ELLE’S IN THE HOUSE: Boston Children’s Theatre, in summer residence at The Governor’s Academy in the Byfield section of Newbury, presents “Legally Blonde” Thursday through next Sunday.
The show has two rotating casts, featuring 43 students from 25 communities north of Boston.
“When we asked our students what musical they most wanted to do, ‘Legally Blonde’ was at the top of the list,” said Toby Schine, executive producer of Boston Children’s Theatre.
“This type of high-energy musical needed just the right director, and we are thrilled to announce that Broadway actress and renowned director Lisa Yeun will be returning to Boston Children’s Theatre to direct this production,” Schine said. “Her style and energy are contagious and her talents create the perfect match for this musical. It’s going to be a terrific experience for our students and the audience.”
Fourteen-year-old Alex Berube plays the lead role of Elle.
Alex Berube, 14, of Methuen, plays the lead role of Elle Woods, the college homecoming queen who follows her boyfriend to Harvard Law School but instead finds her true self.
The two casts include Dena Broday of Andover; Tori Cargill, Izzy del Valle, Brigid Waldron, and Charlotte Veater, all of Beverly; Annabelle Collins, AJ Marks, Wes D’Alelio, Charlotte Wallace and Julia Budd, all of Boxford; Miles Tardy of Byfield; Lucy Desmond of Danvers; Belle Allmendinger and Abigail Fitzgibben, of Essex; Elijah Jean-Baptiste of Everett; Chloe Webster of Groveland; Tommy Cefalu and Sophie Miller of Ipswich; Brie Giamarco of Lynnfield; Sophia Wulsin of Lowell; Margaret McFadden of Manchester-by-the-Sea; Paige Vigneron of Marblehead; Hannah Miles of Merrimac; Sarah Collins of Newbury; Juliette Cacciatore, Sean Doucette, Olivia Hurley, Molly Moore, Emily Patterson, Janie Zaniboni and Joy Zaniboni of Newburyport; Alyssa Peltonovich and Cerena Leaffer of North Andover; Daniel Kowalski of Peabody; Brandon Barbosa of Revere; Brendan Callahan and Mari Odoy of Rowley; Gutherie Scrimgeour and Elizabeth Pasquale of Salem; Harry DiTullio of Salisbury; Emily Sheeran of Wakefield; and Emme Morales of Wenham.
Choreography is by Nicole Soriano.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 and $15 for adults; and $15 and $10 for students.
Call 617-424-6634.
AUTHOR’S CORNER: Holly Thompson, of Wenham and Japan, discusses her young adult verse novel, “Orchards,” at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. She is also author of the picturebook, “The Wakame Gatherers,” and the novel “Ash.” She edited “Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction,” an anthology of Japan-related stories to benefit teens in areas of Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
Ann Johnson’s “Morning Light”
IN LOCAL GALLERIES: The Provident Bank’s Lobby for the Arts in Amesbury presents “Land & Sea,” featuring the work of artists Ann Johnson and Brent Rotsko, through August. A reception with the artists is 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 19. Both have studios at The Artists’ Muse in Amesbury. Johnson paints in watercolors and oil, and uses pastels. Her work captures both local scenes and impressions from travels around Europe, with an emphasis on landscapes. Rotsko, a former merchant marine, was inspired to begin painting by his mother and her artwork. He paints scenes from around the region. . . . “Earth, Sea & Sky; Images of Coastal Life,” featuring recent works in oil, pastel, and watercolor by Fran Butsvich and Anika Savage, is at the Newburyport Art Association next Sunday through July 28. An opening reception is 1 to 3 p.m. next Sunday. . . . “Backstitch: A 25-Year Retrospective of Advances & Milestones in Quiltmaking,” opens at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell on Thursday. The exhibit includes works from 25 artists from across the country who work in styles from the traditional to the avant-garde. Showcased are techniques including embellishment, fabric dyeing, fusing, photo transfer, and thread painting. Also represented are commemorative quilts, historic reproduction quilts, and quilts for a cause. The exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the New England Quilt Museum.