Susan McFadden will have big pink boots to fill when she replaces Sheridan Smith as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical from 10 January 2011.
As the hit musical’s leading lady, Smith has garnered much acclaim and a handful of award nominations, but will be leaving the show after its first year. McFadden, who has been the production’s alternate Elle since October, will take over the leading role full time.
This will not be McFadden’s first leading role in the West End. The actress, who has been playing Serena in Legally Blonde since the show opened earlier this year, was thrust into the limelight during ITV’s search for a new Sandy to lead the cast of Grease. McFadden won the role, opposite male winner Danny Bayne, and opened in Grease at the Piccadilly theatre in August 2007.
Legally Blonde The Musical, which also stars Denise Van Outen, former How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? contestants Siobhan Dillon and Aoife Mulholland, ex-Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson and star of stage and screen Peter Davison, is based on the hit Reese Witherspoon film. Its tale follows homecoming queen Elle Woods who, when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more serious, ditches her credit cards and heads for Harvard Law.
MA