Kelly Felthous is looking forward to taking the stage in her lead role as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde,” a musical that begins tonight at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly and runs through November 13.
Felthous was last seen at NSMT in Singin’ in the Rain, starring in the Debbie Reynolds role.
In Legally Blonde, Felthouse will play the role made famous by actress Reese Witherspoon in the movie. Felthous is excited about her return to Beverly where audiences raved about her performance.
“I’m a huge fan of Reese Witherspoon and I’ve watched all of her movies but I think it’s really important to take what she brought in the essence and make it my own,” said Felthous. “I have a lot similarities to Elle and I feel like everyone does and I want to bring out what I find in her.”
Knowing that Witherspoon was incredibly fashionable in the movie, Felthous said, “I think fashion is how you wear the clothes and how much they cost, so my Elle will be sassy and fabulous.”
The 25-year-old Felhous is excited to be returning to Beverly.
“Singin’ in the Rain was actually one of my first professional roles as an adult, which was cool,” said Felthous. “Beverly was awesome. The audiences were so welcoming and playing in the [theatre-in-the] round you really have to become the character because you can’t turn around and pace upstage and hide in the coffer and be out of the world – you live in that world and you really have to become the character you’re playing. I think the theatre-in-the-round really helps bring the audience in.”
Felhous did her first professional show at the age of eight. “I starting touring all over the country when I was 12 in the “Sound of Music. I did a show in Japan when I was older and I just got back from China last week where I performed at the Macau International Music Festival [as Serena Katz in “Fame.”].
Felthous said Legally Blonde director/choreographer Nick Kenkel is tremendously talented at his craft.
“Nick is amazing. He’s really letting us play and make these characters our own and not copying what the originals did. We’re finding who these characters are, what they stand for, and what they fight for and Nick is wonderful. He’s also a fabulous dancer.” Felthous said she sings throughout the show and does some “big dance numbers.”
“The rehearsals went great,” said Felthous. “I hope the people on the North Shore come to see the show. Get excited because it’s going to be so fun and happy and you will take the away message of being true to yourself and standing up for what you believe in.”