Act One

The curtain rises on Delta Nu Sorority House at University California, Los Angeles. Here, we find the Delta Nu sisters preparing for the arrival of their sorority president, Elle Woods. The house is abuzz with rumors that Elle’s long-time boyfriend, Warner Huntington, plans to propose at dinner. When Elle doesn’t appear, the girls frantically rush to the Old Valley Mall, where we finally meet Elle. She has found the perfect dress for Warner’s proposal and she celebrates with her sisters (“Omigod You Guys”).

As evening falls, we find Elle and Warner enjoying a romantic dinner by candlelight. While Elle anxiously awaits the proposal, Warner explains that it’s time to get serious and take the next step… by breaking up (“Serious”). He doesn’t believe she is serious enough about her future. Elle, upset and embarrassed, is shocked by this revelation and storms out.

It has now been twelve days, and Elle is still holed up in her bedroom, eating Milky Ways (“Daughter of Delta Nu”). After an argument breaks out between the girls, Elle emerges to stop the madness and comes across the latest issue of Town & Country, wherein, to her surprise, she sees a wedding picture of Warner’s brother, Peyton Huntington, and his new wife, Muffy Vanderbilt. It is then that she realizes that Warner is looking for someone like Muffy – a girl who is serious, lawyerly and wears black when nobody’s dead.

Elle devises a plan to join Warner in Cambridge by applying to Harvard Law School, much to the dismay and skepticism of her parents (“What You Want”). With a qualifying LSAT score of 175, Elle bursts into the Harvard admission offices to deliver her own “personal essay” – a full marching band, a squad of cheerleaders and the declaration that she is doing this for love. Swayed by her belief in love, the admission officers accept Elle’s application and enroll her into Harvard Law School.

We move to halls of Harvard, where Emmett Forrest, an alum and teaching assistant, is addressing a group of first-year law students. Here, we meet an assortment of characters that enjoy discussing their success and intelligence (“Harvard Variations”). When Elle arrives, her classmates are not thrilled and disapprove of her perky behavior.

At Criminal Law 101 with Professor Callahan, Elle spots Warner and surprises him. Before they can catch up, Professor Callahan begins class by insisting that law school is a waste unless you are willing to become a ruthless shark with a taste for blood in the water (“Blood in the Water”). When Elle finds herself unprepared, Callahan removes her from class and insists that she return only when she is ready to learn.

Stunned, Elle leaves the classroom and is chased down by Emmet, who tries his best to console her. Now in the hallway, Elle and Vivienne Kensington, Warner’s new girlfriend, come face to face. Vivienne has no trouble making her feelings known and proceeds to mark her territory with Warner. Elle, frustrated and inconsolable, is visited by a Greek Chorus, the girls of Delta Nu, who will help Elle win Warner back and encourage her to just stay positive (“Positive”).

Elle is convinced that her blonde hair is the source of her problems and has retreated to the Hair Affair salon, where she plans to go brunette. We meet Paulette, a hairdresser, who sees a bright future for Elle and insists that all she needs is some relaxing Irish music. Paulette laments about her own dreams to fall in love one day in Ireland (“Ireland”). Elle overhears Vivienne and her friend chatting about an upcoming party after they enter the salon. A curious Elle chimes in, and Vivienne invites her along, telling her it’s a costume party. Elle thanks Paulette for the encouragement and heads off to fight for her man (“Ireland – Reprise”).

When Elle arrives at the party, dressed as a Playboy bunny, she comes to realize that the joke is on her; no one else is wearing a costume. Elle, although humiliated, refuses to be defeated and reminisces with Warner about their past relationship (“Serious – Reprise”). Vivienne interrupts their conversation with insults and jabs. Elle has no choice but to leave the party.

On her way home, Elle runs into Emmett on a bench, who proceeds to tell her about his own personal challenges and how that helped him get to where he is. Emmett encourages Elle to use that chip on her shoulder as motivation to become a serious student and prove Warner, Vivienne and Callahan wrong (“Chip on My Shoulder”). With guidance from Emmett, Elle realizes that it is time to focus on changing her priorities and sets out to do her best. After weeks and weeks of studying, Elle wins a case against Warner in debate class. Professor Callahan is pleasantly surprised and asks her to submit a résumé for his prestigious internship.

We now find Elle and Paulette, with Emmett at their side, at a dumpy trailer. They have arrived to confront Paulette’s ex-boyfriend, Dewey, and retrieve her beloved dog. Elle, using her newly found legal knowledge, prevails and gets Paulette her Rufus back (“Run Rufus Run! / Elle Reflects”). It is then announced that Callahan will be representing exercise queen, Brooke Wyndham, in a big murder trial and needs immediate help; Emmett will be serving as co-counsel, and four students from the class will be selected as interns.

When the list is posted, we see Elle watch Warner and Vivienne embrace – they have made the cut as two of Callahan’s interns. Warner goes to one knee and proposes; Vivienne accepts. Elle is heartbroken and ready to accept defeat, but Emmett approaches Elle with the list… and she has made it! Feeling elated and victorious, Elle realizes that this moment is so much better than any moment she had ever shared with Warner. Elle is finally moving on (“So Much Better”).