October 19, 2009

Cooley Law School Announces Fourth Season Sponsorship of Stages of The Law Theater Series

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and leaders from three Lansing theater groups today announced the return of the successful, collaborative theater series, Stages of the Law, a three-part series featuring stage plays with legal themes. Sponsored by Cooley, the fourth Stages of the Law season marks the continuation of a one-of-a-kind partnership among the theater groups and Cooley Law School.

Also returning as part of the Stages of the Law series are educational talk-back discussions following designated 2009-2010 performances (see below.) Cooley professors will lead talk-back forums following three special performances to discuss the legal themes featured in the plays. A buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) ticket special is offered exclusively for these performances.

"Cooley recognizes the valuable contribution that our local theater groups make to our community and is proud to continue supporting the local arts through Stages of the Law," Cooley Law School President Don LeDuc said. "We are excited about how these three plays can further the conversation about justice and society."

The 2009-2010 Stages of the Law series will feature:

A Few Good Men (Oct. 22 – Nov. 1, 2009)
Following the Oct. 22, 7 p.m. performance, Cooley Professor Charlie Palmer will lead a talk-back discussion. This discussion will also feature actors Matt Szymanski, a U.S. Army veteran, and David Dunckel, an inspector general for the Michigan Army National Guard in Lansing. This show will be presented by Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing, Mich. Phone: (517) 428-5700l www.riverwalktheatre.com.

Much Ado About Nothing (Dec. 4 – 6, 2009)
Following the Dec. 6, 2 p.m. performance, Cooley Professor Ron Bretz will lead a talk-back discussion. This show will be presented at Lansing Community College’s Black Box Theatre. Phone: (517)372-0945; www.lcc.edu/hpa/events.

Wait Until Dark (March 19 – April 11, 2010)
Following the March 31, 7 p.m. performance, Cooley Professor Kathy Swedlow will lead a talk-back discussion. This show will be presented at the BoarsHead Theater, 425 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, Mich. Phone: (517) 484-7805; boarshead.org.

"BoarsHead Theater is thrilled to be involved once again with the Stages of the Law program," said Paul Riopelle, interim artistic associate at BoarsHead Theater. "We appreciate Cooley's generous underwriting support as well as the legal faculty's expertise and interest in the talk-back sessions about fascinating legal issues relevant to our shows."

Individual tickets range from $10 to $30 for adults, from $5 to $25 for seniors, and from $5 to $14 for students. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased individually from the theater presenting the play. For more information, visit www.cooley.edu/newsevents/events/stages.html.

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation. Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs. Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September. Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.

About the 2009-2010 Stages of the Law plays:

A Few Good Men 
A Broadway hit about the trial of two Marines for complicity in the death of a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay. The Navy lawyer, a young man more interested in softball games than the case, expects a plea bargain and a cover-up of what really happened. Prodded by a female member of his defense team, the lawyer eventually makes a valiant effort to defend his clients and, in so doing, puts the military mentality and the Marine code of honor on trial.

Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare set in Messina, Sicily. The story concerns a pair of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are due to be married in a week. To pass the time before their wedding day, they conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for one another. The prince's illegitimate brother, Don John, however, jealous of both Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, plans to sabotage the coming wedding.

Wait Until Dark
Sam Hendrix, persuaded by a mysterious woman, transports a doll across the Canadian border unaware that several grams of heroin were sewn inside. When the woman is murdered, three con men come looking for the valuable toy. Finding only Sam's blind wife Susy at home, they weave a clever deception in an attempt to get her to give up the doll's whereabouts.