Legally Blonde was Takapuna Grammar School's 2026 production, staged at the Bruce Mason Centre and directed by Campbell MacKenzie and Kate Stokes. Ben designed the lighting on a Full Boar 4 alongside Auckland Live Technical Manager Craig Dustin.
The design aimed to capture the show's vibrant energy while highlighting the contrast between Elle's world and the more serious courtroom setting. The aim was to highlight the juxtaposition of these two worlds through careful use of color and lighting, while also not "overusing" lighting effects to not draw away from the comic elements of the show.
The palette leaned into contrast: hot pink and vibrant cyans for Elle's world, cooler blue and amber washes for Harvard and the courtroom. Big ensemble numbers got fully saturated looks, while the courtroom cross-examination and the closing proposal scene each had their own unique looks, built to land the moment while not pulling focus from the action on stage.