Open canine casting call for upcoming production of “Legally Blonde The Musical”

Rainbow Stage is hosting “Paw-ditions” for their upcoming production of “Legally Blonde The Musical”

An old show business adage warns never to work with kids or animals.

Still, a Manitoba theatre production plans to do the latter, beckoning pooch performers to put their best paws forward at an upcoming canine casting call.

“In my role at Rainbow Stage, since 2017, this is the first time that we will be doing an open call for dogs,” Rainbow Stage artistic director Carson Nattrass told CTV News.

Coming this summer, the Winnipeg theatre company will mount a production of “Legally Blonde The Musical.”

Based on the hit 2001 Reese Witherspoon comedy, the Tony-nominated musical tells the story of a blonde sorority girl who applies to Harvard Law School in a bid to win back the ex-boyfriend who jilted her.

While the production’s human cast has been announced, Rainbow Stage is now in search of the perfect pups for the four-legged roles of Bruiser, who is protagonist Elle Woods’ chihuahua companion, and Rufus, the French bulldog caught up in a custody dispute between nail technician Paulette and her vindictive ex.

While neither needs to sing nor dance, Nattrass joked the casting team is still asking for 16 barks of music.

“The Bulldog is silent on stage, but Bruiser will have to be able to enter and exit on cue, bark on cue, and be great with people, being under the lights and with the orchestra and the audience at Rainbow Stage,” he said.

Rainbow Stage has dipped a paw in canine casting before.

Nattrass recalled a 2012 roduction of “Annie” where the dog cast as Sandy ran into the orchestra pit before sprinting into the audience during one memorable performance.

Wanting to eschew those doggy dramatics, the company opted for a handmade puppet to travel over the rainbow and down the yellow brick road during its 2022 production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Still, Nattrass is ready to take a chance on a budding paw-fessional ready to take centre stage at Kildonan Park.

“That being said, we are looking to engage trainers to support us if we go in this direction,” he said.

“We have a lot of great trainers for film and television in the city, and so we may also have the opportunity to teach some dogs if we find the right one in this open call.”

Anyone interested in submitting their four-legged phenom can do so on Rainbow Stage’s website by April 6.

The audition date is set for April 19 with a limited number of slots available.

“Legally Blonde The Musical” runs Aug. 13 to 30.