Legally Blonde: The Musical

“Legally Blonde: The Musical” premiered at Utah State University Nov. 1 and runs until Saturday.

One scene in particular has caused some controversy on campus.

Kayli Jackson, a USU student who is starring as the lead Elle Woods kissed her real-life teacher Richie Call onstage.

“I wouldn’t say it’s unethical, but it is definitely not the best practice,” said Alanna Hill, assistant director of 

Student Involvement and Leadership at USU. “As a professional that works with students I would never put myself in that situation.”

Some students who attended the musical were surprised to find out Call was an actual professor of Jackson.

“I feel like that parallels the whole story line of the musical really well,” said Trent Morrison, a USU student who attended the musical. “It’s strange that he plays her professor on stage and is also her professor in real-life. I personally would feel really uncomfortable about that.”

Students from the theater department said the onstage kiss was nothing out of the ordinary. Outside the department other students felt it was inappropriate.

“I’m really surprised the department would allow that,” Morrison said. “I don’t know how it couldn’t be awkward with your teacher after that. It just seems very scandalous to me.”

Theater student Katie Francis was in a similar situation when she was required to kiss Call onstage for her performance in “Big River” earlier this semester.

“If I had to kiss my physics teacher that would be way different than having to kiss a theater teacher,” Francis said. “The theater department is different in that way.”

Francis felt her relationship with Call remained unchanged after their onstage kiss.

“Richie conducts himself with such professionalism,” Francis said. “He has a really good relationship with his students.”