A dog found shivering on the streets of Kansas City just after Christmas is now taking curtain calls at one of Overland Park's most popular venues.

Rocky, a stray with no microchip, was discovered cold and wet by a crew member working on the "Legally Blonde" production at the New Theatre and Restaurant. After unsuccessful attempts to locate his original family, swing tech Austin Van Becelaere adopted him.

"I had just closed on a house with a yard so I was in the market for a dog so I instantly took him in once we figured out he wasn't chipped and belonged to anyone," Van Becelaere told KCTV5.

Van Becelaere, who builds sets and runs shows at the theater, said management approached him about a month or two after the adoption and asked whether Rocky could play Bruiser Woods, the beloved Chihuahua carried by Elle Woods throughout the musical. No audition required. Van Becelaere said they took one look at Rocky and decided he was their Bruiser.

Rocky got the part.

He is now listed in the official cast on the New Theatre's website as "Rocky VanBecelaere" playing Bruiser Woods. He shares the stage with another dog, Pugsworth Sterrett-Roate, who plays Rufus Bonafonte.

How to see Rocky perform

"Legally Blonde: The Musical" opened July 2 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 6, at the New Theatre and Restaurant, 9229 Foster St. in Overland Park. Evening performances begin with doors at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and curtain at 7:35 p.m. Matinees are offered Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from $47.50 to $78.25 and include parking, dinner and the show. Drinks and dessert cost extra. The box office number is (913) 649-7469.

The New Theatre, which opened in 1992 as the only year-round dinner theater in Kansas, seats 627 in a stadium-table configuration.

Coming up at the New Theatre

The next production, "The Hallelujah Girls," opens Sept. 10 and runs through Nov. 15.