Akela Craig
Art Director
Sunday May 18, Shrunken Heads Production Company lit up UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall with their performance of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” As a fully student-led organization open to all UCSB students, Shrunken Heads brings together performers from diverse academic backgrounds and varying levels of theatre experience.
Shrunken Heads’ production of “Legally Blonde” also featured several returning performers from the main cast of their previous show “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” — including Atalia Zahrndt and Joey Henschel in leading roles, and others in smaller parts. What made this production particularly unique, however, was that it was “whipped into shape” in just 24 hours.
The entire show was student-directed, choreographed, performed, and produced within the 24 hours before its performance — an accomplishment described in a promotional Instagram post as a “positively amazing musical feat.” A TikTok video posted by Shrunken Heads reveals a rehearsal schedule that began the evening of Saturday May 17, which included a scheduled sleep break from 5–8 a.m., followed by continued rehearsals and a planned dinner break before the 7 p.m. performance on Sunday May 18. Another TikTok video from the same account features one of the actors preparing for the overnight challenge by packing a duffel bag with essentials — including changes of clothes, shoes, and deodorant.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical,” like the movie, follows Elle Woods, a bubbly and fashion-forward sorority girl from UCLA, who must prove herself and her intelligence. When her boyfriend Warner breaks up with her to date someone “more serious,” Elle follows him to Harvard Law School to win him back.
What starts as a romantic pursuit soon transforms into a journey of self-discovery. Elle befriends teaching assistant Emmett (played by Eadrick Lohr-Kougl), helps her beautician friend Paulette (played by Zahrndt) to win a custody battle, and ultimately tackles a high-profile murder trial defending fitness guru Brooke Taylor Windham (played by Hi’ilei Robinson). Despite being underestimated by her peers and professors for her appearance and background, Elle’s determination, intellect, and unique perspective lead her to unexpected success.
Sofia Cheetham led the cast as Elle Woods, bringing strong vocals and a sweet, girly charisma to the role. Through her expressive delivery and clear command of the stage, Cheetham made the character genuine and endearing. The overall energy of the production was fun, lively, and engaging, though not without its bumps.
At times, the performance faltered; a line was stumbled over and mumbled during a solo in one of the musical numbers, suggesting it was forgotten, while some of the group vocals were slightly out of tune or out of sync. These minor hiccups didn’t seriously detract from the quality of the show, but they did temper the impressiveness of accomplishing such a production within 24 hours.
The set and props were minimal, appropriate given the show’s tight production timeline. The stage was sparsely furnished for most scenes, limited to a few chairs and a wooden door frame, painted in bright-but-patchy pink.
Scene changes were conveyed through the rearrangement of furniture combined with projections of digitally-created backgrounds: digital illustrations depicting locations such as a sorority house lawn, Harvard’s campus, a salon, a courtroom, or party settings. One party scene featured a projected backdrop of a night sky filled with softly-glowing yellow orbs, representing string lights. While the simplicity of the set sometimes felt limiting, it also added an earnest charm to the production’s scrappy, student-run spirit.
That sense of charm shone especially in the smaller comedic choices. Notably, Marshall Gluck’s dual role as both Elle Woods’ dog, Bruiser Woods, and Paulette’s dog, Rufus. In one memorable scene, as Paulette shows Elle a picture of Rufus, she reveals a framed headshot of Gluck himself, adding a humorous and self-aware touch to the performance.
Despite its imperfections, Shrunken Heads’ “Legally Blonde” was a testament to what a passionate and talented group of students can accomplish in a time crunch. The production’s scrappy creativity was a part of its charm. The audience response throughout the evening was enthusiastic, with plenty of laughter, cheers, and applause. The result of Shrunken Heads’ 24-hour rehearsal was a memorable production that radiated energy, heartfelt effort, and humor.