GG&SS
ALUMNI FOUNDATION
Traditions
GG&SS has many year worth of traditions and lore, with each succeeding generation adding their own flavor to the spirit that helps to keep students (mostly) sane during the insanity of law school.
01
The Bluebook
The bluebook shows up in the closing show as a replacement for one of the props.
02
Damocles III
Damocles III is a rubber chicken who flies in to attend the final dress rehearsal of GG&SS productions, taking to the stage as a prop replacement. Often when Damocles makes their appearance the cast will work in/ad lib lines with a chicken/pullet/egg theme. Damocles has also been known to show up at GG&SS weddings, at least once being tossed after the bouquet (the scrum for Damocles was much fiercer than for the bouquet).
03
The Herbie
Herbie DiFonzo was a beloved member of our happy crew, a larger-than-life person who was a bit of a loose cannon on stage. In keeping with the mystery of theater it all seemed to work out, often with the covering assistance of fellow cast/crew/orchestra. Herbie's memory is kept alive through the awarding of the "Herbie" - a coconut that is given out before each show to the person who inadvertently introduced a bit of chaos to the previous show.
04
The Hand
The "Hand" is a stuffed hand given out at the same time as the Herbie to the person who went above and beyond in "lending a hand" to keep the show going. And yes, the Hand is often associated with the events that led to the Herbie! As lore would have it, the Hand came from the home of the founder himself. Why he had it initially? No one knows.
05
God Save the Queen
Prior to performances of Gilbert and Sullivan shows, the group traditionally sings Gilbert and Sullivan's National Anthem. As all G&S productions were debuted during the reign of Queen Victoria, the song is sung to "the Queen" on her behalf without regard to the gender of any royalty currently in London.
06
Fancy Party
Party held after the final show, every production. Usually hosted at a cast member’s apartment or house, the dress code is “fancy.”
07
We have a stage...
A call and response chant said before every show.
​
We have a stage...
We have lights...
We have an audience...
(continue to list things that the production has) What do we need?
DICTION, DICTION, DICTION
And where do we need it?
UP THE OLD WAZOO!
08
The Drinking Song
A group drinking song that is to be sung at every fancy party, or whenever the appropriate occasion strikes. First brought to the group in 2023, it has now been sung during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
​
*starts spoken with a chant*
Myron, Mitchell, Jack!
Our founders did it right
Thanks to all their work
We’re getting drunk tonight!
To Rehnquist!
To Ginsburg!
To darling Sandra Day!
We aren’t on the Court but we’ll still drink anyway!
​
*****start singing*****
*to the tune of oh my darling clementine*
Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling G&S
We will drink to you forever
Cause we’re drinking to forget
Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Damocles
We will start the night in Hart and we will
End it at [cast favorite]
​
*switch to tune of twinkle twinkle little star*
A, A-, B+, B
Nothin’ like a T14
Even when the stars are bright
I’m in rehearsals every night
Load in load out from the cage
Now it’s time for us to rage
*Chant again to end*
Start with a G, add in an S
Double it up and what do ya get?
Sometimes a Herbie
Sometimes a Hand
Round of applause for Gilbert AND Sullivan
