NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: On the Road With Bring It On: The Musical's Kate RockwellKate Rockwell (Hair, Legally Blonde), who plays "Skylar" in the national tour of Bring It On: The Musical, shares exclusive photos from the road.
By
Matthew Blank
March 14, 2012
Rockwell offers a look at the cast as they rehearse, cheer, sing, dance, eat and relax in Houston.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: On the Road With Bring It On: The Musical's Kate Rockwell
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: On the Road With Bring It On: The Musical's Kate Rockwell
Kate Rockwell (Hair, Legally Blonde), who plays "Skylar" in the national tour of Bring It On: The Musical, shares exclusive photos from the road. Rockwell offers a look at the cast as they rehearse, cheer, sing, dance, eat and relax in Houston. Read the Playbill.com story.
31 PHOTOS
This is what I wake up to on the road every morning. My Frenchie/Boston Terrier mix Mabel loves hotel beds because she gets to sleep next to me in them.
Kate Rockwell
Our day starts with a long walk so that Mabel behaves herself in the hotel room while mommy is at work all day! Houston has great walking paths near the hotel that we explore.
Kate Rockwell
I travel practically my entire kitchen because I’m a spoiled eater. Here are my travel french press and my soda water maker (I know, I know) that get me started in the morning.
Kate Rockwell
Time to grab a quick lunch… and huzzah! Here in Houston we have Jason’s Deli! But it’s only open till 3 so you have to run and join the business lunch crowd.
Kate Rockwell
Have you seen our costumes in this show? You will. There’s a lot of salad being eaten to stay looking good in those teeny tiny cheer skirts.
Kate Rockwell
I have my car out on the road because I hate flying, which is a great perk when you have to run a few errands. My car’s name is Albin (yes, from La Cage) because he’s gold and sparkly. Judge if you will.
Kate Rockwell
One of the best parts of touring is going shopping in the suburbs. I grew up in Ohio and miss the convenience of everything laid out right in front of you. And everyone knows Vicky’s is my favorite place to drop a dollar or two.
Kate Rockwell
Rehearsal time! Our fearless leader Andy Blankenbuehler is in town, checking up on us and cleaning up some stuff in the show.
Kate Rockwell
Because I’m not in many big production numbers, I spend most of rehearsal here – in the house – watching everyone else work. Wishing I was a better dancer.
Kate Rockwell
Oh look! I made it onstage today! Success!
Kate Rockwell
After rehearsal it’s time to entertain the pup again. We are currently traveling 7 dogs with us, and they all love a little playtime. This is Mabel with Lauren Whitt’s dog, Miko.
Kate Rockwell
We even have a 10 week-old Puggle pup named Tye that just joined us! He’s still too young to roughhouse outside, so an indoor playdate works just as well.
Kate Rockwell
Sigh. Another salad. What I wouldn’t give for macaroni and cheese. But this white balsamic vinegar I got in California is NAILING it.
Kate Rockwell
Me and Neil Haskell. We did a NYMF show together in 2009. Reunited and it feels so good.
Kate Rockwell
My first stop on the Legally Blonde tour in 2009 was Houston! This is our plaque we won as a company for drinking 500 beers at the local Flying Saucer here in Houston… proud accomplishment.
An hour before curtain we all show up for cheer call. We run through the major stunts in the show to make sure everyone’s on the same page. Brooklyn Freitag and Michael Naone Carter warm up their first “extension” in the show. (fancy cheer lingo)
Kate Rockwell
Time to put my face on.
Kate Rockwell
A good yoga warmup helps keep my old (shut it!) body moving in this crazy show.
Kate Rockwell
Almost finished….got the hair on too…
Kate Rockwell
We have two birthdays to celebrate today... and three cakes. Yes there’s a cookie cake in the background too. Sheldon Tucker can handle a little sugar rush before he starts tumbling all over the stage.
Kate Rockwell
Haha. Practical jokes are fun.
Kate Rockwell
Finished product.
Kate Rockwell
Me and my stage cohort, Janet Krupin. Skylar and Kylar unite!
Kate Rockwell
When I’m on for the opening number, Greg Haney is putting his face on. He plays a transgendered character in the show named La Cienega, so he has to make those pretty cheekbones even prettier.
Kate Rockwell
Three blondes! Elle McLemore, Taylor Louderman and me in various stages of Act 1 costumes.
Kate Rockwell
A special treat at intermission: Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush came to see the show and take a picture with the cast!
Kate Rockwell
Act 2 has a lot of downtime for some of us, so we’ve taken up puzzles. This 1000 piece Alcatraz puzzle had us stumped in Denver so we brought it here to Houston.
Kate Rockwell
My favorite way to end a long day.
Kate Rockwell
Today was Ari DuBose’s 21st birthday!! We all went out to help her celebrate.
Kate Rockwell
NOW I can finally eat!
Kate Rockwell
Get ready America! We’re Bringing It across the country. Next up: Chicago, Charlotte, Durham, Providence, Toronto... and onward!
The high-energy musical set within the world of competitive cheerleading launched its limited national tour Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. Bring It On had its world premiere in early 2011 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
Tony-winning In the Heights choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, who also helmed the Atlanta premiere, directs and choreographs the tour, which has musical supervision by Tony Award winner Alex Lacamoire.
Though the title and subject matter are inspired by the popular film franchise, Tony Award-winning Avenue Q book writer Whitty has penned an original libretto for the musical that retains its setting of the world of competitive cheerleading. Bring It On has music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, High Fidelity), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and music supervision by Tony and Grammy Award winner Alex Lacamoire (In the Heights).
The cast includes Adrienne Warren as Danielle, Ryann Redmond as Bridget, Taylor Louderman as Campbell, Jason Gotay (Rent) as Randall, Elle McLemore as Eva, Ariana DeBose (Hairspray, "So You Think You Can Dance") as Nautica, Gregory Haney (Memphis) as La Cienega, Neil Haskell (West Side Story, 9 to 5, "So You Think You Can Dance") as Steven, Janet Krupin as Kylar, Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde, "Grease! You're the One That We Want") as Skylar and Nick Womack as Twig.
Chicago, IL (March 6-25, 2012, at the Cadillac Palace) St. Louis, MO (March 27-April 8, 2012, at the Fox Theatre) Charlotte, NC (April 10-15, 2012, at the Belk Theatre) Durham, NC (April 17-22, 2012, at the Durham PAC) Providence, RI (April 24-29, 2012, at the Providence PAC) Toronto, ON (May 2-June 3, 2012, at the Canon Theatre)
Here's how producers bill the work: "In Bring It On: The Musical, the high-stakes world of competitive cheerleading is intertwined with cutthroat high school politics to tell the story of Campbell, the heir apparent to the head cheerleader at Truman High School. Campbell is at the top of the cheerleader pyramid and she has it all — a strong squad, a doting boyfriend and a straight path to the national championships. Her entire life has been dedicated to honing routines and staying within the strict rules and guidelines, but when a surprise letter arrives, Campbell's world is thrown upside down."
