Legally Blonde

She’s smarter than they think. Stronger than they know. And ready to prove everyone wrong—in heels. Elle Woods has it all: style, charm, and a perfectly pink plan to marry her college sweetheart, Warner Huntington III. But when he dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle doesn’t get mad—she gets into Harvard Law. What begins as a quest to win back her ex quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery, proving that you don’t have to choose between being smart and being yourself.

Legally Blonde is the feel-good, high-energy musical that celebrates confidence, friendship, and finding your own voice. Nominated for seven Tony Awards, the musical based on the smash hit Reese Witherspoon movie reminds audiences that being yourself never goes out of style. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, Elle Woods is pure joy. Because smart is the new pink.

A preshow talk is offered in the West Lobby 30 minutes prior to curtain.

Listen to the original Broadway cast recording on Spotify.

If ticket prices are keeping you away from this show, please fill out this form. We have Playhouse donors who have generously supported a limited number of pay-what-you-can tickets for distribution. Requests should be made prior to opening night.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays & 2:00 PM Saturdays and Sundays excluding Saturday, July 11
Theatre:
Signature Series in the John Viars Theatre
Run Time:
TBD
Content Advisory:
The Playhouse does not rate subject matter as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about content, age appropriateness, or other aspects of the show (ie strobe lights and other theatrical effects), please contact the ticket office at 515.277.6261.

Company

  • Enid

    Annika Baker

    Enid
  • Ensemble

    Danielle Bax

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Dakota Betts

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Maggie Blanchard

    Ensemble
  • Vivienne

    Camryn Caruso

    Vivienne
  • Ensemble

    Lucy Daniels

    Ensemble
  • Margot

    Maddie Davis

    Margot
  • Ensemble

    Ethan Fonseca

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Josie Gillette

    Ensemble
  • Pilar

    Tiara Green

    Pilar
  • Ensemble

    Riley Holthaus

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Lucille Hopkins

    Ensemble
  • Emmett

    Will Johnson

    Emmett
  • Brooke

    Jordyn Johnstad

    Brooke
  • Ensemble

    Xavier Lago

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Mio Legaspie

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Gabby Leonard

    Ensemble
  • Callahan

    Mark Mangum

    Callahan
  • Ensemble

    Joy Mielke-Johnson

    Ensemble
  • Elle Woods

    Melina Murrane

    Elle Woods
  • Serena

    Abby Raper

    Serena
  • Warner

    Gavin Runles

    Warner
  • Ensemble

    Matthew Sheaffer

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Andrew Smalley

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Carter Sousa

    Ensemble
  • Ensemble

    Davis Thompson

    Ensemble
  • Kyle

    Dane Van Brocklin

    Kyle
  • Paulette

    Hannah Zepeda

    Paulette
  • Director / Choreographer

    Alison Shafer

    Director / Choreographer
  • Music Director

    Brenton Brown

    Music Director
  • Scenic Designer

    Nicholas Amundson

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Angela Lampe

    Costume Designer
  • Lightning Designer

    Chris Hanian

    Lightning Designer
  • Sound Designer

    Ayat Yousif

    Sound Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Pluto Evans

    Properties Designer
  • Intimacy Director

    Lyndsy Darland

    Intimacy Director
  • Stage Manager

    Greg Millar

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Director

    Sierra Coleman

    Assistant Director
  • Assistant Choreographer

    Sam Stephen

    Assistant Choreographer
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Katherine Crowley

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Kerry Doyen

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Playhouse Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Playhouse Artistic Director

Photos/Video

  • Melina Murrane is Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

  • Hannah Zepeda is Paulette and Melina Murrane is Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • (Left to right) Tiara Green is Pilar, Melina Murrane is Elle Woods, Maddie Davis is Margot, and Abby Raper is Serena in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Hannah Zepeda is Paulette and Melina Murrane is Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Melina Murrane is Elle Woods and Will C Johnson is Emmett in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • (Left to right) Tiara Green is Pilar, Melina Murrane is Elle Woods, Maddie Davis is Margot, and Abby Raper is Serena in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Hannah Zepeda is Paulette and Melina Murrane is Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • (Left to right) Tiara Green is Pilar, Melina Murrane is Elle Woods, Maddie Davis is Margot, and Abby Raper is Serena in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • Hannah Zepeda is Paulette and Melina Murrane is Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: July 26, 2026
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Presents Legally Blonde
Photos available at https://dmplayhouse.com/events/legally-blonde/
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS LEGALLY BLONDE
The musical where staying true to yourself is always in style

 Des Moines, IA – June 22, 2026 – The Des Moines Playhouse presents the Broadway musical Legally Blonde, July 10-26, 2026, in the John Viars Theatre. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. Legally Blonde is sponsored by EMC Insurance.

She’s smarter than they think, stronger than they know, and ready to prove everyone wrong, in heels. Elle Woods has it all: style, charm, and a perfectly pink plan to marry her college sweetheart, Warner Huntington III. But when he dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle doesn’t get mad, she gets into Harvard Law. What begins as a quest to win back her ex quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery, proving that you don’t have to choose between being smart and being yourself.

The Playhouse cast includes Annika Baker, Danielle Bax, Dakota Betts, Maggie Blanchard, Camryn Caruso, Lucy Daniels, Maddie Davis, Ethan Fonseca, Josie Gillette, Tiara Green, Riley Holthaus, Lucille Hopkins, Will C Johnson, Jordyn Johnstad, Xavier Lago, Mio Legaspie, Gabby Leonard, Mark Mangum, Joy Mielke-Johnson, Melina Murrane, Abby Raper, Gavin Runles, Matthew Sheaffer, Andrew Samlley, Carter Sousa, Davis Thompson, Dane Van Brocklin, and Hannah Zepeda. Legally Blonde is directed and choreographed by Alison Shafer with music direction by Brenton Brown, scenic design by Nicholas Amundson, costume design by Angela Lampe, and lighting design by Chris Hanian.

The Playhouse mission, as one of Iowa's largest and oldest producing theatres, is to create extraordinary, shared experiences through live theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. 

Legally Blonde Performances
July 10-26, 2026
7:30 PM Wednesdays-Saturdays
2:00 PM Sundays
ADDED SHOWS 2:00 PM Saturdays, July 18 & 25

The IRIS Sensation Team will provide audio description at the 2:00 PM, Sunday, July 19, performance. ASL interpretation will be provided at the 7:30 PM, Saturday, July 11, performance. Closed captioning is provided at all performances. These services are free. Requests should be made through The Playhouse ticket office.

Legally Blonde Tickets 
Tickets start at $29
To purchase: Dmplayhouse.com, 515.277.6261, or Des Moines Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312
Ticket office hours: Noon-5:00 PM, Tuesdays-Fridays, and 90 minutes prior curtain on show days

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Show Credits

Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin • Book by Heather Hach • Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture • Legally Blonde is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre international (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.MTIShows.com.

Sponsored by

  • EMC Insurance