The Muses, played by Ca-Zao Bui, ’24, Rebecca Chong, ’23, Sophia Houdaigui, ’24, Natalia McLaren, ’24, Emily Pastrana, ’23, and Maggie Wells, ’24, goddesses of the Law, narrated the story.

In the opening number, students sing “Law School Truth/Born This Way” as Adam Davidson, ’17, played by Sraavya Poonuganti, ’23, begins his career as a Law School student.

Hendes (Professor M. Todd Henderson, ’98), played by Rhemé Sloan, ’23, is upset about his basement office. He hatches a plan to takeover the Law School to give himself a sixth floor office.

After graduating Law School, Davidson goes on to clerk for Judge Diane Wood on the Seventh Circuit. He quickly learns he is too verbose for clerkship, discovering he is better suited to a career in academia.

Davidson sings “Cold Call the Students” (“Go the Distance”), dreaming of the day he becomes a professor at the Law School.

Davidson seeks guidance from the esteemed Professor Philnell (Professor Lee Fennell), played by Angela Peterson, ’23, to learn how to become a professor. The first step is to apply to be a Bigelow Fellow.

A journal staffer (Mayson O’Brien, ’24) sings about the woes of bluebooking and working on drafts during winter break in “It’s the Hard Knock Life.”

Hendes and Professor Bridget Fahey, played by Jacqueline Pecaro, ’23, hatch their nefarious scheme to prevent Davidson from becoming a professor by misleading him into not citing case law, singing “Before He Teach.”

Professor Tom Ginsburg, played by Joaquin Gonzalez, ’23, sings “He’s Enlightening” (Grease Lightning) about the latest wunderkind, Davidson.

The Parthenon (the Law School professors) don leather jackets to dance to “He’s Enlightening.”

Students, singing ”Zero to Bigelow,” bid to sing karaoke with Davidson at the annual CLF Auction.

Professor Douglas Baird, played by Julian Manasse-Boetani, ’23, performs his traditional duty at the CLF auction as auctioneer.

The Titans, representing Big Law, now shareholders of the University of Chicago Law School, Inc., honor their CEO, Hendes. The Titans’ number is “We Will Poach You” (“We Will Rock You”). Ben Postone, ’24, Chan Sriram, ’23, Aroon Menon, ’23, Giovanni Scalvi, ’23, Ana Vasilj, ’25, Gabbie Zook, ’24, Tyler Mikulis, ’24, and Kieran Dosanjh, ’24, played the Titans.

Jacqueline Pecaro, ’23 and Virginia Robinson, ’23 directed the musical. The team began brainstorming and working on the show in summer 2022. They settled on “Herculaws” in August 2022.

Elena Prieto, ’23, band director, led “Apollo’s Lyre.”

David Doktorman, ’24, Ryan Fane, ’23, Nathan Hensley, ’25, Elena Prieto, Leon Tsai, ’25, and Alex Worley, ’25.

Ultimately, Hendes’ corporation dissolves and Davidson prevails. More than 100 students were involved in the production of Herculaws.

“Herculaws” told the story of Adam Davidson’s rise from UChicago Law student to Seventh Circuit clerk to Bigelow Fellow to Professor of Law. Hendes (Professor M. Todd Henderson) attempts to thwart Davidson’s professorial appointment in order to takeover and incorporate the Law School.

The play was directed by Jacqueline Pecaro, ’23, and Virginia Robinson, ’23. Hayleigh Shobar, ’23 produced and Sraavya Poonugati, ’23, Gray Sutton, ’23, and Joaquin Gonzalez, ’23, wrote the musical.