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‘Legally Blonde the Musical’ opens in Tupper Lake this weekend

Raegan Fritts rehearses as lead character Elle Woods on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

TUPPER LAKE — The Tupper Lake Red and Black Players will be performing “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Tupper Lake Middle/High School this weekend.

Shows on March 22 and 23 are at 7 p.m., with the March 24 show at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens, available at the door. Children 5 and under will be admitted for free. There will be flowers and a bake sale in the lobby before curtain and during the intermission of each show.

Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit 2001 movie, “Legally Blonde The Musical” follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her to attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and Warner. With the support of some new friends, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world,” a show press release stated.

For four seniors, this show is a bittersweet one. Raegan Fritts, Cody Auclair, Shae Arsenault and Liza Crouse are all graduating this year. They’ve known each other nearly all their lives, and have all been involved in theater for around eight years.

Music was always a part of life for Fritts, but she jumped into theater in elementary school at the suggestion of her music teacher.

Shae Arsenault, who plays Paulette, sings during rehearsal on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

“I was like, ‘You know what, why not?’ and I just kept doing it and here I am,” she said.

Arsenault said that when she started theater in fourth grade, she cried when she got ensemble and no lines. She persisted, however, and got bigger and bigger roles each year.

“It just kept making the highlight of my year,” she said.

For Auclair, theater was something that he tried for fun, making ensemble for his first production like Arsenault. The next year, he got the role of a villain, and his time in theater snowballed to today, playing a major character in the show.

“I definitely get nervous, but that’s the rush you need,” he said.

Cody Auclair, playing Emmet, sings a solo at Tuesday’s rehearsal of “Legally Blonde the Musical.” (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

Crouse, who is on stage crew, first tried being on stage in fifth grade. Though dramatic, her stage fright made it too difficult to be in the spotlight.

“I’ve kind of stuck with crew ever since because I enjoyed it way more,” she said.

The cast features Raegan Fritts as Elle Woods, Cody Auclair as Emmett, Shae Arsenault as Paulette, Ayden Rabideau as Professor Callahan, Sophia Staves as Vivienne, Bryce Richer as Warner, Nevaeh Toohey as Enid, Hannah Barber as Aaron, Ash Barber as Padamadan, Caydence Flagg as Serena, Aubrey Nadeau as Margot, Lacey Pickering as Pilar, Ava Facteau as Brooke, and the following students in various other roles: Eliza Bujold, Haylee Callaghan, Rain Skiff, Lily Wilber, Ghost Switzer, John Fallon, Niko LaVigne, Oliver Roberts, Noah Switzer, Aubrey Beaulieu, Joelle Bedore, Jack Dukette, Kaileigh Dukette, Gabby Frenette, Tori Hudak, Yana Kucipak, Lance Schaffer and Madison Strack.

Stage crew includes Heather Bujold, Hannah Callaghan, Liza Crouse, Morgan Lohr, Alison Richer, Claire Snye, and Chloe Wilson. Lighting crew are Sawyer Clark, Maria Martinez-Gates and Mariah Young.

Raegan Fritts playing Elle Woods, and Bryce Richer playing Warner, rehearse a scene together at Tuesday’s rehearsal of “Legally Blonde the Musical." (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

Raegan Fritts takes center stage. (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

Caydence Flaff playing Serena, Lacey Pickering playing Pilar, Eliza Bujold playing Leilani and Aubrey Nadeau playing Margot perform a synchronized scene during rehearsal Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Oliver Reil)

Jack Dukette playing Lowell, Oliver Roberts playing Winthrop and Lance Schaffer playing Pforzheimer decide Elle Woods’ acceptance into Harvard at Tuesday’s rehearsal. (Enterprise photo —Oliver Reil)

Left to right, front: Cody Auclair playing Emmet, Raegan Fritts playing Elle Woods, Ash Barber playing Padamadan, Hannah Barber playing Aaron and Sophie Staves playing Vivienne perform a contentious scene during Tuesday’s rehearsal. (Enterprise photo —Oliver Reil)

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