Following in His Mother's Pawsteps: Raider Takes the Stage in Legally Blonde Jr.
From service-dog training to theatrical performance, Ebonheart's Raider Allen Spazola followed in his mother's pawsteps when he joined the cast of a Des Moines musical in 2018.
DES MOINES, IOWA: For most dogs, a trip to the theater might mean waiting patiently outside or spending the evening at home. But for Ebonheart's Raider Allen Spazola, it meant something rather different: a place in the spotlight. In the fall of 2018, Raider joined the cast of Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre's production of Legally Blonde Jr., portraying Bruiser Woods, the beloved canine companion of Elle Woods. The production ran from October 26 through November 4 at the Stoner Theater in Des Moines, marking the young dog's official theatrical debut.
Raider was still relatively early in his service-dog training journey when the production introduced him to a very different working environment. He was being personally trained for psychiatric service work by Amanda Gifford, Ebonheart Kennel's founder. Away from everyday service work alongside his person, there were theatrical lights, enthusiastic young performers, unfamiliar movements, stage activity, and live audiences. Gifford prepared him for the role with additional specialized training and cues, giving him opportunities to expand his experiences, develop confidence, and demonstrate adaptability in the theater.
Show business was already something of a family tradition. Just one year earlier, in 2017, Raider's mother, Jocianna, had appeared in Waukee High School's production of Legally Blonde. Jocianna was also Ebonheart Kennel's founding dog. Now, in 2018, her son was taking the stage in the junior adaptation of the same musical. Although she was not an official member of Raider's cast, Jocianna accompanied Gifford to most rehearsals and spent many performances backstage.
Beyond the stage itself, some of the most memorable moments unfolded between rehearsals. Gifford recalled how eagerly Raider and Jocianna anticipated seeing the young performers, whose excitement was equally apparent whenever the dogs arrived. The children greeted them with affection and enthusiasm, and the dogs returned it. Watching those relationships develop became one of the most rewarding parts of the production.
Read the original November 4, 2018 Facebook recollection
Had such an amazing time helping out on a fantastic play with these kids! Raider and Jocianna ate up all of the adoration and I got a big kick out of seeing everyone improve and perform brilliantly. Though my brain is exhausted and happy to get a break from the busy performance schedule, I’ll miss these kiddos and their goofy selves! So proud of the hard work Raider and his co-stars put in on stage and behind learning their parts! Now if only I could steal some of their boundless energy!
A photograph shared by Gifford on November 4, 2018, captures Raider and Jocianna with members of the cast at a dinner gathering. The accompanying Facebook post, written as the production concluded, praised the young actors' work both onstage and while learning their parts. It also recorded the busy performance schedule and the welcome both dogs received. The photograph's exact capture date has not been established.
Raider's theatrical adventure also attracted attention beyond the stage. Ahead of the production, he appeared alongside his trainer in an interview on CW Iowa Live, giving television viewers an introduction to the canine cast member and his upcoming role. Another television segment featured the young actress portraying Elle Woods, with Raider and his trainer making a brief appearance. These broadcasts offered a contemporary glimpse of the performers preparing for the production.
When the final performance concluded on November 4, Raider had earned an official theatrical credit. For Gifford, whose kennel was still in its early stages, seeing two dogs take part in theatrical productions just a year apart carried a special significance. Yet what remained most meaningful was the happiness they shared with the children around them.
Amanda Gifford, founder of Ebonheart Kennel, recalled: "It was such a great experience to see my dogs having so much fun and people having so much fun with my dogs. It made me very proud."
For a young actor who shared the stage with Raider in 2018, the excitement of performing alongside a real dog may remain part of the story long after the lines and songs have faded. Jocianna's passing in March 2026 gives those memories an added tenderness, but the scene they preserve is a joyful one: a mother backstage, her son taking his turn in the spotlight, and children delighted to have both dogs among them. Raider's debut left more than a name in a cast list. It became part of an experience shared by the people and dogs who brought the production to life.