Local Teen to Perform in Broadway Workshop Production

The character of Elle Woods in the book Legally Blonde is determined to succeed. And so is Sophie Hintze.

Hintze, a 15-year-old ninth grader at Gelinas Junior High, has been cast in Broadway Workshop's production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, which will run from May 18 to May 20 at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City.

When she learned she'd been chosen, "my whole family was screaming and jumping up and down!" she said in an email to Patch. "Seeing my name on the cast list was a dream come true."

Hintze has been in all three school musicals during her time at Gelinas; she has played Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in 2010, Bet in Oliver! in 2011, and a Royal Wife in The King and I in 2012. She regularly takes acting, singing and dancing lessons.

On Feb. 16, she learned she'd been cast in the show. She will play multiple parts, including the roles of Elle’s mom and Kiki the hair colorist, and a Delta Nu, an inmate, and a Harvard student.

"The rehearsals are amazing!" Hintze said. "I was blown away the first time I heard and saw the cast act, sing, and dance. I love every second of rehearsals and I am learning so much from everyone around me. It is such a great environment to be in."

The show's director, Marc Tumminelli, called Hintze "an absolute joy" to watch onstage.

"She has such a strong sense of comedy and she is coming up with brilliant characters in the rehearsal room," Tumminelli said. "Legally Blonde is a true ensemble show and we really rely on the actors to bring a lot to the table in order to make the show come to life. Sophie is just hysterical in the show, especially in her feature as Elle's mom."

Hintze was one of 200 teens who auditioned for the show; two casts of 25 were selected from that pool of talent to eventually put on four performances.

"The talent level in this show is so tremendous," Tumminelli said. "Every person who made it to the final casting is someone to really watch out for."

Based on the book by Amanda Brown, Broadway Workshop's Legally Blonde: The Musical is the first New York production of the show since its Broadway run in 2007. For showtimes and  ticket information, visit www.BroadwayWorkshop.com.