Legally Blonde at Rivertown Theaters: Pro-Scale Theater in a Local Setting
Every so often you walk into a local theater and forget you’re not sitting in a big downtown house. That’s what Kelly and Marc Fouchi have built at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner, and their production of Legally Blonde is the latest proof.
The work you never see
The amount of hours and sacrifice that goes into a single performance cannot be captured in a blog post. Stage management, set design, clothing choices, lighting, sound, music, choreography, casting, even the decision of when a show lands on the calendar - every one of those is a process the average person can’t fathom. Kelly and Marc have quietly done the hardest part: they’ve found the right people for each of those roles, all pulling toward one goal. Create a theater experience that’s actually worth paying to see.
That sounds simple. It isn’t. Most local companies never get there. Rivertown has, over and over, and it’s pushed this smaller venue to the top of the local scene.
Downtown quality, Kenner address
Here’s the thing I keep coming back to. Any of their shows could hold their own on the stage at the Saenger in downtown New Orleans. The difference is you can only see them at Rivertown. That’s not a knock on the big houses - it’s a compliment to what a dedicated local team can pull off when the standard is set this high.
Why this one is personal
I have a soft spot for this stage. My daughter, Julia Kuchler, has been a theater girl since she was five years old. Kelly made a serious impression on her early on, and Julia followed that love all the way to a BFA in theater. Today she works for Disney and Universal in Florida. So when I photograph a Rivertown show, I’m watching the same spark that lit up my own kid - and I see it in every performer on that stage.
The show itself
Legally Blonde is a blast. It’s colorful, it’s funny, it leans into its sexiness, and it’s a genuine joy to relive the movie so many of us love. The cast gives 100% every single time they step into the light, and this production is no different - from the pink-soaked ensemble numbers to the courtroom, the cheer squad, the bulldog, and Elle’s whole journey from underestimated to unstoppable. Every frame I shot had energy pouring off the stage.
Go see it
If you’ve never experienced theater on a professional scale in an intimate local setting, this is your invitation. Legally Blonde is on stage at Rivertown Theaters, 325 Minor Street in Kenner, and it’s the kind of night out that reminds you why live theater still matters. Scroll through the gallery below for a look at the production, and go get your tickets while you can.
