LAS Students Take the Spotlight in Professional Theatre Workshop!

The cast of the upcoming school musical, Legally Blonde, had the exciting opportunity this week to participate in a workshop with professional actress Ashley J Russell and her colleague Philippa Bradshaw. Ashley, whose impressive career includes performances in West End, Broadway, and international touring productions of Mama Mia, Shrek, and We Will Rock You, brought her wealth of experience to LAS for an inspiring and educational afternoon.

During the session, students worked closely with Ashley and Philippa, exploring essential vocal and physical skills while presenting two of the musical’s key numbers. Guided by their expertise and the invaluable support of theatre teacher and musical director Miss Duffy, the cast refined their performances to very high standards.

It was great to see the students step out of their comfort zones and try performing in front of a new audience. Even though they will be performing in front of a much larger audience in the new year, getting some practice in within a safe and supportive environment really added to our students' confidence and allowed them to work together to refine their performances! 

Ashley expressed how impressed she was by the students’ energy and enthusiasm (a perfect combination for a successful performance!). Her industry knowledge and guidance helped elevate the production and left a huge impact on the cast. Although she sadly won’t be able to witness the final performance due to her role in a new musical based on the movie Wild Rose in Edinburgh, she expressed her excitement about the students’ progress for the upcoming show.

This experiential learning opportunity highlighted the value of learning directly from professionals in different fields. Our students gained invaluable insights, practical skills, and a deeper appreciation for the dedication required to do well in musical theatre. We hope to welcome Ashley back in the future to inspire even more students with her talent and expertise!