Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the final production of its 2024 season, Legally Blonde: The Musical, in the Center Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, December 19 - 29. Legally Blonde: The Musical, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach, is directed by Mandy Modic, choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn and music directed by Linda Madonia. The schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. with a press opening Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule includes Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with an additional performance on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
This much fun should be illegal! Legally Blonde: The Musical, based on the cult classic film, shares the story of Elle Woods and her faithful pup, Bruiser on their journey from Southern California roots to the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School. Join Elle as she learns life’s important lessons on the subjects of love, friendship, the law and self-respect.
The cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical includes, in alphabetical order: Eric Amundson (he/him, ensemble/U/S Emmett); Lanja Andriamihaja (she/her, Kate/ensemble); Michael Davis Arnold (he/him, Chad/Dewey/ensemble); Kiana Beverly (she/her, ensemble); Sabrina Bowen (she/her, Margot/ensemble); Claire Campbell (she/her, ensemble/dance captain); Crystal Claros (any with respect, Vivienne Kensington); Connor Crumley (she/her, swing); Riley Dominiak (she/her, Mom/ensemble/U/S Vivienne); Isaiah Engram (he/they, Kyle/ensemble); Lili Galluzzo (she/they, Chutney/ensemble/U/S Trio); Amanda Handegan (she/her, Brooke Wyndam); Ibrahim Khan (he/him, Sandeep/ensemble); Will Leonard (he/him, Elle’s Dad/ensemble/U/S Professor Callahan/U/SKyle); Víctor López (any with respect, Carlos/ensemble); Matthew Millin (he/him, ensemble); David Moreland (he/him, Emmett Forrest); Khaki Pixley (she/her, Paulette Buonofonte); Daniel Rausch (he/him, Warner Huntington III); Madison Jaffe-Richter (she/her, ensemble/U/S Elle); Connor Ripperger (he/they, Aaron/ensemble/U/S Warner); Selena Robinson (she/her, Pilar/ensemble); Morgan Schoenecker (she/her, Serena/ensemble/U/S Brooke); Kayla Shipman (she/her, Elle Woods); Ava Stovall (she/her, Enid/ensemble/U/S Paulette); Alex Villaseñor (he/him, Nikos/ensemble/U/S Carlos); Korey White (he/him, Professor Callahan).
Legally Blonde: The Musical’s creative team is Mandy Modic (she/her, director); Mollyanne Nunn (she/her, choreographer); Linda Madonia (she/her, music director); Amber Wuttke (she/her, fight/intimacy choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Liv Meinders (she/her, stage manager); Olive Ferguson (she/her, assistant stage manager); Shane Cinal (he/him, scenic designer); Ab Rieve (they/them, props designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, costume designer); Reve Smith (they/them, wardrobe head); Alice Salazar (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Chelsea Lynn (she/her, lighting designer); Riley Woods (they/them, ME and board programmer); Matthew R. Chase (he/him, sound designer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer); Andersonville Scenic Studios (scene shop); Chris Chase (he/him, production manager) and Katie Meine (she/her, company manager).
“Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea”
Immediately following the Sunday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 26 performances , audiences may join musical theater historian Thomas M. Shea, author of “Broadway’s Most Wanted,” for a post-show talk exploring the behind-the-scenes history of Legally Blonde: The Musical.
Binny’s Broadway Lounge
Music Theater Works’ Donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Binny’s Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and offers complimentary drinks and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Legally Blonde: The Musical, Friday, Dec. 20 (opens at 6 p.m.) and Saturday, Dec. 22 (opens at 1 p.m.).
ASL Interpreted Performance
The Friday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted.
ABOUT MANDY MODIC, DIRECTOR
Mandy Modic is so excited to now be on the creative team at the theater where she had her first professional acting gig. Some favorite credits: Matilda (director/choreographer) Cinderella and The Sound of Music (choreographer/associate director), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Beauty and the Beast, Something Rotten, 42nd Street, State Fair, Newsies, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (choreographer). Modic is passionate about educational theater and has helped build musical theater programs abroad in Shanghai, China and Lima, Peru. As a performer, she has toured and performed at various theaters around the country, most recently seen performing in Guys and Dolls at Drury Lane Theatre.
ABOUT MOLLYANNE NUNN, CHOREOGRAPHER
Mollyanne Nunn is thrilled to be returning to Music Theater Works where she was last seen in Pippin (co-choreographer/ensemble) and Mamma Mia! (ensemble). Recent theatre credits include The Love Object (The Story Theatre), A Chorus Line (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Can-Can, The Musical (Porchlight Music Theatre), and Lysistrata Jones (Refuge Theatre Project). Other recent credits include Hairspray (Paramount), Rent and Hair (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Swing and The Wizard of Oz (Little Theatre on the Square), Next to Normal (Towle Theatre), The Crystal Spider (Haven Theatre), and Within (Visceral Dance Chicago). She teaches Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, and musical theatre at Dovetail Studios. She is also a first company member of Ardent Dance Company and rehearsal director for Identity Performing Arts. Nunn is a graduate from Columbia College Chicago where she earned her BFA in musical theatre.
ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Music Theater Works where she has previously worked on Shrek the Musical, Mamma Mia! and Camelot. Other recent projects include; Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at Mercury Theater Chicago. Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line at Porchlight Music Theatre. Madonia also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians for Porchlight Music Theatre, Music Theater Works and Teatro Zinzanni. She is the vocal coach for the master’s degree program in music theatre pedagogy at Carthage College and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of theatre education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.
COMING UP FROM MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works announced its 2025 season in August. The 45th season includes Guys and Dolls, March 6 - 30, 2025; Fiddler on the Roof, August 7 - 17, 2025; Godspell, October 23 - November 16, 2025 and a fourth production to be named running December 18, 2025 - January 4, 2026. Current season ticket holders may renew for the 2025 season now with new subscription sales available now with single tickets for all the 2025 productions going on sale Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 at 12 p.m. For more information on the 45th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com.
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in
1980. During its 44-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.
JOYCE SAXON is the 2024 Music Theater Works Season Sponsor.
Music Theater Works presents
Legally Blonde: The Musical
December 19 - 29
Center Theatre
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Book by Heather Hach
Directed by Mandy Modic
Choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn
Music Directed by Linda Madonia
Show dates and times:
● Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. (Preview)
● Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. (Press Performance), Binny’s Broadway Lounge opens at 6 p.m.
● Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
● Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
● Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge opens at 1 p.m./“Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea”
● Thursday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. - “Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea”
● Friday, Dec. 27- 7:30 p.m. – ASL Interpreted
● Saturday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m.
● Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
● Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $19.50 to $106, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half- price.
Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300
Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com
Total Run Time (currently): Two hours and 20 minutes including the intermission
MUSIC THEATER WORKS 2025 SEASON
GUYS AND DOLLS
North Theatre
March 6 – 30, 2025
Press Night: Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
Music Theater Works’ season kicks off with what many believe is the “perfect musical” with every song in its score a part of the American musical canon. GUYS AND DOLLS whisks audiences from Manhattan to Havana and back again with career gambler Sky Masterson, “Save-A-Soul” missionary Sarah Brown, Adelaide, Nathan Detroit and others in this exuberant, big, brassy musical. Join Music Theater Works at the Hot Box Club onstage for an unforgettable time.
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Directed by Sasha Gerritson
Music Directed by Linda Madonia
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Center Theatre
August 7 – 17, 2025
Press Night: Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF shares the happiness and tears of a tight-knit Jewish community in Czarist Russia. Tevye, the town’s milkman, finds the long-held traditions that define his faith and family are threatened by a modern world that is encroaching on his beloved Anatevka. Don’t miss this lush and memorable score as it’s performed by Music Theater Works with a stellar cast and full orchestra.
Book by Joseph Stein
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Music by Jerry Bock
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Music Directed by Michael McBride
GODSPELL
North Theatre
October 23 – November 16, 2025
Press Night: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
Day by day for more than 50 years, audiences have delighted in this modern musical fable that weaves together music, improv and infectious pop and rock songs. This GODSPELL finds a fractured and disconnected community gathered at a local diner discovering the transformative power of forgiveness and embracing radical love.
Production Sponsor: Whirled Peas Foundation In Partnership with Curt’s Cafe
Book by John Michael Tebelak
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Music by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Matthew Silar
Music Directed by Justin Kono
PRODUCTION NUMBER 4
December 18, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Press Night: Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
Production 4 will be announced January 6, 2025.
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Kyle A. Dougan
Music Directed by Michael McBride