Centennial Variety Show Tuesday Night

By Kelly Browne

Looking for something to do Tuesday night after the SIS receptions? Come to the Centennial Variety Show! It is free and you don't need an invitation. Ten fabulous musical acts and comedy sketches will perform in the cabaret-style show, which will be held fashionably late, from 9 to 10:30 p.m., in rooms LandMark 4-7 of the Renaissance Grand. A cash bar will be available (not that it will be necessary to enjoy the Show).

The Centennial Variety Show Band, under the able leadership of the Show's Musical Director, Bennie Braxton, has been rehearsing in earnest. The Musical Entourage consists of Bennie Braxton of Sughrue Mion at the piano, Eric Gilson of Rutgers-Camden on saxophone, and Matt Shear (husband of Joan Shear from Boston College) on guitar.  Between performances the Centennial Variety Show Band will play for your entertainment pleasure.

The acts, which will showcase the talents of geographically diverse law librarians employed in a variety of settings, include:

• “The Cell Block Tango,” from the musical Chicago. A very special surprise mystery guest will join law librarians from New York and Paris to portray the six merry murderers of the Crook County Jail. This is a reprise of the show-stopping rendition the Shearman & Sterling crew performed at the Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY) 65th Anniversary Show in 2004. He had it comin' ...
• “I'm a Law Librarian for the County,” a parody (lyrics by Kelly Browne of the Sacramento County Public Law Library) of “Wichita Lineman” by Jimmy Webb, made famous by Glen Campbell in 1968. Marcus Hochstetler of the King County Law Library will sing in this State, Court, and County Law Libraries-SIS sponsored act.
• “Willie does WestPac.” Join Western Pacific Association of Law Libraries (WestPac) officers past and present at the drive-in as they gather to watch and cheer the antics of their mascot, Willie, as he travels across WestPac country. Expect some hilarious hi-jinks from the Hawaiian-shirted buffalo as the drive-in theater goers (and you, the audience) marvel at his exploits.
• “MARC Fields and the Indicators.” A Greek chorus of Online Bibliographic Services-SIS members will give a dramatic reading of the MARC record of a legal title especially selected for humorous effect, accompanied by the beating of a flat goatskin drum and the strumming of a dulcimer.
• “The LLNERS,” that famous comedy and singing sensation duo consisting of Ken Svengalis of Rhode Island LawPress and Mike Hughes of Quinnipiac University School of Law Library, present “When I'm Not Near the Westlaw I Love, It's Lexis That's Bound to Please.” Join them for this parody (lyrics by Svengalis) of the song from Finian's Rainbow as they banter their way through their thrilling performance.
• The RIPS Singers (Research Instruction and Patron Services-SIS) are planning two numbers, “Fugue for Tinhorn Law Librarians,” from Joan Shear's skit, “Same Time, Next Library,” a centerpiece of AALL's Basic Legal Reference Workshop since 1999, and “Yesterday,” with parody lyrics by Matt Shear.
• “Showdown at the Long Branch Law Library.” The Southeastern Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (SEAALL) members reprise their winning entry in the 1989 West Party Talent Show in Reno. The skit features Ken Hirsh from the Duke University School of Law Library as Marshall “Wes Law” in a duel to the death with “Lex Reed,” played by Michael Klepper of the University of Virginia Law Library, and Taylor Fitchett, also of the University of Virginia Law Library, as “Miss Kitty.”
• “The NOCALL Beat,” written by Julie Horst of the University of California Hastings College of Law Library, and performed by Northern California Association of Law Libraries members. Those of you who attended NOCALL's May 2005 and 2006 business meetings in San Francisco will remember Horst's first composition, the “Treasurer's Rap-ort”: We're in the black, and that's a fact.
• “Those Were the Days, My Friend,” performed by a mystery group, the Purple Ribbonettes.

Who knows, there may even be an encore planned. Come and see!