The JCC Uncommoners' production of Legally Blonde: The Musical and the month of October have one major thing in common - lots and lots of pink.
To celebrate the correlation and to give back to the community which helps the Uncommoners thrive, a portion of all ticket sales for Legally Blonde: The Musical, which opens Nov. 2 and will run for a total of nine shows through Nov. 17, will be donated to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for breast cancer. The donation will benefit the ACS's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign in Chautauqua County.
"Legally Blonde: The Musical is a show which has a lot of female roles," said Robert Schlick, director. "The show is focused upon Elle Woods, the head of the Delta Nu Sorority, but there are many other female characters in the show as well. Pink is Elle Woods' signature color, so we got to thinking about it and we realized that Breast Cancer Awareness Month was coming up and many people have pink ribbons and wristbands and so on. So Amanda Wickmark, one of the cast members, made the suggestion that we should try to tie into (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) somehow. We decided that donating a portion of the ticket sales to the ACS was the best way to do that. Though most of our cast is (made up of young adults) breast cancer does not discriminate by age. It can affect anyone of any age, and our cast is excited to be in a show where their performances can help to defeat the disease."
Article Photos
Michael Porpiglia, American Cancer Society senior director of special events, second from left, joins cast members Caitlin Cusimano, Crin Frederickson, Hillary Belin, holding Bruiser the dog; Jennie Cross and Bob Schlick, Jamestown Community College theatre director, to promote the JCC?Uncommoners’ production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.
Hillary Belin, the JCC student who was cast to play Elle Woods, said she is ecstatic her performance as Elle will help to pay for research for the cure for breast cancer.
"I love the fact that we are donating a portion of the sales towards finding a cure for breast cancer," said Belin. "My mother had breast cancer, and I remember how difficult it was on our family when she was diagnosed. My heart goes out to all women not just those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but those who have friends or loved ones who have been diagnosed. You have to be strong to fight against breast cancer, and I know few people who are stronger than those who have battled (the disease). It can affect any woman, so all women should be active in the fight against it. Anyone who comes to see the show should know that they are doing their part in helping to defeat the disease."
Additionally, Belin encouraged everyone who comes to see the show to wear pink during the month of October, just like her character Elle Woods does.
The show opens on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m., and six other 8 p.m. performances follow on Nov. 3, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Two 2 p.m. matinee performances are scheduled for Nov. 4 and 11.
Pre-sale tickets for the show are $16 for general admission, $14 for senior citizens and local students and $8 for FSA students and members. At the door tickets for the show are two dollars extra for each tier.
Tickets can be purchased online at campusstore.sunyjcc.edu, by calling 338-1187, or at the Scharmann Theatre box office, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Fridays.