School of Law student takes his talent to the stage in 'Camelot'

August 04, 2025

Billy Cook performing

This summer, Quinnipiac School of Law student Billy Hicks, JD ’27, is taking his talent to the stage while also pursuing his law degree. A professional performer, Hicks earned his Bachelor of Music in Boston in 2014. From July 11 through August 2, the rising 2L student starred as Lancelot in a production of Lerner and Loewe’s famed musical “Camelot” at Connecticut’s Brookfield Theatre.

As a vocalist and professional actor, Hicks has dedicated nearly a decade to the craft, sharing his talent around the world and in theatres across the country. His credits include selection as one of two international actors to perform with an all-Japanese cast and crew at Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan. Performing with Holland America Line and Seabourn Global, Hicks was selected by a British production company to perform with an international cast, including premiering an award-winning production from a collaboration with Sir Tim Rice. He’s also performed Off-Broadway at the Jerry Orbach Theater in New York City.

In addition to his passion for performing, Hicks always had an interest in law. In 2018, he took the LSAT.

“I was thinking about a change back then, but wound up going back to performing,” said Hicks, who continued performing for several years.

“Right after I left my last Off-Broadway show, I was home in Connecticut, and I met my now-husband. He has a business in Connecticut, and when I met him, I figured I didn’t really want to travel anymore and live the performer life," said Hicks. 

For Hicks, the timing was right to apply to law school, in more ways than one.

“The year that I applied to Quinnipiac was actually my last year to use my LSAT score,” he said.

A family connection fueled Hicks’ interest in joining Quinnipiac School of Law. Located on the North Haven Campus, the law school is situated together with university undergraduate and graduate education, health sciences, medicine and nursing schools.

“My sister got her Doctorate of Nursing Practice at Quinnipiac, so I always knew that Quinnipiac was a great school,” said Hicks.

Hicks has been thrilled with the start of his law school journey at Quinnipiac, which began in 2024.

“I think Quinnipiac is amazing. Not only is the campus a gorgeous place to be, but every staff member, from professors to the Career Center, is so reachable and so invested in making sure that everyone is happy and comfortable and knows what support systems are available for them,” said Hicks. “It’s so nice to walk to through the building and know who everyone is, faculty and students. My class is a little bit larger, but I know most everyone, which I think is really nice. We have a big variety of people, and everyone knows who everyone is. It’s a nice feeling.”

Coming from performing, Hicks feels there are some similar strengths that can be applied to being a lawyer, such as effective communication.

“I think there’s the same foundation for success. If you’re not effectively communicating as a performer, you’re not an effective performer; and if you’re not effectively communicating as an attorney, you’re not an effective attorney,” he said. “That aspect of being a lawyer really appeals to me. It’s communication on its highest level.”

Hicks also enjoys working with clients.

“With all of my traveling, I’ve been getting to meet people and getting to know people; and I feel like being a lawyer very much includes that aspect, as well. If you don’t understand who you’re advocating for, then you really can’t be successful. So I think my skills are a good fit for law school,” Hicks said.

This summer, in addition to singing perfectly in the role of Lancelot, Hicks is interning with a family law attorney in Westport and is also a Sappern Fellow. The fellowship trains and places Quinnipiac Law students in the New Haven Court Clerk’s office to support unrepresented survivors of domestic violence.

“Family law wasn’t really on my radar, but now that I’ve been exposed to it, I think it fits well with my skills as a performer in really getting to know people and helping them through what’s probably the most stressful time in their life. I’ve been enjoying the work very much,” said Hicks.

Between his internship and fellowship duties, Hicks has spent his summer involved in the legal world five days a week but still has time to feed his passion for performing on evenings and weekends. He auditioned for “Camelot” in April.

“This year, with the stress of the first year of law school, I wanted to do something for myself this summer; and I saw that Brookfield was doing Camelot. It’s a show that I really love,” said Hicks.

The well-known nonprofit community theater is now in its 68th year. Hicks performed there in two shows while in high school and has been enjoying his return to its stage.

“Brookfield is a great asset to the community. They’re really big on inclusion and diversity and making sure that throughout their productions many different people are represented and feel seen and included,” said Hicks. “It feels like a really good way to do something that I love to do and makes me happy, and to help out a great theatre that has a great mission.”

Appreciative audiences are enjoying “Camelot” and Hicks’ performance as Lancelot.

“People are saying how much they enjoy the show and my performance in the show, which is really nice to hear,” said Hicks. “Getting to share my talent to help make someone’s evening better is a really nice reward.”

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