Source: Film Stew

The girl-empowering chick flick Legally Blonde is set to be adapted into a musical and debut on Broadway next spring.

The show will be based on both the feel-good film version, which starred recent Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson and Victor Garber, and the novel–yes, there was a novel–by Amanda Brown.

No casting has been announced, but plenty of behind-the-scenes slots are already being filled. Jerry Mitchell, who won a Tony Award in 2005 for choreographing La Cage aux Folles, makes his Broadway directorial debut on the musical.

“I love the story,” Mitchell told the Associated Press. “It’s so positive, especially for young girls to believe in themselves. And it’s fun to root for a leading character you care about.”

Mitchell will also do the choreography for the show, though there’s no word yet on which of Elle Woods’ whims will be turned into song form.

Legally Blonde, for the three people who’ve failed to catch one of its perpetual cable screenings, revolves around the ditzy but well-meaning Woods, a sorority girl who tries to win back the heart of her boyfriend by enrolling alongside him in Harvard Law School. Once there, she discovers you can be smart and cute, and finds a new boy-toy who appreciates all her assets.

Or as the show’s producers put it, “Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.”

The musical adaptation is just the latest in an increasing line of hit films hoofing it over to Broadway.

Most recently, High Fidelity and The Wedding Singer have both been prepping for their Broadway debuts. But the influx of Hollywood to Broadway is nothing new.

In 2002, inspired by Broadway’s then reigning megahits The Lion King and The Producers, MGM announced plans to dig through its vaults and some of their own films to adapt to the stage.

Dubbed “MGM on Stage,” the venture launched several projects, many of which have since come to fruition, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the John Lithgow-starring Sweet Smell of Success, both of which earned decent reviews and revenues.

It was then the studio first hinted at a Legally Blonde musical, as well as potential adaptations of the Michelle Pfeiffer-starring Fabulous Baker Boys and the gangster-gone-Hollywood tale of Get Shorty, the latter two of which have yet to get off the drawing board.

Legally Blonde will play a pre-Broadway engagement at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre beginning in January 2007. It begins previews in New York on Mar. 30, though at what theater has yet to be announced, with its opening night scheduled for Apr. 26.