Over the last nine weeks, Bing Theatre’s stage has seen numerous student designers parsing out ideas, technical crews rolling on ceiling-high book-shaped set pieces and pink-clad cast members dancing from wing to wing.

This Thursday, it will see an audience.

The “Legally Blonde” musical will open this Thursday, a bright pink, sparkly showcase of student and faculty devotion. The cast will be joined onstage by USC Silks and the Trojan Marching Band and accompanied by a 13-piece pit orchestra.

Auditions for the spring semester mainstage musical were open to all USC students, meaning the final cast of the production is from various schools, not just the School of Dramatic Arts. 

SDA’s literary committee, made up of student representatives, staff and SDA Dean Emily Roxworthy, chose to stage the musical last year — with some alterations. Faris made the decision to change the show’s setting, formerly a fictional university in California, to USC. He reached out to the writer of the book, Amanda Brown, who attended USC, and one of the musical’s composers, USC alumnus Laurence O’Keefe, and got permission. 

Every detail of the show, from the lighting colors and patterns to the set itself, sprung to life from the imaginations of the students on the project. Behind the scenes, set designers have been working closely with the technical director and crew to bring their idea of Elle Woods’ world, as first portrayed in the 2001 film, to life. 

Kiera Reinhard, the show’s scenic designer and a senior majoring in theatrical design, was the leading voice in deciding what Elle’s physical surroundings would look like.

“We didn’t want Elle to feel stupid, and I think part of that was also making sure her world didn’t feel stupid. I didn’t want it to feel cartoony, but still wanted it to feel poppy and fun, just because I think that’s very much like the personality of Elle,” Reinhard said. “We’re taking elements that you would see in an Ivy League library, and Elle-ifying them.”

Alex Muir, a senior majoring in technical direction, said it took three weeks to build the major set pieces. Muir said her biggest challenge was building the false proscenium, made up of two large columns and a triangular portico featuring the Greek letters for Delta Nu, Elle Woods’ fictional sorority.

“We’d never done that before here, so we had to specifically drill three new holes into the ceiling to make it work,” Muir said. “I’m very happy with it.”

Lydia Berckley, a sophomore majoring in musical theatre playing Elle Woods, said that despite the story’s distinct feminism, its message  of overcoming expectations is  timeless and relatable to anyone.

“Our production specifically [is] focused on telling the story and inspiring women to know that we’re so much more than just looks, we can do anything,” Berckley said. “Anyone can relate to feeling like people aren’t taking you seriously, and that people aren’t taking you for your true worth.”

With this being an all-school musical, auditions were competitive, and Berckley said she would have accepted any role. Throughout callbacks, Berckley wore pink Victoria’s Secret pajamas to bed. 

“I thought it was good luck,” she said. “So, the night before the cast list came out, I wore [them] again.” 

The pajamas must have worked as she got the role, but she said it still came as an exciting surprise. 

“I had to keep looking at it, because I was like, ‘This can’t be real,’” Berckley said. “And then I just burst into tears and missed my class because I was such a mess.”

Then came the work of preparing for an 11-show run with no understudy. Berckley said learning to dance and sing simultaneously, particularly during “What You Want,” when she launches from singing to a dance break and back into singing, was difficult. More importantly, characterizing Elle by balancing her important duality became Berckley’s main focus throughout rehearsal.

“[There are] so many layers to this role that I want to honor every single aspect of it,” Berckley said. “We’re playing a very feminist and ‘Girl Power’ take to the role, so honoring that, but also finding the moments where she is a sorority girl from Southern California.”

Ava Karlstad, a senior majoring in political science and the show’s dance captain, said it was a challenge learning to perform “Whipped Into Shape,” a number involving singing, dancing and elaborate jumproping. Karlstad said the choreography for the song was previously used by the choreographer for regional theatre, so adapting to professional-level moves and timing has been difficult but rewarding.  

Karlstad also emphasized that the ropes the dancers are using are beaded – and that she had hit herself rehearsing.

“I spent so much time outside of the rehearsal room practicing because truly, if you’re off by one count, you could hurt the person next to you,” Karlstad said. “That’s also been a team bonding exercise with everybody working together to make sure they’re on beat and that they don’t mess it up for everybody else.”

To Scott Faris, the show’s director and SDA’s chair of production and stage management, the most rewarding part about directing a show is the sense of community that he gets to create alongside teaching students strong work ethic that they will need working professionally. 

“I try to create a joyous environment to work in so everybody feels creative and contributes, but we’re very disciplined in the work,” Faris said. “It’s going to be an evening of entertainment — short, sweet, painless fun, great singing and dancing and acting. It will give you joy.”

“Legally Blonde” runs at the Bing Theatre from Thursday to April 11.