Parody web page

The Parody is a student-written, student-produced musical theater production that brings to life one of the greatest traditions of Harvard Law School: self-mockery. Every spring, when the Parody is staged in the Ropes-Gray Room on the Law School campus, the ability of HLS students to laugh at themselves - and each other - reminds us why we put up with our school’s other traditions (e.g., stress, lack of perspective, sexual repression, an unnavigable bureaucracy, and stratospheric tuition).

This year's Parody promises to bring to Harvard Law School more irreverent but fond observations about students, faculty, administrators, and the school in general. We hope you will join us -- in the audience, on stage, or back stage!

l Who's who at p2K

l p2K show dates
and ticket information

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John Fagan '01 and Tori Jueds '01, Producers
David Bigge '01, Director
Rachel Skiffer '00, Music Director
Vivian Wong '00, Choreographer
Emily Reber '00, Assistant Choreographer
Dorothy Mares '00, Stage Manager

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Tuesday, March 7, 2000 OPENING NIGHT
Wednesday, March 8, 2000
Thursday, March 9, 2000
Friday, March 10, 2000
Saturday, March 11, 2000

Tickets for p2K will go on sale in February, 2000. Check this page again at that time for details.

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The Parody is entirely student-written. The bulk of the p2K writing process will take place in October and early November of 1999. These are some of the busiest weeks in the lives of second- and third-year law students in particular, but writing for the Parody is about as much fun as you're likely to have in law school (with the exception of your first-year Legal Reasoning and Argument class, of course).

By writing for the Parody, you can also help us out. We would like Parody 2000 to draw on the talents of as many students as possible, and to reflect the experiences of as broad a cross-section of the school as possible. We therefore encourage you, your friends, classmates -- basically anyone with a grudge -- to share with us your witty observations about HLS, to introduce to us your candidates for Parody ridicule, to write scenes, songs, and gags.

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In the Drama Society, we recognize that many law students are actually frustrated actors (or at least exhibitionists), and we are fully prepared to exploit our classmates' latent thespian aspirations. Parody auditions are therefore open to all HLS students, and will be held on Monday, January 31, 2000 and Tuesday, February 1, 2000 in the Ropes-Gray Room. Auditions are very low-key; we will give you scenes to read, and we may ask you to sing and/or dance depending on what kind of role you are auditioning for. Please check this web site again in January, 2000, for more details.

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Sometimes it seems that law is just another word for showmanship.... Be that as it may, law students are indubitably at their best when putting on a show, and putting the Parody together is truly one of the most exciting experiences at HLS.

Whatever your level of experience, tech is a great way to get involved in p2K. Students interested in tech will find a range of possible time commitments, potential leadership positions, and more fun than they ever dreamed of at law school with p2K. Experienced techies will delight in playing with the Drama Society's state-of-the-art theater toys. Rookies will benefit from expert training from past Drama Society technical directors. Please contact p2K producers John Fagan (jfagan@law.harvard.edu) or Tori Jueds (vjueds@law.harvard.edu) for information.

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Rock stars and aspiring rock stars should not deny themselves the notoriety, immortality, and inebriety of playing with the world's most fun and fabulous ensemble, the Parody Band. Last year's band brought down the house with renditions of "Here I Go To Get a New Loan" (to Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again On My Own") and "Take Another Plate of Grease From the Hark" (to Janis Joplin's "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart"). This year, we're looking for fun-loving players of all instruments.

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The substance of each year's Parody is TOP-SECRET right up until opening night of the show. Participants in p2K have sworn a blood oath of silence. However, to give you a sense of what the HLS Parody, as an institution, is all about, here's a trip through the last two decades of the millenium in Parodies:

The HLS Drama Society inaugurated the 1980’s with a memorable production of Supraman—The Parody, in which the superhero came to the Law School in order to stamp out evil and win the heart of Lois Lein. The following year, the Drama Society decided to take a different direction, and produced a series of original productions instead of Parodies. Contempt of Courtship (1981) followed one student’s misadventures in love at the Law School, and Summery Proceedings (1982) dealt with Harvard’s brilliant idea to start a summer camp for pre-L’s.

The Parody returned in fine form in 1983 with North by North Middle, in which HLS was overrun with Hitchcockinan spies in crop-dusting planes. 1984: A Romantic Musical Comedy (1984) did the seemingly impossible by mixing Orwell, romance, and showtunes. Starry Decisis (1985) followed the exploits of three aliens who appeared in Harvard Square and wrought havoc on the Law School.

The Drama Society began the third decade of its existence with a trip to Oz in The Crimson Slippers, or There’s No Place Like Holmes (1990). West Law Story (1991) and The Malfeased Falcon (1992) followed, furthering the trend of increasingly professional productions. The Phantom of the Law School (1993), My Fair J.D. (1994), and The Cocky Lawyer Picture Show (1995) rounded out the early 90’s with shows of theretofore unparalleled complexity. Raiders of the Lost Hark (1996), a multi-media extravaganza, followed. Backbench to the Future (1997) was skillfully produced at a local elementary school during the displacement of the Langdell renovation.

Current HLS students will remember the return of aliens to Harvard Law School in Reasonable Men in Black, the hilarious production of 1998. Last year, the Parody took on the themes of television, reality, and a host of over-inflated egos with HLS: The Surreal World.

Who knows what the new millenium, and p2K, may have in store for Harvard Law School? In any case, remember:

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