweet Bill Berlone uh trained all of our uh amazing doggies in the show, who we just realized all of them have since passed on into the Bill is doing great. He just did it, he just did another production of Legally Blonde. Well, one of the most special experiences that I had at the palace was he would always come to my dressing room with Chico, and we would have bonding time because we had bits that we had to do on stage together. And just that five minutes of like hearing the knock and then Chico running in and jumping on the couch and getting like my job was to bond with this amazing chihuahua.

And he was so beautiful. That was one of my favorite parts of the entire endeavor. Do you remember when was it Boo was on? And Boo got Boo was tiny. Boo was like three pounds, right? And the crowd made a lot of noise, and it was, you know, when the dog came out, obviously, and it was a real focus of the trainers to make sure that the dogs that they were using for the show could handle all that like that wall of sound coming at them. I remember one day, and I haven't thought about this in forever, the dog just ran around, turned around and ran off stage. And and Anna Lee, who's supposed to do that, like talk and ask a question, and then the dog barks at you. Like she had to just make it up because there was no dog. And fun fact, Orfe adopted Boo, and I adopted Teddy, who was the dog who was kind of the dog of the reality show, which was super fun. And yeah. Shout out to him. And I adopted Christian.

[29:32] Christian Borle: Rough rub. He rare he rarely talks about the five minutes in his dressing room that I came in. Every single time. Or the five minutes I came in there. Too late. What's happening? I love this. Reliving just such glory days. All the things. What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self? Knowing what you know now, having gone through the legally blonde process circuit, however you want to call it, what would you tell your younger self?

[30:25] Laura Bell Bundy: Call in sick when you feel sick. Courtney, take your break. Uh you guys will be happy to know that my assistant's name is Courtney. No, for real. Wasn't always. Wasn't always. No, I but I think anyway, that would be me. Take care of yourself. Take care of your health. And you know, preserve your gift. I definitely push myself um hard because I had a lot of expectations on me and um and I wanted to to do the show. I loved doing the show. It was so fun, and I wanted to be there. Um, but I think, you know, doing that in the press and everything, you know, there at some point you do reach a limit. I didn't necessarily see that in the beginning. Now I'm much more mindful of it. Uh because I had to repair post-show.

But that would be the note that I would give my younger self is to very just get quiet, listen to your body, and take care of yourself because you are not just a one show gal. There's more shows to go. Mine, it's actually something I've just gotten better at as I get older. Just enjoy it while you're doing it, not when you look back at it, you know. Um if you're involved in something that you think is extraordinary, take the time to look around and be like, this doesn't come along every day. And that uh that used to be hard, and now it's much easier.

[32:11] Caitlin Hornick: Can I just ask you a quick question while you have the mic? So sorry, so sorry. Um, this was on my list of questions because the fans want to know how satisfying was it to hit that note in the remix. Cause it's fierce.

[32:25] Laura Bell Bundy: It was very fun. I had to really pace myself during my extraordinary Irish dancing. Um so that I wasn't winded. But like I've said this so many times over the years. Like, that was that was like a party trick I had from college. And then when we were doing the workshop, I was like, hmm, this is the only song I sing in this show. And then everyone else comes in. And I feel like there might be something at the end where I could just pull focus like crazy, and that was it.

[32:57] Christian Borle: Well, and good party trick, kid. I would probably I filmed a bunch during because I have this little camera, and like Laura would host a dance party before the show, every show in San Francisco. Jerry would join, just got everybody like going. And I filmed all that, but we didn't have social media, we didn't have like, I'm not posting this right away. We just kind of did it for us. And I think that is a valuable way to live in the present moment, which we all did, like out of town, doing opening the show on Broadway without the distraction of like, oh, this is gonna be a great, we're gonna post this, and we have so many fans and followers and likes. Um Tino Shaped did any of that because now we all are living that riding that ride. But it's almost as if life was better without social media.

[33:43] Laura Bell Bundy: It's such an interesting point that you make if I'm not fascinating. Oh shit! Oh, Lindsay. I'll stand over here. Lindsay Chambers has just walked in. What did you learn? What would you do? Sorry, I busted in. Come over, come over and sit here. There's a stool right here.

[34:19] Lindsay Nicole Chambers: Do you want a water? For God's sake. Let's start over. First question. Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Original swing in the show. Most dramatic story. But what's the real what's the real question? Any advice you would give to your younger self having been through the legally blonde process?

[34:44] Laura Bell Bundy: Oh, yeah. I was so I was a swing. Um, and we all know what a swing is, yeah. Like understudy for the chorus for and and then understudy sometimes for other lead parts. Um, and this was the second time I swung, so I think my advice to my younger self would be have fun, girl. I was taking everything real seriously. Which is good. Yeah, you know, it's a job. That's right. But then sometimes you're sometimes I went on for this guy. I'm a I'm a lady. That's uh that was a guy. It was, you know, it was it was a thing that I'd literally never watched before. So yeah, just have more fun. Have more fun. Thank you. And jump rope when you can. Jump rope all the time, yeah.

[35:34] Caitlin Hornick: Incredible. Let's do a little lightning round. What do we think? Yeah. We're gonna play past the mic as well. Um I'm gonna ask something, and you're just gonna go one at a time and give me your answer. It's all legally blonde related, obviously. Um you want to start us off?

[35:54] Christian Borle: I don't care. Yes, I do. I love that. Thank you. Um favorite song in the show.

[36:04] Laura Bell Bundy: Wow. It's a lightning round. Uh oh my god, you guys. So much better. So much better. What you want. With honorable mention, I really like Love and War, which turned into positive. Remember Love and War? Love and War was good. Oh my god, for its sticking ability. Yes. That got us going.

[36:36] Kevin Pariseau: I have to say what you want, only because I got to do two featured bits in it. Yes. And it was my favorite number.

[36:44] Christian Borle: What? What? Oh, yes. That's uh the only thing I'll ever be re it'll be on my tombstone. It'll say, Here lies Kevin Parasso. Welcome to Hobbit.

[37:08] Orfeh: It's everybody's favorite. I love a B-side. I'm gonna go with Take It Like a Man. I will I I always loved I mean watching these two work is is always wonderful. And it really was like such a beautiful it's such a beautiful moment in the show. And I would get chills watching it, and I loved it. That's my favorite.

[37:29] Kate Shindle: I agree, that's what I was gonna say. I mean, I feel like I yeah, I it's really hard because there's so many good ones, but take it like a man, I always loved it. And also not for nothing. Even though I hated it when they first changed the lyric to drop the top and just drive. I also love the ballad. So beautiful and so angsty.

[37:54] Caitlin Hornick: Round two. Oh let's go back round the next slide. Oh yeah, I love it. Favorite character.

[38:07] Christian Borle: What's we say? Carlos.

[38:11] Orfeh: Dean of Harvard.

[38:13] Laura Bell Bundy: Kiki the hairstylist, Avi.

[38:15] Kevin Pariseau: And Sunday Pedomeda.

[38:19] Kate Shindle: Um the swings.

[38:22] Lindsay Nicole Chambers: Courtney.

[38:25] Laura Bell Bundy: Paulet.

[38:26] Christian Borle: Oh woods. And lastly, would Elle get into Harvard today?

[38:38] Caitlin Hornick: Let's top politics. Everyone's favorite quote.

[38:44] Christian Borle: That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. We're going with you. Yes. Yes. Yes. She needs to get into Harvard. That's the right answer. Multicultural of the Incredible.

[39:05] Caitlin Hornick: Um, our time together is slowly coming to an end. Um, I know, we're having so much fun. Um, one final question. You're allowed to say no. If we clear out these chairs, can we do a bend and snap together? I've never done a bend and snap together. First time if Kate does. If you do want to. Come on. Well, I'm just gonna be able to do that.

[39:33] Laura Bell Bundy: Yeah. As I as I teach so much, we teach the bend and snap. But now I do an adult dance class when we bend, we snap. That is getting adults moving a little bit more. You gotta keep everyone happy.

[39:50] Christian Borle: I love that. Sure. Yeah, I want Christian bend and snap. Alright. Can we rate them on that? No, no, no, no, no. This is a group of the group. Let's do it. Paul, do you want to show us? Like lead the way?

[40:07] Kevin Pariseau: It has to be done. Do we have something to draw? Oh, a water bottle. Yeah, water.

[40:16] Laura Bell Bundy: Oh god, everything hurts. Jesus! Why don't you get it? Have fun, everyone. This is your audition. I'm not gonna use my head. I'm pretty sure it's downstairs before. Well, we're gonna say that's what it is. It's the blood flow. Anyway, sorry. Let's do it, ready? One, two, three. We bend!

[41:02] Christian Borle: Booked it, nailed it, booked and blessed. Incredible. Yes. Thank you all so much for being with us. We're gonna get a group. And just stay in your seats for a few more minutes while we uh navigate our photo. But thank you so much for being with us. Thanks for listening. Make sure to like and follow this podcast wherever you are checking it out now. Go to the museum of broadway.com to discover more events like this one and to get tickets to the museum itself, and head over to Broadway Podcast Network.com to discover more content you didn't know you needed.