State High Thespians Present Legally Blonde

Dennis Thawng, Staff Writer

February 26, 2026

Elle Woods (Hannah Smith) passionately makes her case to Emmet Forrest (Roman Cienfuegos) during a heartfelt exchange in the play. The scene highlighted Elle’s growing confidence at Harvard. Emmet began to see her efforts and potential beyond first impressions. Smith noted that moments like these were crucial to the character’s journey, as they led to Elle “finding herself and realizing her potential and ability,” Smith said.

Dennis Thawng

Sophomore Claire Campbell sings the song “Ireland” in Legally Blonde, the Thespians’ winter musical. Campbell, who played Paulette, shared her dreams of escaping her mundane life for a romanticized life in Ireland with a handsome gentleman. Campbell shared her sense of relief after successfully hitting her high note during the performance. “This show was so incredible and it was such an honor to work alongside such a great community of co-stars and technical creators. This moment I felt so much relief after hitting my highest belt of the show. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Campbell said. (Dennis Thawng)

Elle Woods (Senior Hannah Smith) reacts after being dumped by her boyfriend Warner, played by senior Tim Letwin, during a pivotal scene in the play. The emotional moment marked the beginning of Elle’s journey toward independence and proving herself. (Dennis Thawng)

Elle Woods (Hannah Smith) is joined by the Delta Nu sisters during the song “What You Want.” The sequence was the largest in the show, requiring intense vocal work and choreography. Smith described the final pose as a relief, stating, “We stood there for a while, catching our breath, before I had to run offstage and do another quick change into a different costume.” (Dennis Thawng)

Members of the Delta Nu sisters, Pilar (Sophomore Amaris King), Serena (Junior Anna Christopher), and Margot (Freshman Gabriella Krentzman) (left to right) lead the ensemble with pom-poms in hand during a lively scene from Legally Blonde. For Christopher, the opportunity to perform such an extensive choreography was a highlight of the production. “I’m a big dancer, so the opportunity to get to perform a lot of great choreo was very special to me,” Christopher shared, emphasizing the dedication required to keep the movement sharp and synchronized. (Dennis Thawng)

Elle Woods (Hannah Smith) shares a moment with Emmet Forrest (Roman Cienfuegos) during an important part of the play. Their conversation marked a turning point for Elle as she began to believe in herself thanks to Emmet’s encouragement and support. (Dennis Thawng)

Emmet Forrest (Roman Cienfuegos) sits at a desk with props. Cienfuegos spoke on his thoughts about the musical. “Overall, I think the play went pretty well and I enjoyed my role,” Cienfuegos said. In the play, Emmet Forrest helped Elle Woods, who was often underestimated, discover her true potential. (Dennis Thawng)

Margot (Krentzman), Serena (Christopher), and Pilar (King) (left to right) perform on stage. (Dennis Thawng)

Junior Ryder Cunningham, as Grandmaster Chad, sings on stage as background dancers shimmy offstage. Cunningham took on the challenge of playing multiple roles. Along with Grandmaster Chad, he stepped into the Kyle role, as well as being a part of the ensemble. (Dennis Thawng)

Paulette (Campbell) and Elle Woods (Smith) share a heartfelt moment bonding over life and love in the hair salon. In the moment, Paulettte served as a voice of reason, helping Elle evaluate a potentially rash decision before she had committed to it. (Dennis Thawng)

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