Bailey Hanks Is The New Elle Woods
Legally Blonde: The Musical has cast its new Elle Woods and her name is Bailey Hanks. After an 8-week season of the MTV competitive reality TV series Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods Bailey beat out all the other contestants to win the lead role on Broadway. Here are a few pics of Bailey posing at The Palace Theater after it was announced that she was cast as the new Elle Woods:
And here are a few pics of Bailey taking her first night bows this past Wednesday night after successfully completing her premiere performance on Broadway:
Bailey Hanks won the MTV competition “The Search For The New Elle Woods” making her the new successor to Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods. She and her Legally Blonde “co-star” Bruiser, hit Times Square to ‘Bend & Snap’ and meet the press! On Monday, June 2, 2008, MTV premiered the reality show “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods” to find a talented singer/actress/ dancer to take over for Broadway star and Tony Nominee Laura Bell Bundy. Thousands of talented young women came from across the country to make their dream a reality—as MTV and Legally Blonde The Musical teamed up to find Broadway’s new Elle Woods. After what might have been the toughest audition in Broadway history—comprising two months of workshops, training sessions, challenge after challenge and arduous eliminations—one remarkable rising star stood out from the crowd: Bailey Hanks, the 20-yr old Southern charmer with the complete package of extraordinary dancing, singing and acting skills. Not only was she cast in her dream role, she also recorded the hit single “So Much Better”, produced by Ghostlight, now available on iTunes.com and Amazon.com. On Wednesday, July 23, 2008, Bailey made her Broadway debut as “Elle Woods”, the role that made Reese Witherspoon and Laura Bell Bundy stars, at Broadway’s famed Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway. A big fan of the movie, when Bailey learned about MTV’s auditions for “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods” she didn’t hesitate to drive from her hometown of Anderson, S.C., to Nashville, Tenn., to follow her dream of being on Broadway in her favorite musical. A genuine Southern Belle, this pastor’s daughter has been dancing and performing for 15 years and has starred in The Wizard of Oz, Seussical the Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, High Steppin’ Country and more. A former beauty pageant queen, Bailey won the Miss Liberty Teen pageant in 2006 and one of her most memorable performances to date has been singing the national anthem for President Bill Clinton in 2000 … Autumn, the first runner-up in the competition known for her curly red hair & dazzling singing voice, will understudy the role of Elle Woods on Broadway and will perform in the ensemble. Lauren, the youngest contestant on the reality show, will understudy Becky Gulsvig, who stars as Elle Woods on tour, and will be a member of the ensemble. Rhiannon, known for her enthusiasm and stage presence, will play the role of Margot, Elle’s best friend, on tour.
It’s pretty crazy to think that any person without any supposed previous experience can audition for a reality TV show and then end up with a starring role on Broadway … there really is no biz like show biz. Congrats goes out to Bailey for this very cool accomplishment. I hope she makes the most of her opportunity and reaches new heights of success.
I am still pretty bummed that Laura Bell Bundy, the original Elle Woods on Broadway, had to say goodbye to the show … I really love that girl. Here are a few pics of LBB’s final bow on the night of her final performance as Elle Woods:
Click HERE to watch exclusive video from Broadway World of LBB’s last night as Elle in Legally Blonde. She will be missed.
Tags: 'Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods', 'Legally Blonde' The Musical, Bailey Hanks, Laura Bell Bundy
RSS
Feedburner
July 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Baily Hanks was actually in GYPSY before this. She is an experience Broadway actress.
Definitely takes away from the magic of this doesn’t it?
July 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I really enjoyed this show on MTV……….and I LOVED Rhiannon……but realized that she wasn’t ready to have a lead role! I am glad it was Bailey and not Autumn………Autumn just rubbed me the wrong way…….but the bottom line is……all the girls who had the talent are able to be cast in the show and that is wonderful! Of course Bailey had some experience…….but still…..taking the lead is quite an accomplishment!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
SO glad Bailey won!!! love her!! I didn’t know about the Gypsy thing tho…hmm…
July 24th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Amazing she’s cute. I have ever seen her hot video at ‘ric h ki ss . c om’ that is a cele brity da ting site for wea lthy or sexy singles. She is really hot with bikini in that video. You will know how passionate it is after seeing it!
July 25th, 2008 at 1:41 am
I can’t wait to see it live.
The tour is coming towards me so I am super excited!
July 25th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I was blessed to see Laura Bell Bundy twice and I am sad to see her go. She is a treasure.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I was excited to meet the writer of the show, Heather, at my place of business in NYC where she had lunch with my boss. It was Monday and I told her I couldn’t wait to see the ending. She asked who I was rooting for and I told her Autumn. Being in my late 20’s with friends trying to make it in the biz, I totally understood how she felt. Its not easy to get a part in a show no matter how good you are.
I also told her the young girls are a bit overdramatic and cry too much. She laughed and said “yeah, they’re so young and sweet, the poor dears”. I wasn’t trying to be mean, but trying to make it in Broadway, if you don’t have a thick skin, and are gonna cry for every little thing, you won’t last long here!
July 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Damn - that’s a BIG chihuahua!
July 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
She was in Gypsy, but not on Broadway. She is not an experienced Broadway actress. She performed in musicals back home in South Carolina. In fact, she had never even been to New York before the MTV show. You can see her bio on the Legally Blonde Musical website, as well as numerous other places.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I am SO excited to see Bailey as Elle Woods THIS coming Sunday, August 3rd!!!:) I managed to snag orchestra seats, center stage! I have been a fan of “Legally Blonde: The Musical’s” music for awhile but have yet to see it on Broadway. I don’t think it’s fair though if people try and put Bailey’s past theater experience against her. I mean, you can’t just take any old girl off the street who has zero experience and put them on a Broadway stage. That wouldn’t be fair the actress nor the theater goers. In any event, I can’t wait for Sunday and I do hope that I get to see her by the stage door afterwards too, I’d love a signed Playbill!;)
July 30th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
[...] Click to read more… [...]
July 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
[...] Click to read more… [...]
August 4th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
[...] Woods: And here are a few pics of Bailey taking her first night bows this past Wednesday night afterhttp://pinkisthenewblog.com/home/bailey-hanks-is-the-new-elle-woods/Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz set Seattle dates (Seattle Times)Latest news in local [...]
August 6th, 2008 at 6:34 am
I love Bailey and who really cares that she was in gypsy. It wasnt on broadway. She was the best one out there and she is going to make the best elle woods! and dont get me wrong i love Laura Bell Bundy i just love Bailey and she deserves eveything she got! : )
August 6th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
heyy i love bailey so much….
im gona see Legally Blonde in a week
and im so excited ! ! ! !
i saw all the eposodes of mtvs
“Legally Blonde the Musical : the search
for Elle Woods
and i wanted her to win since the
begining !
Love you Balieyy ! !
lots of hugs and kisses !
(:
August 6th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I love Bailey! Im sooooo happy she got the part.Dont get me wrong the other girls have loads of talent, and i feel for you Autum.But some of the girls got some parts too.From the beginning I hoped she was going to win. She just looked, sound, and played the part. She IS Elle. Well congrats to you Bailey. Cant wait to go see you on Aug 30th and maybe on tour ( who knows)! Break a leg!!! O I mean snaps for Elle!!!! LOL! Xoxo
August 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
hey bailey congrats,your the next elle woods on broadway!!! ive watched all the episodes of legaly blonde the musical and you are my fav on that show!!! i knew you were going to be elle you are totaly legaly blonde!!! snaps luv ya ,jaden
August 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I think Bailey is great. I watched the Mtv show and I knew she wood. (would.) win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I love Bailey. I think she is the best ever!!! When I saw the first eposide on MTV I wanted her to win so bad. And she did snaps for Bailey.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Does anyone know if Bailey is going on the tour?