The Law Show is an annual variety show organized by the University of Alberta's law students, and this year marks the 18th year of the show. The purpose of the Law Show is to take a humorous look at the law school experience and the legal profession in general. It provides an opportunity for law students to showcase their considerable acting, dancing, musical and vocal talent. Law Show is one of the main institutions that sets the University of Alberta's Law School apart from others. Students, faculty, and staff collaborate in staging a musical production, with all net proceeds benefiting a local charity chosen by the student body. In addition to the excitement in the theater, the law students host a gala and a silent auction, during the intermission on both performance nights, featuring items and services donated by many local businesses. This event is not only for law student, everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and support the law students, help raise funds for a local charity, and to be entertained by this fun-filled show.
In Law Show 2013 the audience will follow our hero Charlie as he finds the golden ticket and wins a tour of the mysterious Law Factory. But the chance of a lifetime soon turns to disaster when an evil saboteur starts to wreak havoc! Will the world be plunged depths of anarchy? Will Charlie save the day? Don't adjust your wonkavisions, it's…Charlie and the Law Factory!
Law Show 2013 has enlisted the assistance of more than 175 students and over 20 faculty and staff, who are working as performers, writers and organizers. The sheer number of volunteers involved in Law Show illustrates the tremendous student spirit and camaraderie that is the hallmark of the University of Alberta Law School.
Each year Law Show relies on the help of law firms and businesses to cover the operating expenses of the show production. This sponsorship allows all of the Law Show's revenues to be directed to the selected charity. This year marks the second year of Law Show's charitable commitment to the Zebra Child Protection Centre. Edmonton's Zebra Child Protection Centre, the first centre of its kind in Canada, enables our community to respond to child abuse with a professional, compassionate and highly integrated program of healing and justice. In both spirit and amenities, Zebra is a child-centred service, from its playroom, children's art and homemade blankets through its timely support services and its effective and rigorous approach to investigations. http://zebracentre.ca/
Since its inception in 1996, the Law Show has donated more than $250,000 to various charities.
SHOWS: Friday, February 8th 7pm, and Saturday, February 9th 7pm
Ticket Sales: 12pm - 2 pm at the Couches from January 28 - February 8. Tickets will be available at the door, although tickets for Saturday will be limited at the door.
Price: $18 for Friday (open seating), $20 for Saturday (reserved seating)
Interview with Andrew Dixon, Creative Director of Law Show 2013 'Charlie & The Law Factory'
Andrew Dixon, Law Show 2013 Creative Director, at rehearsals
1. For those who have never heard of it before can you explain what the Law Show is and a little about its history?
Law Show is a full-scale musical production that is completely organized and run by law students. Students do everything! They write the scripts, they act, they sing, they dance and they play in the band. This is the 18th year of Law Show, and every year it gets bigger and better. The ultimate purpose of Law Show is to raise money for a charity. All of the proceeds from the show get donated to our charitable partner. Last year alone we raised almost $30,000. Our current charity is the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
Cobi Dayan (1L), who plays the lead character 'Charlie'
2. Can you tell me a little about this year's Law Show, 'Charlie & the Law Factory'? Where did you get the idea from to choose this as an inspiration for the 2013 Law Show?
After last year's performance, The Wizard of Laws, the writers felt basing the show off of an established story worked really well. It gave our writers a nice concrete outline to work with. In deciding on Charlie and the Law Factory we were also looking for a theme that would work with the Faculty of Law's Centenary celebrations. In this case we crafted a story around the 100 year anniversary of the Law Factory to incorporate the centenary celebrations into the show.
3. What should the audience expect this year from the Law Show?
The audience can expect a lot of fun and a lot of energy. It's a fun show with non-stop jokes and lots of outrageous characters. The performers are incredibly enthusiastic and when you watch them, their enthusiasm is contagious. The audience can also expect to be impressed. Everyone onstage may be a law student, but there is a professional quality and level of talent to this show that may surprise some people.
4. When do preparations for the Law Show begin? Talk me through the different steps/process that you go through to get this show to the stage and ready for a live audience?
Preparations for the Show begin almost as soon as the curtain closes on the previous year's show. Directors, writers and producers are appointed in March of the year before the show. From there they work over the summer on choosing a theme, crafting the script, choosing the songs, finding sponsorships and arranging the logistics.
5. When did rehearsals starts? How are they going so far?
Rehearsals start right away in September. That's when the actors, singers, musicians, and dancers volunteer to participate in the show. All of the work that the production team puts in over the summer allows us to hit the ground running as soon as school starts. Rehearsals generally occur once a week throughout the first semester. Then the real work starts in January. Volunteers have rehearsals every night for almost three weeks prior to the show, committing upwards of 40 hours a week to the show.
The rehearsals have been going great. They can be long and exhausting, but we have a great group of performers and volunteers who have unending capacity for patience and dedication.
6. What audience are you aiming the show at?
We try to appeal to a broad audience. Although we are all law students, and the majority of the audience is from the legal community, we try to keep the references to Lord Denning to a minimum. We really want this to become a community event.
7. Any teasers for the show that you can give us to whet the theatrical appetite of the reader to entice them to come to the show?
Oompa loompas, a break dance fight, Clint Eastwood and his chair, 8 amazing songs, an incredible band… I don't know what more people could be looking for.
8. Can you tell us anything about which faculty are involved in the show this year? Any surprise appearances that you can give us some hints about?
I don't want to give too much away. But for people who have come to the show before, an old friend is sure to come to the rescue at the end.
Jillanna Sehn (2L), Law Show 2013 dancer
9. What are the challenges and/or high points for you with a show like Law Show, in particular with 'Charlie and the Law Factory?
The challenges are always going to be logistical. It is such a big production. This year there will be over 144 performers in the Show. On top of this, there are another 50 volunteers who are helping with the silent auction, marketing, sponsorship and operations. Trying to organize all these people and to be mindful of their academic and other extracurricular commitments is challenging.
The main high point is always performing. There is nothing like it. It's addictive. When you get on stage and the audience laughs at a joke, or cheers after a song, all of the stress and nerves you had leading up to the show fade away.
10. What are your main hopes for the show on February 8th and 9th?
I hope we get big, enthusiastic audiences out to the show. I hope we raise a lot of money for the Zebra Centre. I hope the performers have a great time on stage, and I hope I don't forget my lines.
11. Can you tell me a little about the cause that the show is supporting this year, the Zebra Child Protection Centre?
The Zebra Centre is an organization that brings together professional groups with the aim of protecting the interests and wellbeing of abused children throughout their experience with the criminal justice system. They work with organizations such as Edmonton Police Services, Alberta Children's Services, the Crown, child and family advocates, as well as others, to create a collaborative approach to investigate child abuse claims, protect the victims' rights, and advocate on behalf of the child and their caregivers. The goal is to simplify the process to focus on the best interests of the child and focus on healing and rebuilding. It is an important and necessary organization, which we are happy to support.
12. Is there anything else you would like to share with me regarding the 2013 Law Show, 'Charlie & the Law Factory'?
The show is on February 8th and 9th at 7:00pm at the Myer Horowitz Theatre in the Student Union Building. Tickets are on sale now. For students, faculty and staff they can buy tickets everyday this week from 12-2pm at the couches in front of the library. For anyone else looking for tickets, please e-mail lawshow@ualberta.ca. Tickets for the Friday February 8th show are $18 for general admission, and tickets for the Saturday February 9th show are $20 with reserved seating. The Saturday performance will also feature a silent auction during intermission with dozens of items to be auctioned off, including a big screen TV, autographed Oiler's jerseys and much more!