The Blonde is Back
OH My God you guys! This isn’t Harvard Law, but Elle Woods is making her mark on Elon’s campus. Meet Chloe Golonka, the girl bending and snapping her way into our hearts in Gallery Players’ production of Legally Blonde as Miss Woods, Elle.
“What, like it’s hard?”
Golonka poses for a photo
Taken by: Walter Yates Boyd
Golonka, a senior Strategic Communications major and minor in Digital Art, is ecstatic to be back in the world of the performing arts, embodying a character she’s grown to know and love.
“I really just wanted to get back in to theatre,” said Golonka, “I did it in high school but nothing around here until now. I was looking to audition for anything and when I saw that Legally Blonde was holding auditions I had to try out. It had been my dream role since I was 10”
Golonka didn’t physically audition for the part, she just sent in a video and got the role! No callback, or anything needed! From the start, Golonka had the passion and perseverance for the role, but there were still plenty of challenges.
“There’s a lot more to the role than you think,” said Golonka. “It’s not just about singing a bunch of songs or about being in every scene with 10 costume changes that happen in under 20 seconds. It’s about high energy. Elle is always on and you really have to carry the cast with this role. If my energy is low, so is theirs.”
Nonetheless, Golonka was able to find similarities with the blonde haired, head strong beauty and bring her own experiences to the role.
“I can relate to her and any person can learn from her. Elle is all about having that confidence and believing in yourself and not letting people cloud your judgement.”
Golonka has been taking this mindset to the spotlight for the past two weekends and has been rehearsing for many months prior. She is hoping to continue to pursue theatre, after having such success with this production.
Golonka getting ready to perform By: Walter Yates Boyd
“Ideally I’ll move to New York and work there. I’m thinking of doing a summer theatre intensive before I enter the real world. It’s just something that I’m so passionate about and has opened me up to a lot of possibilities locally.”
Golonka and Elle certainly both know how to reach for the stars and go after what they want. Elle proves to herself and everyone around her that she is so much more than a pretty face, and a true force to be reckoned with.
“Elle has determination. That’s at the core of who she is. From the beginning, people just see her for her looks, but as the story goes on she proves to everyone that she has so much more to offer.”
Elle Woods is someone we all can look up to and learn from. She is fearless and unapologetically herself. She may have gone to Harvard to win back Mr. Warner, but instead she got so much more.
“With people always comparing themselves on social media, it’s really hard but Elle really challenges you to think outside of that and choose to believe in yourself rather than put yourself down.”
This role resonated with Golonka and felt that it was her responsibility to bring out that side of Elle that empowers so many women.
“She gets into Harvard Law School and, yes, it is to follow her love at first, but she then realizes that she has the chance to do something really meaningful.”
They both are “so much better” knowing that they put themselves out there and proved people wrong. They let their passions drive them and lead them to victory.
“To any women or men who are trying to pursue their dreams; performing, corporate, a teacher or anything, it’s about having the confidence in yourself and knowing that you can do it. Don’t let anything stand in your way, I know that’s something Elle is so strong about. She could never let anyone stop her.”
While the showings of Legally Blonde are over, we hope to see Golonka shine in other ways and thank her for reminding us that we must have faith in other people but mostly importantly, we must have faith in ourselves.
The cast of Legally Blonde the Musical. Taken by: Walter Yates Boyd