The Washington University Performing Arts Department is kicking off its 2019-2020 season with a musical that proves that a woman can accomplish anything a man can. And she can do it in heels.

“Legally Blonde,” based on the 2001 film of the same name, opened on Broadway in 2007. With music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (“Mean Girls: The Musical”) and Laurence O’Keefe (“Heathers: The Musical”) and a book by Heather Hach (“Freaky Friday—2003 movie remake”), the musical serves as the first show in the Performing Arts Department’s (PAD) season of celebrating female writers.

The show follows ‘it’ girl Elle Woods as she embarks on a journey to win back the man of her dreams, even gaining admission to Harvard Law School to follow him there. Once she arrives, Elle discovers that there’s a lot more to herself than she once thought.

“I think in some ways the way that this play treats stereotypes or treats certain ways of labeling people by really kind of embracing and even expanding on the stereotype is very clever,” Director and Professor of Practice in Drama Annamaria Pileggi said. “Because it allows us to laugh, it gives us a little bit of a distance, but it also then—the play also kind of breaks those stereotypes and we see real humanity in all of the characters.”

Pileggi noted that 2019 is a unique time to produce “Legally Blonde,” as the show deals with issues of gender discrimination and sexual harrassment and assault, which can be seen through a new lens since the rise of the #MeToo movement.

For junior Emma Flannery, who plays Elle, telling a story of female empowerment has been a rewarding experience.

“I have definitely faced some challenges being a young woman on this campus,” she said. “And I think that being in a play that is a lot about the glass ceiling without being entirely about that has been super important to me.”

Flannery highlighted the fact that in order to discover the full breath of her intelligence and capabilities, Elle does not give up the parts of herself that fit the ‘dumb blonde’ stereotype.

“What I love about this piece is that at the end of it, Elle is definitely a more strong, independent woman but she never gives up the pink,” Flannery said. “She starts out in this sorority girl stereotype but she never quite gives it up, she just adds on something new and adds a new layer to herself.”

Being on a college campus, Wash. U. students have a unique opportunity to see “Legally Blonde” performed by people of similar age and with many similar experiences to that of the characters. Pileggi noted that working with young actors, who span from freshmen to graduate students, has given her a new perspective on the show.

“I think it’s unique to do this on a college campus,” she said. “A college campus that can relate to Greek life and can relate to the rigors of a place like Harvard. [Students] can enjoy the stereotypes that are being depicted but also be challenged by them. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us as the Washington University community to really hold the mirror up to ourselves…I think looking at it now with your 18-to-25-year-old self, it’s a different experience, because you’re living in the environment now.”

To Pileggi, the story of the “Legally Blonde” movie “lends itself to a musical” because it is “so theatrical.” And the musical is as well, featuring huge ensemble dance numbers and songs that will easily stick in audience members heads long after the curtain closes. The PAD’s production includes 26 actors, large, moving set pieces and 461 individual costume pieces, according to Pileggi.

Although producing such a large show has been a challenge, freshman Chloe Kilpatrick, who serves as one of three assistant stage managers, expressed excitement for the Wash. U. community to see how much the entire company has accomplished.

“I’m really excited for people to see what we’re capable of as a theatre department, because I’m just a first year, so it’s not like I’ve been a part of this for a long time, but I kind of dove right in,” Kilpatrick said. “And so it’s just been really wonderful seeing how professional this department is and what we’re capable of with such limited resources.”

Of the many components of the show, there’s one that proves to be a constant favorite among “Legally Blonde” casts, crews and audiences: the dogs.

The PAD’s production features two dogs: Tuco, a chihuahua, and Meatball, a bulldog, playing the roles of Bruiser and Rufus, respectively. Both dogs attended auditions in early September, during which they had to showcase that they could be handled in a bag and comfortably interact with people.

“They’ve been fun,” Flannery said. “They’ve definitely added some character to the production. Who doesn’t love to have dogs in the room? As a college student it’s great. I get to hold a dog as part of my extracurricular on a day-to-day basis.”

“Legally Blonde” runs Oct. 25 and 26 and Nov. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. Wash. U. students can obtain their free tickets at the Box Office in Mallinckrodt or over the phone at 314-935-6543.