On April 16, 2025, Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C. was delighted to sponsor a successful charity fundraiser organized by the St. Thomas More Society. The special event featured a dress rehearsal showing of the hit musical “Waitress” at the Majestic Theater at 131 Elm Street in West Springfield.
The Majestic Theater generously allowed the St. Thomas More Society to invite its members and friends to purchase tickets at a special ticket price, with proceeds benefiting the Society’s Hon. Kent B. Smith Scholarship Fund. The evening began with a reception during which participants could mingle and enjoy refreshments served by the Majestic Café. After attendees took to their seats, they received a warm welcome from Majestic Producing Director Danny Eaton and our own Michael McDonough, who greeted attendees together on stage prior to the performance.
The play was very well received by the audience, with particular praise for the lead actress Chelsie Nectow, an accomplished performer from New York City, who brilliantly portrayed the character of Jenna amid a talented cast.
From left to right, Yewende Odetoyinbo, Chelsie Nextow, and Lyndsay Hart perform on stage at the Majestic Theater.
Proceeds from the event supported the Hon. Kent B. Smith Scholarship Fund, which honors the legacy of the Honorable Kent B. Smith, an accomplished jurist who served with distinction on the Massachusetts Appeals Court. The Fund supports area college and law school students who demonstrate both academic excellence and a commitment to their faith. It is important to note that while the St. Thomas More Society is a Catholic organization, the scholarship program welcomes applicants from all faith backgrounds, and people of all religions are invited to participate in the Society’s events. This inclusive approach aligns perfectly with our firm’s values of diversity and community support.
Before his appointment to the bench, Justice Smith built a prominent legal practice. He also shared his knowledge as a dedicated professor and lecturer, shaping the minds of law students and practitioners throughout the region. Justice Smith was known for his sharp legal intellect, unwavering integrity, and commitment to justice and the community. His service to the legal profession and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to inspire generations of attorneys, making it particularly fitting that this scholarship bears his name.
Associate Justice Kent B. Smith
The St. Thomas More Society is a non-profit association of Catholic lawyers from the four western counties of Western Massachusetts. EFC is proud that its own managing partner, Michael G. McDonough, has served as the Society’s director since 2017, demonstrating our firm’s ongoing commitment to community service and professional leadership. Additionally, over 20 EFC employees and spouses attended the event.
St. Thomas More once said, “The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” This message ties into community service as it emphasizes how seemingly small acts of service and kindness—like supporting a local scholarship fund or attending a charity fundraiser—can have importance beyond what appears on the surface. It reflects how the everyday commitment to serving others, spending time together outside of our busy schedules, and raising funds to benefit hard-working area scholars can build character and strengthen bonds in our community.
EFC extends its sincere thanks to the Majestic Theater and the St. Thomas More Society for allowing the firm to participate in this fundraising effort, and to all who attended the performance of “Waitress” in support of this cause.
“Waitress” has been a hit Broadway musical, based on the 2007 indie film of the same name. It introduces the audience to Jenna, a waitress at Joe’s Pie Diner in the American South. Growing up, she learned to bake from her mother, who had a pie recipe for every life situation. As an adult, baking becomes Jenna’s greatest joy and the best medicine for her dysfunctional marriage and disappointments of small-town life. With a Tony Award-nominated score by Sara Bareilles, “Waitress” features an eclectic cast who bring this hopeful story to life.
“Waitress” is playing at the Majestic Theater through the month of May with the final showing on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Majestic’s front office at (413) 747-7797, and the entire calendar of showings can be found at the Majestic’s website online.
For anyone who could not attend the fundraiser and wish to donate to the St. Thomas More Society’s Hon. Kent B. Smith Scholarship Fund, donations may be made by check payable to the “St. Thomas More Society” and mailed to the Society’s treasurer, William F. Kern, at 21 Weaver Road, Springfield, Mass. 01107.
For more information about the St. Thomas More Society or the Hon. Kent B. Smith Scholarship Fund, please contact Attorney Michael G. McDonough at mgm@efclaw.com.
