Nikki Snelson returns to direct LEGALLY BLONDE at the Elder Conservatorium!
A fabulously fun award-winning show based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde is hitting the streets of Adelaide tomorrow!
The musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances, this production is not one to miss. The students of the Elder Conservatorium of Music have been working hard alongside Broadway legend and the show’s director Nikki Snelson to whip this show into shape ahead of its opening night.
Nikki Snelson is a director, choreographer and actress working on Broadway and beyond for the last 25 years. She received her training in Musical Theatre from Boston Conservatory. She has directed, choreographed, and taught in Argentina, Chile, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Ireland, Scotland, Paris, London and many more. She is an artist in residence at Singapore’s famed theatre school, Lasalle College of the Arts.
As an actress, Nikki is most recognized for her performance of Brooke Wyndham in the original Broadway and MTV cast of Legally Blonde. She originated the role of Winnie Tate in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun (starring Bernadette Peters). She was also seen on Broadway in Sweet Charity (starring Christina Applegate). Nikki played Cassie in the National Tour of A Chorus Line and also performed in the Broadway National Tours of Beauty And The Beast, Show Boat, Hello Dolly, and Jonathan Larson’s tick tick…BOOM! as Susan. Snelson originated the role of The Mad Hatter in Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland. Nikki played Velma in Chicago at Maine State Theater and Sally Bowles in Cabaret at The Napa Valley Opera House.
Her directing credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’, And The World Goes Round, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer, Pajama Game, Cabaret, Legally Blonde, and A Chorus Line. Nikki has choreographed for Elton John’s Life Ball in Vienna, The Young and the Restless, The Miss America Pageant and the upcoming The Funny Dance Show on E!
Can you tell me about your history with performing?
Nikki: I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where I was at home in second grade with a really bad sickness and the doctors couldn’t find a cure for it for several weeks, so my mom started bringing me home VHS tapes of things like Grease and Singing in the Rain. I fell in love with all those characters, specifically Cyd Charisse, and I decided that that was something I wanted to do, so my mother put me in dance lessons. And pretty quickly I fell in love with that artform. When I was about 14 years old my dance teacher told me I’d probably have to sing if I wanted to do this for a living, so she had me sing and she all but told me I was terrible, and frankly nobody tells me I’m terrible at anything – that lights a big fire under me! So I knuckled down and tried really hard to become a really good singer, and about a year later I sang for her, and she said, “Oh, oh ok. Aright, you can do this.” And then I just started taking every class, every workshop, getting all the information and knowledge that I could, and that took me to the Boston Conservatory to study Musical Theatre. But I left the Boston Conservatory to go on tour with Hello Dolly, with Carol Channing. I’ve had awesome experience since, but those life lessons I that learned on the road with Carol Channing, and working with people like Bernadette Peters and Liza Minnelli and real legends, is where I built the foundation for the career that I have now.
How have you found revisiting the musical?
Nikki: I have been super lucky to revisit the musical several times. I was a part of the very original cast that did all of the workshops and readings. And then I was lucky to be part of the original Broadway cast and carry that on. Then I went back to my hometown where I got my equity card, to play Brooke one last time, which was just magical, so all of my extended family and friends, and people who couldn’t make it to New York got to see me play the part in the very spot that got me my career in the first place. I have directed and choreographed the show several times. This is kind of an interesting experience because all these years later I think some of the themes of Legally Blonde, which are about being true to yourself, and not letting other people tell you what your self-worth is, and not being taken advantage of in any way, sexual or other, are really ringing true right now, even more so than they did in 2007. The students at Elder Conservatorium are absolutely slaying the game and making this whole experience next level for me.
What has been the most challenging part of stepping into a directorial role?
Nikki: [laughs] When I first started directing and choreographing, it was because there were a couple missteps in my career as an actress where I fell prey to other people letting me do all of the background work, and putting in all the time, and then in the end giving the part to someone else. So I felt like I didn’t have full control over my career, and I didn’t want to feel that way. I didn’t want to feel like other people were telling me what I was worth. So I thought in my head how wonderful if I can produce, direct, choreograph, and be in charge then no one will ever be able to tell me my self-worth. Well, ironically, the challenge that I have now being a director is there’s only so much I can do. And on opening night I have to let them go with God, and be up there on that stage, and they are the ones that are in power in the end. So it’s actually a double edge sword being the director. I can do all the work and all the prep and take them on the journey and get them there, but in the end it really becomes their show.
The original film Legally Blonde was released over 20 years ago – why do you think the story still resonates so strongly?
Nikki: At the heart of everything, the show is about being true to yourself, loving yourself, giving yourself grace, and being kind to others, and that all other positivity will come to you because of it. There’s a line about “being true to yourself never goes out of style” and that is what Legally Blonde is at its heart and soul.
What can audiences expect from the Elder Con’s production?
Nikki: What’s wonderful about me being able to pass down the message and my journey of Legally Blonde is that I get to pass down the original information, put my twist on it, and let the students at Elder Conservatorium put their twist on it, which makes for a perfect storm. We get the best of the best from everybody, and the show is going to be a big, pink, bombastic romp, complete with dogs and high notes, and fabulous dancing, and awesome acting, and the next generation of incredible Australian musical theatre talent.
Can you sum up Legally Blonde in 3 words?
Nikki: High-energy, electric, heart-warming.
Legally Blonde opens on September 29th at the Scott Theatre, University of Adelaide.
Click here to book tickets.
