BY NIKKI DJOKOVICH
They can sing. They can act. They can legislate.
Borough politicians took to the stage to perform in “Legislative Acts,” a sold-out fundraising event held Saturday night at Queens College’s LeFrak Concert Hall.
The audience roared with laughter throughout the 16-act performances, which included song, dance, comedy and more.
Each skit featured jokes about election season and the officials themselves.
Former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr. and former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman dressed as Superman and Wonder Woman, respectively, for their skit called “Save the World.” The two brought the audience, and themselves, through belly-laughs, as they worked together to recall their lines while jokingly bickering.
In another skit, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer asked Congressmember Greg Meeks if he had been frequenting the gym. Van Bramer then warned the U.S. Representative not to “take selfies.”
Queens Borough President-elect Melinda Katz sang her rendition of “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!”
The performance concluded with all of the cast members singing “We Are the World,” together on stage.
However, in their version of the song, the chorus was changed to, “We are the world. We are Bill’s children” – referring to Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio. The audience broke into hysterics for the final laugh of the evening’s performance.
Councilmember Ruben Willis and Assemblymember Aravella Simotas
The event benefited the college’s programs, Big Buddy and Women and Work.
Big Buddy aims to create stability and support for homeless children by pairing them with student mentors from Queens College. Women and Work serves victims of domestic and family violence, single mothers, immigrants, displaced homemakers and downsized workers by focusing on job-training and life skills that can enhance self-esteem with social capital and establish a social network.
Councilmember Julissa Ferreras singing the “Election Tango.”
Councilmember Leroy Comrie stops the fighting between Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder and Councilmember Ruben Wills over who decided to wear their wig first.
Former Borough President Claire Shulman (right) and current Borough President Helen Marshall (left) pass their words of wisdom on to Borough President-elect Melinda Katz before her solo routine of “On My Own.”
Assemblymember William Scarborough, Congressmember Grace Meng and the Ensemble sing their new take on a classic, calling it, “No Business Like Small Business.”
Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder and Queens County Clerk and former Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer in their skit, “Goldfeder.”
City Comptroller John Liu accompanied by the Ensemble singing “Ticket to Ride.”
