Natalie Casey is to join the cast of Legally Blonde The Musical on 26 April to play beautician Paulette, replacing Denise Van Outen.
Casey is a former co-star of Sheridan Smith, who originated the lead role of Elle Woods when Legally Blonde opened at the Savoy theatre in December 2009; the pair starred together in long-running sitcom Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps.
In addition to her television work – which also includes C4 soap Hollyoaks – Casey has been seen on stage in Well at the Apollo theatre, the musical Fame in the West End and, most recently, the Menier Chocolate Factory’s music hall romp The Invisible Man.
Casey joins a Legally Blonde cast that currently includes Susan McFadden as Elle, Peter Davison as Professor Callahan and Olivier Award nominee Alex Gaumond as Emmett. Gaumond recently announced he is to leave the show in June, to be replaced by Lee Mead.
Based on the hit 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde The Musical tells the tale of sorority girl turned law student Elle Woods, who sets out to prove that staying true to yourself never goes out of fashion.
The show, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, collected three Olivier Awards earlier this month, including the coveted Best New Musical prize and trophies for Smith and the show’s original Paulette, Jill Halfpenny.
CB