Attorney trades in briefcase for a microphone

HARDYSTON — Lauren McFadden, a lawyer with Laddey, Clark & Ryan of Sparta, is taking a step out of the courtroom and into the limelight of show business. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the New Jersey Law Journal will produce its fourth biennial Celebration of Lawyers in the Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The all-lawyer production of the 1961 Tony award-winning musical comedy romance, “Bye Bye Birdie” will feature more than 50 lawyer-actors, dancers and orchestra members. “I’m so excited to be stepping out onto the stage with my peers in a musical that I love. It feels good to put my daily stresses aside for a few hours, have fun and help a great cause,” said McFadden. The evening benefits the New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that provides free legal services to artists and arts organizations. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., more than 400 New Jersey lawyers, friends and family will stroll through the NJPAC lobby viewing paintings, photography and sculpture created by more than 30 New Jersey attorneys, while listening to piano soloists and the “Nick Pablo Thang” band and enjoying cocktails and a buffet dinner. Then, at 7:45 “Bye-Bye Birdie” begins. McFadden, who is a Hardyston resident, has performed in community theater productions throughout the tri-state area since she was 7 years old. She has been an associate with Laddey, Clark & Ryan for 5 years. She specializes in personal injury and municipal prosecution. For details including participating attorneys and how to order tickets visit www.njvla.org.