Improvatar

On May, 12, 2010 Monsignor Farrell High School and the Farrell Improv Players put on their annual Improv show entitled Improvatar. The title was a play on words based off of the number one box office hit Avatar. Directed by Andrew Monteleone (also director of the Farrell Players) the actors/actresses in the show always seem to amaze me with what random things come to their heads.

The show welcomed back many alumni as well as many up and coming young men interested in this kind of entertainment. Girls from various schools over Staten Island are welcomed as well, but not many flock to this kind of production. Michael Leavy (Class of 2008) served as our host for the evening. He introduced the various games and explained to the audience what the actors would be doing in these various scenes.


Some great performers of the night included: Matt Burns, John D'Agastino, John Elias, Tom Heintz, Kristina Imperial, Erin Kenny, John Kiame, Jason Leavy, James O'Hare, Michael Palladino, Marrick Smith, and Jonathan Wood. In the closing remarks some of the seniors all made a special effort to say how honored they were to be asked to come back to perform in the Farrell Lobby for this night of comedy.


Those of you familar with improv and have seen the famous show Whose Line Is It Anyway? might recognize some of names of the games these young actors/actressses play. The way in which they act out these adapted scenes are very impressive. I found myself saying "I have no idea how these kids do this." Some of these games include: Freeze, Change, Hidden Line, Ask Mr. Smart, Entertainment Forums, Hands Only, Translations, Hollywood Director, World's Worst, Scenes from a Hat, Two Line Vocabulary, Party Quirks, Three-Headed Broadway Star, and Broadway Showstopper.


Take a look at some of the clips from Improvatar. Don't miss out on this annual show in the Monsignor Farrell High School lobby. For just $8 a ticket I can guarantee you will experience a night of comedy. Some of you who think you "aren't into" this kind of humor, I would recommend going just to see how talented these young adults are.

Monsignor Paddack, the principal of Monsignor Farrell HIgh School ended the night by giving out an award for the person who made him laugh the most. "Matty, you've done it again," he said similing as the audience cheered. Matt Burns is an alumni from the class of 2007. He now attends the College of the Staten Island and some of you might've caught his performance in A Midsummer Night's Dream at CSI. His "big" humor and ability to reach people through comedy is really great! He can change his voice and do many impersonations that are real to life.

This video below shows Matt Burns and Marrick Smith: