‘Blonde’ Ambitions

Makari Nealy should be dancing.

It’s something that is evident to the 18-year-old Palatka resident who has been on stage since she was 5.

Nealy is a member of the cast that will bring “Legally Blonde The Musical” to the Florida School of the Arts Main Stage in Palatka this weekend.

Cast as lead dancer, Nealy also has the roles of Dana of the Delta Nu sorority, a member of Brooke Windams’ workout routines and a cashier for a salon, all in the two-hour-and-15-minute show.

“It is a lot to handle,” Nealy said. “I’m used to it because of my high school theater experience and having a lot of roles to play.”

Written by Heather Hach with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, the musical is based on the 2001 film “Legally Blonde” and on the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown.

Featuring large ensemble song-and-dance numbers, the show tells the story of sorority girl Elle Woods who chases her ex-boyfriend all the way to Harvard Law School in hopes of winning him back. Her journey takes an unusual turn when she ends up defending an exercise mogul on trial for murder, all while staying true to herself and beating her own expectations.

Showtimes will be 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Johns River State College, 5001 St. Johns Ave. in Palatka. Tickets, which cost $10, are available in advance with a service fee at http://SJRstate.edu or at the box office one hour prior to showtime.

For details, call 386-312-4300 or visit FloArts.

Although different productions of this play have been wildly popular, Nealy doesn’t experience stage fright, something she credits to her long tenure in being on stage.

“What I love the most about being on stage is being able to dance and inspire younger girls and boys,” the first-year FloArts student said. “My favorite show I’ve done so far was ‘Evening of Dance.’”

Ryan Mahannah, FloArts’ professor of acting and the play’s director, said show-goers will have time to reflect on the timeless message at the heart of Woods’ vibrant story.

“At its core, ‘Legally Blonde’ is a celebration of authenticity and the power of staying true to oneself,” he said. “In a world often defined by preconceived notions and societal expectations, the journey of Elle Woods serves as a poignant reminder that embracing our true selves is not only liberating but also essential for our personal growth and fulfillment.”

The weekend show is Mahannah’s first musical at FloArts, but he said he has found it to be an exhilarating journey.

“Watching our talented students bring this beloved story to life with passion and dedication has been nothing short of amazing,” he said. “I can’t wait for audiences to witness their stellar performances and be swept away by the magic of the production. From the music to the choreography to the acting to the design elements, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

Mahannah also directed the show “Wait Until Dark” in September. Some of his favorite musicals under his direction include “Heathers,” “First Date,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Frozen Jr.”

Andrea Montez, the choreographer for this weekend’s musical, found herself delving into research inspired by the production’s early 2000s setting.

“Drawing from the pop culture and films of that era, I crafted choreography to highlight the talented cast and bring the characters they portray to life on stage,” she said. “With several high-energy dance numbers, ranging from jump ropes to bending and snapping on cue, I aimed to give this vibrant musical the choreographic treatment it deserves. My approach was to maintain industry-standard dance sequences, showcasing the performers at FloArts.”

Nealy, who graduated from Palatka Junior-Senior High School in 2023, was part of the school’s Musical Theater Department under the direction of Jim Pignato. Her plans after FloArts include majoring in dance to earn a bachelor’s degree at Florida State University.

“I believe show-goers will (get lost in) this show because it’s a high-energy musical that has all the emotion of being happy, angry, sad and mad,” she said. “It’s a very vibrant show where everyone will just stay captivated by it.”

Musical Director Kandie Smith said the show is a party for show-goers’ eyes, ears and hearts. She thinks the audience is going to be blown away by the talent pool this show offers.

“The students are doing a phenomenal job with the vibrant and catchy music,” she said. “The vocals can be quite challenging, especially for the characters of Elle and Brooke, and our leading ladies (Christi Arnold as Elle and Elisa Crivelli as Brooke) are simply spectacular in these roles.

“I am certain they are going to walk away humming one of the many fantastic tunes from the score,” she said.