Nikki Gil leads the all-star cast of television, theater and recording artists on onstage in Legally Blonde, The Musical which will open starting on June 25.
Nikki will take on the role of Elle Woods, the same character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie of the same title.
Elle Woods is a sorority star who doesn't take "No!" for an answer. But when her boyfriend dumps her for some "serious," Elle hits the books and goes where no other sorority girls has gone before: Harvard Law School.
For Nikki, the part was offered to her as early as last year. And soon, she began preparations for her role.
"The moment I got the material, I enrolled myself in dance lessons and vocal classes. I was well aware how different the discipline of theater is and how much tedious it is as opposed to what I'm used to doing," Nikki said in an interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal last June 19 during a photo shoot in Quezon City.
"I don't have an understudy so I really had to prepare myself for it. I can't be getting sick. I can't be malat. I really have to know the technique on how to release my voice. I really prepared for it.
GETTING HOOKED ON THEATER. Nikki has previously done Seussical the Musical way back in 2007 but she had alternates for the lead role of The Cat in the Hat.
"I've always wanted to be part of a plays," Nikki recalled. "Growing up, I'd always audition for these roles but I'd never get them because it's either I'm too old for the role or too young for it. I remember even before going into show business that was my life. I was "Ms Audition" or "Ms VTR." It so surreal that I'm offered a title role. It's a big responsibility but at the same time I'm excited for it. It's one of my dreams that's finally crossed out of my life goal checklist."
Nikki thanks her experience back in high school at Shekinah Christian Training Center, a small Christian school that follows an American curriculum.
"I'd compete in one-act plays and dramatic monogues for years and years. 'Coz every year, we'd have this student convention where all the Christian schools all over the Philippines gather for a week-long competition," she said.
Rehearsals for the musical started only last month.
"I made sure that I would come to rehearsals prepared na. I wouldn't like to learn on-the-spot. I knew that Atlantis would be getting seasoned actors. I wanted to come in equipped."
Joining Nikki are Nyoy Volante as Emmett Forrest, Guji Lorenzana as Warner Huntington III, Cris Villonco as Elle's rival, Vivienne Kensington, Jinky Llamanzares as Paulette Bonafonte, Jett Pangan as Professor Callahan, Calvin Millado as Dewey/Kyle, and Geneva Cruz as Brooke Wyndham.
Nikki said that the journey of Elle Woods as a woman somehow mirrors her journey in this whole production.
"From the very beginning, some people thought I can't pull it off up to the time I was working on it. Sabi nga in one of the songs of the musical, 'I've come this close. I can't retreat in my shell. I've come this close. I don't even know how I even got here.' By Sunday [June 20], we will already be at Meralco practicing. I can't afford to go back in the shell and worry what's going to happen. I've enjoyed the journey and I know that it will end in a beautiful day. If it ends like the way how Elle Woods' story ends, it would be great."
Legally Blonde The Musical opens at the Meralco Theater on June 25 and runs till July 18. With music and lyrics by Laurence O' Keefe and book by Heather Hach, the show will be directed by Chari Arespacochaga. For tickets call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.