Laura Bell Bundy, star of Legally Blonde The Musical, brought the curtain down on her tenure as Elle Woods on Broadway. Last night was LBB‘s final show as Elle, ahead of tonight’s announcement regarding her replacement. As you know, MTV has been airing The Seach for Elle Woods for the past few weeks and tonight we find out who wins the role of Elle Woods on Broadway (will it be Autumn, Bailey or Rhiannon?) … but first, the show has to say goodbye to Laura Bell — Broadway’s original Elle Woods, who will always remain irreplaceable to me:

Tony-nominated actress Laura Bell Bundy will “bend and snap” one final time as Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde July 20. Bundy has been with Legally Blonde since its 2005 readings and earned a 2007 Best Actress Tony Award nomination for her turn as Legally Blonde’s pink-clad heroine. The musical is based on the 2001 MGM movie that starred Reese Witherspoon. Triple-threat Bundy made her Broadway debut in the 2002 original cast of Hairspray as Amber Von Tussle and is known for her turns in Wicked and Ruthless!, for which she earned Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations as Tina Denmark. On screen Bundy has been seen in “Dreamgirls,” “Guiding Light,” “Jumanji,” “Life with Mikey,” “Adventures of Huck Finn,” “Home Improvement,” “Strangers with Candy” and “Curtis Court.” Bundy released her solo country debut recording “Longing for a Place Already Gone” last year. Representatives for the Tony-nominated actress state that Bundy is currently developing a television project and is at work on her next album. Bundy’s replacement will be named on the July 21 episode of the MTV reality competition “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods.” On July 23 at 8 PM, the next Elle Woods – who will be determined by a panel of Legally Blonde casting directors, production associates and director/choreography Jerry Mitchell – will take over in the lead role at the Palace Theatre on Broadway.

I imagine last night’s performance was a fun, yet difficult one for Laura Bell … it must be hard to exit a role that you originate on Broadway. I’ve been fortunate enough to see LBB as Elle in the show a couple of times and I know that the new girl has got some big shoes to fill. I am very much looking forward to hearing about LB‘s next project — but I hope she takes some time off to relax for a minute before plunging headlong into another big commitment. I wish nothing but the best for her and I’m sending her much congrats and all my love today.

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