Blonde Ambition: 'Legally Blonde' actor having fun with role that teases stage typecasting

Actor Cole Burden admits he was eager to kick off his holidays joining the cast of Marriott Theatre's new production of "Legally Bonde."

Burden, who had previously and happily spent the past year as a member of the 25th anniversary national tour of "Les Miserables," says he was ready for something "colorful."

"I loved doing the tour for 'Les Miserables' because it was such an amazing group of gathered talent for an incredible production," Burden said.

"But come on, it's not exactly a colorful, bright and cheery surroundings compared to 'Legally Blonde.' It's really kinda nice to be surrounded by plenty of pink and colorful sets and costuming for this story."

Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit 2001 MGM movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon.

Running now through April 1 and directed by Jeff Award winner Marc Robin, it stars Burden opposite Chelsea Packard from Broadway runs in "Wicked" and "Promises, Promises" playing college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods, who's on a mission to make her dreams come true while in law school.

Burden plays Warner, the boyfriend who dumps his "pretty in pink" girlfriend Elle "for someone more serious" as he starts Harvard Law School, only to find his blonde former flame also accepted to the school and giving him a real run for his money and his misconceptions about being blonde.

"I play the handsome guy who's a jerk in the story, and that can be fun for a stage role," Burden said.

"It makes me think back to when actors and actresses are in acting school and they get to the point in their training when the acting professional assigns 'types.' For me, I was told I'm best suited for this kind of role, only not exactly the 'jerk' part of it."

Also with Burden and Packard in this cast are David Larsen as Emmet Forest, Gene Weygandt as Professor Callahan, Christine Sherrill as Paulette, Stephanie Binetti as Vivienne, Summer Naomi Smart as Brooke, Tiffany Topol as Margot, Lara Filip as Enid, Keewa Nurullah as Pilar, Alexandra E. Palkovic as Serena, Julius Carter as Grandmaster Chad, Will Skrip as Aaron, Steve Calzaretta as Kyle and Scott Alan Jones as Padamadan/Nikkos.

The ensemble includes Barbara Jo Bednarczuk, Jamie Cooper, James Lee Glatz, Brian Hoffman, Amber Mak, Matt Raftery, Vanessa Panerosa, Laura Savage and Leslie Taylor.

Lead Artistic Director Andy Hite heads the artistic team with music direction by Ryan T. Nelson.

"This is a perfect time of year for 'Legally Blonde' to give audiences a winter lift with some fun and humor," Burden said.

"I've been Tweeting about how much fun we're having bringing these characters to life and adding our own twists and turns."