Some 38 cast members as well as one Yorkshire terrior, behind the scenes crew, a live orchestra and staff bring the high-energy production Legally Blonde to the stage.

This is the tale of a pretty but not scholastically achieving girl who gets dumped by her boyfriend as he heads to law school. To win him back, she follows him to university where she initially has difficulty but finds an aptitude for the law and excels.

"The performance rights to this show were recently released, so directors are jumping at the chance to produce it," said teacher Sharon Conrad, whose serving as artistic director and producer. "It's a fun fast-paced show with many good female roles. Most people are familiar with the motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, and the musical was developed from that."

That meant the students had to take up the challenge of the show's 20 musical numbers.

"When we cast our musicals, everyone is expected to sing, dance, and act," she said. "This show has many dance numbers and we have been so fortunate to work with Ms. Amelie Lavoie, who is a graduate of Langley Fine Arts School and now a professional dancer and choreographer."

The cast features all the key characters from the movie.

Geneva Dunham is Elle Woods. Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Tina Georgieva and Belle Hernberg-Johnson, play Serena, Margot and Pilar, respectively. They are Elle's Delta Nu sorority sisters.

Aaron Ediger plays Warner Huntington, III, Elle's original love interest.

Emmett Forest, a lawyer and Elle's eventual love interest, is played by Jake Guy.

Lana Brown is Paulette Buonufonte, owner of the Hair Affair where Elle works when she gets blue about being dumped by Warner.

Emily Peck is Brooke Wyndham, the 'Workout Queen' accused of murdering her husband and defended by law student Elle.

There's also a variety of other students rounding out the other roles, including international students Kentaro Fujita and Sakura Nozaki.

"We have three sets of brothers and sisters in this show: Aaron and Kira Ediger, Seth and Jade Lavigne, and Keenan and Sequoia Marchand," Conrad added.

Live 15-piece orchestra features current Brookswood students. Three keyboardists are required in the orchestra for the music in this show.

"The orchestra is located in the left wing of the stage which is a very small space," Conrad explained. "Add to this all of the set pieces and actors who move through this area and it's well organized chaos."

True to the original movie, the production was even able to line up a canine actor to play Bruiser, Elle's dog.

Corabel is an 8 1/2-year-old Yorkshire Terrier who trains in canine musical freestyle.

Owner Lin McDonald keeps them all in kibble by working as a Set Decorator in the film industry. (Tron, Mission to Mars, Night at the Museum 1 and 2).

"Lin has brought Corabel into our rehearsals to allow her to become accustomed to a busy theatrical setting and work with the actors who will be handling her in the show," Conrad said. "There are a select few people who are permitted to handle Corabel so that she feels comfortable and stress free. Lin is backstage at all times to ensure Corabel is safe."

The production has been in rehearsal five days per week since September. Shows are in the school threatre, 20902 37A Ave., starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6-9 and Feb. 13-16. Tickets are $12 and available through www. brownpapertickets.com/event/309633.

hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com