Photo Flash: Laura Bell Bundy Gets A Surprise On LEGALLY BLONDE Tour!

Laura Bell Bundy is currently starring in the Nashville stop of the LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, as the tour Elle Woods (Becky Gulsvig) takes her vacation. On the Opening Night Tues, June 23rd, in Nashville, Mrs. Betty Witherspoon, mother of actress Reese Witherspoon who created the role in the film version of LEGALLY BLONDE, came to the show and presented Laura with flowers during the curtain call. Laura Bell Bundy got some big laughs from the audience when she said, "I think all of us would like to thank the woman who gave birth to the woman who gave birth to Elle Woods!"

Bundy, who recently has relocated to Nashville to pursue a country music career, will perform as Elle Woods during all evening performances at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, June 23-28, 2009. Lauren Ashley Zakrin will perform during the matinee performances at TPAC.

Laura Bell Bundy has been performing lead and feature roles in New York and in Regional Theater since the age of nine. She is most familiar to Broadway audiences for originating the roles of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, and Amber Von Tussle in the Tony Award winning musical, Hairspray, as well as a stint as Glinda in the smash hit, Wicked. In addition to her work in the theater, Ms. Bundy has also appeared as Marah Lewis in "Guiding Light" from 1999-2001 as well as guest appearances on "Cold Case," "Veronica Mars," and Comedy Central's "Strangers With Candy." She can also be found in such films as Dreamgirls, Life With Mickey and Jumanji. She covers everything from rockabilly to Dixie-flavored pop on her debut CD, Longing for a Place Already Gone, which she co-wrote and co-produced.

In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007. LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL received three 2009 Touring Broadway Awards in New York City on May 4, 2009. The show won awards for Best New Musical, Best Production Design and Best Choreography of a Touring Production. The Awards, presented by The Broadway League, honor excellence in Touring Broadway. It is the only such national award.

As on Broadway, Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is byHeather Hach. The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is produced on tour by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals andDori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

Tickets for LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL range from $22.50-74.50, and are available at the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in The Mall at Green Hills), online at www.tpac.org/legallyblonde, or any Ticketmaster outlet, including area Kroger stores and Macy's. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 615/255-ARTS (2787). Tickets for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 615/782-4060 or contacting groups@tpac.org. For more information, please visit www.tpac.org/legallyblonde.

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is part of the HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC season, and is presented by BMI. The media sponsors for LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL are The Tennessean, WSMV Channel 4, and WRVW 107.5 The River. Institutional sponsors for TPAC include American Airlines, Coca-Cola and Dasani. Nissan is a Sustaining Partner for TPAC.

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to providing and supporting the presentation of the performing arts to the citizens of Tennessee. Its four stages are home to Broadway in Nashville at TPAC, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Tennessee Repertory Theatre and a variety of special engagements. TPAC administers one of the largest and most comprehensive arts-in-education programs in the United States, offering learning opportunities for children and adults. The organization has served more than 1.5 million students from pre-school to high school over the past two decades. For more information, visit the web site, www.tpac.org.

Laura Bell Bundy and the touring cast of LEGALLY BLONDE

Laura Bell Bundy and Betty Witherspoon

Laura Bell Bundy and Betty Witherspoon

Betty Witherspoon

John Witherspoon and Betty Witherspoon

Laura Bell Bundy and John Witherspoon

Betty Witherspoon and Laura Bell Bundy