....well, not exactly. You know the old wisecrack, quoting Shakespeare out of context: "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers;" and the inevitable rejoinder: "Next time your kid gets busted, call Shakespeare?" Well, there is another service we lawyers can perform--at least Chicago-area lawyers for five evenings in December: make you laugh. Yes, it's that time of year again: Dec. 8-13, Tues-Sat, the Chicago Bar Association presents its annual Christmas Spirits revue (a tradition spanning over 80 years). This year's show is called "Jury Boys;" as in all years it is a fast-paced couple of hours of wickedly funny parodies of popular and Broadway songs--with professional-caliber acting, singing (including an 8-part-harmony chorus!) and even dancing. In fact, Roger Ebert once paid us as high a compliment as anyone could ever hope: he said Richard Gere's tap dancing in the film "Chicago" was as good as the dancing in the Chicago Bar Association show! Why am I pushing this? Because, dear readers, I am outing myself as a "recovering" (far trendier, more youthful and less depressing than saying "semi-retired") lawyer. The "recovery" was taking rather nicely until I hit a snag last week--I inadvertently completed and reported having completed the mandatory continuing legal education requirement and thus must keep my license (okay, not so inadvertently--but what if one of my friends gets busted, needs a will or--and I know this is a stretch in today's economy--buys or sells a home? Gotta be able to lend a hand, you know). And--you guessed it--for the seventh year in a row, I'm in the cast. Yes, for a mere sixty bucks (get your boss to ante up, since part of it is tax-deductible as a charitable donation and the rest can be "expensed") you can get to see me sing, act, and commit attempted dancing. You might even get to see me whip out a guitar and play--hey, that happened a couple of times! Seriously, it's for a good cause: ALL the proceeds go to the Chicago Bar Charities, which help feed and clothe the poor, shore up some needy public schools, and provide shelter to the homeless and abused. This year we are offering theater tickets only--no need to pony up for a dinner package, so you can eat wherever you want. We're selling briskly for Saturday night (closing night) but excellent seats are still available the rest of the week. Sponsorship packages are also available (see www.chicagobar.org and click on Christmas Spirits)--help us keep this wonderful tradition alive; and depending on at what level you choose to sponsor the show, you or your boss will get free tickets, an ad in the program, "brand placement" in the script or even the scenery, or even a walk-on part! Details: CBA Christmas Spirits presents "JURY BOYS" A Gridiron Musical of Bench and Bar Tues. Dec. 8-Sat. Dec. 13, 2008 7:30 p.m. MERLE RESKIN (formerly Blackstone) THEATER 60 E. Balbo, Chicago Admission $60 (cheaper than the other musicals in the Loop!) Make me happy. Watch me sing, act and try to dance (think of the pratfall possibilities!). Keep a tradition alive. Help a poor kid get free books, toys and school supplies. Most importantly, help keep 65 lawyers out of trouble, out of the courtroom and out of your hair for a week!