Get the dirt on the Faculty’s #2 comedy revue!
When you hear the phrase ‘Law Follies,’ what comes to mind? For many of you, the answer might be, ‘I’ve maybe heard of it before’ or ‘I think I’ve seen someone posting in the community Facebook group about that.’ In this article, I’d like to help familiarize you with one of the Faculty’s longest-running traditions by answering some Follies frequently asked questions.
What is Law Follies?
Let’s start with the basics! Law Follies is both a group and an event. Law Follies the event is a show in late February of every year, where students at the Faculty gather to watch a series of sketches poking fun at life in the law school. Who makes these sketches, you ask? That’s where Law Follies the group comes in. Throughout the year, the Faculty’s best, brightest, and (self-declared) funniest students gather to write sketches about the epic highs and lows of law school life. In early February, these Follies-ers film these sketches with the help of volunteer thespians from the rest of the faculty.
When and where is Follies this year?
Follies 2025 will be on Thursday, February 27 at Scotiabank Theatre. Doors will open at 7:00 PM, and the show will start at 7:30. Be there or be square! Just imagine the glamour of realizing how large your classmates’ pores are when you see them up on the big screen.
When did Follies start?
Follies is a long-running tradition at the Faculty! It officially began in 1982, beginning its life as a live show with law students acting onstage before the audience. The show went digital during the pandemic, and we’ve stuck with the pre-recorded sketch format since then because it allows us greater flexibility in finding new ways to deliver our creative vision (and because the cuts let us cover up the fact that we don’t know our lines).
Do I have to pay to attend?
No! Law Follies is very fortunate to have a generous sponsor in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, which allows us to make Law Follies free for students. All you have to do to get your ticket is fill out a form that we’ll send out closer to the show, so we know how many people to expect. But if you’re feeling generous, we recommend donating to a charity of your choice in an amount equal to what you might otherwise spend on a movie ticket.
Can I bring guests?
Yes! Everyone is allowed to bring up to one guest per person, whether that’s your significant other or your best friend from Osgoode (although if your best friend is from Osgoode we might give you a seat in the back row). Just remember: what happens in Follies, stays in Follies.
Afterparty?
Yes! As mentioned above, Law Follies will be on a Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, meaning there’s lots of time afterward to enjoy the ‘afterparty’ at that week’s Call to the Bar.
My law school classmates aren’t funny. Why would I want to see a comedy show written by them?
I could tell you that any proceeds from the show go to a good cause, that movie theatre popcorn is delicious, or that it’s just nice to participate in the faculty community. But if nothing else, I can promise that Follies gives you the chance to see your classmates make absolute idiots out of themselves! You don’t have to laugh with us, we’ll take you laughing at us.
Do you have any relationship to the Follies 75 thing from earlier this year?
No! That was an event put on by alumni to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Faculty, which “borrowed” the Follies branding (our copyright suit is currently winding its way through the courts). Our show is the real deal.
Can I expect to see any celebrity guests on the Follies red carpet?
Maybe! You’ll definitely see some of the Faculty’s most-beloved professors, who work with the Follies writers to develop a professors’ sketch each year. And who knows, if you’re lucky, you might see some other Follies alumni!
Can I still be involved with Follies?
Absolutely! We’ll most likely be filming sketches up until the second week of February, so if you’ve got a burning desire to launch your acting career, get in touch with me or Humza Khan, or reach out to Follies by email, Facebook, or Instagram.
