If it’s June, then it must be time for Bar None! It’s incredible to think that this is the 24th season of the Bar None Production Company’s annual variety show that parodies the legal profession. This year, Bar None XXIV presents Scumbag Billionaire, which premieres Wednesday night, June 17, at the Greer Garson Theatre at SMU and runs through Saturday night, June 20. We look forward to seeing you there!

Although the shows are always fantastic, that’s only a small part of what makes Bar None a great production. The show literally could not go forward without some amazingly dedicated volunteers behind the scenes, as well as loyal and very generous donors. Let’s meet some of them.

For the past 23 years, in addition to the brilliant direction and fanciful choreography of Martha Hardwick Hofmeister and Rhonda Hunter, there are thousands of volunteer hours donated by the cast and crew to make the show come to life. Some of the behind-the-scenes Bar None heroes include Lavone Arthur, Kandice Bridges, Erika Erickson, John Horany, David and Lucy Indorf, Buddy Shanahan, David Weatherbie, Nelson Weil and Frances Fazio Winikates. They are just a few of the great people who donate hundreds of hours to marketing, fundraising, scriptwriting, front and backstage management, and other important activities that make Bar None a tremendous success every year.

But there is another side to Bar None, and it is all about creating a cycle of success in our legal community. For the past 23 years, Bar None has relied upon loyal and generous donors who have given financial support to the Dallas Bar Foundation’s Sarah T. Hughes Diversity Law Scholarships, the one program chosen by the Bar None Production Company as the beneficiary of their volunteer efforts.

Ken Mighell is one of those loyal and generous donors. He has been consistent in his support and humble in accepting recognition for his generosity. Not only has he been generous in his financial support for more than 20 years, but he has also been generous with his time in volunteering to head up most of the fundraising work for the underwriting committee.

The passion of the donors and the performers in making a difference is contagious. Many of the Hughes Scholars are first generation college graduates. While the Hughes Scholars plan to practice law in Dallas, being involved in the community and giving back is a high priority for them, so that the next generation will have similar opportunities to those they have been provided.

Hon. Irma C. Ramirez, a 1991 Hughes Scholar, recently was recognized as the 2008-2009 Outstanding Mentor of the Year by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. Rey Rodriguez, the 1993 Hughes Scholar and a current partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, is the newest member of the Dallas Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where he is actively involved in raising funds for DBF programs.

And 2003 Hughes Scholar Abril Aberasturi, of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, says, “I attend the Bar None performances every year, and I am always in awe at the amazing performances and, most importantly, at the great effort that busy attorneys and judges in Dallas put into making it all come together because they want to give back to the community. This has definitely inspired me to take time from my busy work schedule and get involved in various types of community service in Dallas, hoping to also make a difference just like the Bar None participants and organizers do every single year.”

The people described above perform very different functions, but they all have at least one thing in common: a passion for making a difference in our legal community and in someone’s life. And you can make a difference, too: Join us for Bar None June 17-20, and help support the legal community in Dallas.

To purchase tickets, visit www.barnoneshow.com. Or contact Elizabeth Philipp at 214-220-7487 or ephilipp@dallasbar.org for sponsorship and ticket information.