Faculty of law prepares for upcoming show ‘TwiLaw: Breaking Precedent’
"Our number one goal is for people to have a good time, while at the same time raising awareness for a local organization," Healy says.
Law ShowEvery year since 1996, the University of Alberta faculty of law has put on a parody musical performance. Law Show is a production composed of law students who act, play in the band, and work behind the scenes to put on a two-night performance. This year’s Law Show is TwiLaw: Breaking Precedent.
Third-year law students Connor Meeker and Kate Healy are this year’s co-executive producers, and Sydney Salverda is the creative director. They discussed how after a lull due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s production is increasing in its numbers.
“Prior to the pandemic there was around 150 people involved … and now we’re back up to that 80 [person] range,” Healy said.
While the amount of people involved isn’t quite at pre-pandemic numbers, they explained how this year is a particularly exceptional year with the reinstatement of a band.
“During [the pandemic] we ended up losing the band for a few years. We’re very excited to bring this traditional aspect to Law Show back to the audience,” Salverda explained.
Law Show is “an opportunity to have fun, goof off, and poke fun at law and law school,” Meeker says
Law Show consists of a parody performance based on a well-known movie. It is then altered to relate to “law school and the legal profession,” according to Meeker. This year’s performance is based on the popular book and film Twilight, with notable characters like Bella, Jacob, and Edward. Specifically in TwiLaw: Breaking Precedent, Bella is a third-year law student looking to article. She encounters Jacob and Edward, who are in the legal profession and help her.
Meeker explained that Law Show is open to all law students, with no experience required. For more competitive roles there is an audition process. But there are also opportunities for involvement in the ensemble, backstage, and the band.
“Law school can feel very serious sometimes. So what I really appreciate about Law Show is [that] it’s an opportunity to have fun, goof off, and poke fun at law and law school,” Meeker said.
Planning for Law Show begins in the summer, and auditions and rehearsals happen in the fall semester. Healy expressed how the performance resonates with a lot of law students.
“[Law Show] is very well-known and that translates into the massive amount of support we get from law students,” Healy said.
Fundraising efforts go towards Boyle Street Community Services
Not only is Law Show a fun and entertaining perspective on law school, but fundraising efforts go towards a good cause. Every year a different charity is selected for the funds to go towards. This year the revenue from ticket sales, silent auctions, and other fundraising efforts will go towards Boyle Street Community Services.
“Our number one goal is for people to have a good time, while at the same time raising awareness for a local organization,” Healy said.
Along with its efforts to raise money for charity, Salverda explained how the performance is also an “opportunity for everyone to feel like they’re part of something.”
“It’s a really great opportunity for us to come together as a community, not just with the law school, but also the local charities and the wider legal community in Edmonton,” Salverda said.
TwiLaw: Breaking Precedent is showing at the Myer Horowitz Theatre from January 24 – 25. Student ticket prices are $25.88 and regular tickets are $31.05.
