Allard Law alumni shine in The Lawyer Show: The Addams Family Musical

From May 28-31, The Lawyer Show is returning for their annual musical theatre production in support of Touchstone Theatre. More than 30 legal professionals from across the Lower Mainland will give their spookiest performance yet in the comical Addams Family Musical.

Allard Law alumni Rhona McCallum Lichtenwald (LLB ’89) and Alison Colpitts (JD ’19) are among the Allard School of Law alumni performing in this year’s show. Rhona, who will be appearing in her 11^th The Lawyer Show, is a recently retired family lawyer and mediator who uses her creative talents to tutor students for the BC Bar Exams. Alison is a civil litigator at Clark Wilson LLP and a passionate advocate of pro bono work who loves the theatre. 

We asked Rhona and Alison about their characters, the cross-over between theatre and legal practice, and why they love The Lawyer Show.

Q: What role are you playing in this year’s presentation of The Adams Family Musical? Did you have an immediate personal connection with your character or was it more challenging to find your character’s voice?

Rhona Lichtenwald (RL): I’m playing Grandma Addams. I hope I don’t have a personal connection because she’s 102 years old! I wanted to play Grandma because she’s hilarious. She brews potions and concoctions and interjects with her pearls of ancient wisdom. She also has a really sweet relationship with her grandson Pugsley. 

Alison Colpitts (AC): I’m playing Alice Beineke, an uptight housewife from Ohio who breaks out into rhyme when she’s nervous. So, no, no immediate connection with her! Ultimately, Alice just wants to be heard and her biggest obstacle to that has always been herself. She needs to learn how to speak her mind so that her true self comes forward. The great news is that the show provides her with just that opportunity. 

Q: You’ve both been involved in some capacity with The Lawyer Show for a number of years. How did you get involved and what keeps you coming back?

RL: I’ve always had an interest in theatre. I play a little piano and like to sing and ham it up. I originally got involved in 2011, which was The Lawyer Show’s first musical. I come back year after year because I love doing the show and supporting Touchstone Theatre – a local theatre that produces Canadian plays and supports emerging Canadian playwrights and artists. I love meeting new cast members and reconnecting with ones I’ve done past shows with. 

As a lawyer you tend to only know lawyers in your field, but through The Lawyer Show I’ve met lawyers in every aspect of practice and students as well. It’s really fun and helps me stay young and engaged. Doing the show has inspired me to take both singing and tap-dancing lessons. It’s also inspired me to audition for other community theatre – it’s become my passion! 

AC: I heard about The Lawyer Show from a fellow student in my first year of law school. It was too late for me to participate that year, but I made sure to audition for the next show. Since 2018, I’ve only missed one show! I have long loved both musical theatre and performing, so was thrilled to find out there was a creative outlet for me within the legal industry. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore my artistic passions while making friends with people with all sorts of different legal careers. Plus, it raises money for charity! 

Q: Are there parts of your legal training and practice that enrich your involvement in the arts? Similarly, are there aspects of your involvement in the arts that impact your professional legal career?

AC: I’m a litigator and I often say that going to court and going on stage are practically the same. You need to prepare, know your role, know your audience and be prepared for any curveballs so that you can react, adapt and stay on track. I also get the same type of nervousness each time before I walk on stage or before I start my submissions in a courtroom. For me, it’s a thrill! 

RL: I was primarily a barrister when I first began my practice. I actually enjoyed going to court before I had my children and found the stresses of litigation steering me towards Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. But the preparation for court and the presentation of a case is definitely good training for theatre. Similarly, teaching the Professional Legal Training Course for ten years also involved some level of theatrics! Theatre performance and fundraising helped me be more engaged in the legal community, which in turn expanded my network and enriched my practice. 

Q: What has been the best or most rewarding part of rehearsing this year’s show?

RL: In addition to getting to know the new cast members, Touchstone also has a new Artistic Director this year, Lois Anderson. Lois is a well-known theatre director and it’s been a thrill and privilege learning scenes, blocking and lines under her superb direction. We also have a new Music Director this year, Lia Wolfe, and I’m enjoying learning the music with her. I love the process of creating the show – there are new experiences every year!

AC: I always love seeing how everyone in the cast grows into their characters over time. It’s so much fun to watch everyone experiment and take risks—all with the goal of making the show the best it can be. 

Q: Why should everyone see this show?

AC: The Addams Family is a hilarious show with some outstanding dancing and some absolutely ridiculous plots. It is pure entertainment and joy, and everyone will leave with a smile on their face. 

RL: Because it’s very funny! The music is great, the characters are very well written with great jokes and we have a fabulous cast this year with top-notch talent. We also have a fantastic eight-piece band of legal and quasi-legal pros who are immensely talented. 

Finally, come and support Touchstone Theatre. The theatre staff work so hard to produce an outstanding season of plays. They devote countless hours to creating The Lawyer Show and giving us the opportunity to perform, build friendships and community and just have fun! 

The Lawyer Show: The Addams Family Musical runs from May 28 through May 31 at the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. Get your tickets before they sell out! Use the Allard Alumni promo code Addams2025 to get Zone B tickets for May 28 and 29 for $65.

Alison Colpitts (JD ‘19) is a civil litigator at Clark Wilson LLP, where she practices in commercial, estates, and family litigation, and any other type of litigation that comes her way. After graduating from Allard, she clerked at the British Columbia Court of Appeal for Justices Mary Newbury and Bruce Butler. Alison is now a long-time host of the Allard Alumni dinners with law students, having enjoyed them herself as a student. Alison volunteers with the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia and is a passionate advocate of pro bono work. She is an author or contributing author for three Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia practice manuals. 

Rhona McCallum Lichtenwald (LLB ‘89) practiced in Vancouver as a solo family lawyer, mediator and collaborative lawyer from 1990 until her recent retirement. She was a founding member and co-chaired the Vancouver Collaborative Divorce Association and taught the Professional Legal Training Course from 2004-2014. In 2015, she established Hillcrest Law & Mediation, providing legal, mediation, CPD, and bar exam tutoring services. Rhona was accredited by the Law Society of British Columbia as a Family Law Mediator and was a Registered Roster Family Mediator of Mediate BC. Rhona has presented to lawyers, law students and legal advocates, including Rise Women’s Legal Centre, Legal Aid BC, the Law Foundation of BC, the CBA and CLEBC. Additionally, she volunteered with Access Pro Bono, Mediate BC, Battered Women’s Support Services and Metro Theatre. In January 2025, Rhona became a retired LSBC member while continuing to provide Bar Exam tutoring as Hillcrest Bar Tutor and teaching mediation at Rise to Allard Law students. Rhona loves to travel and performs in local theatre productions. She is the proud mother of a lawyer, a theatre professional and two cats.