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:

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Monsignor Farrell is hosting their annual Improv Show this upcoming Wednesday, May 12th from 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM in the Farrell Lobby. Those of you who aren't familiar with what an "Improv Show" is, it is very similar to the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? It is very comedic and promises to keep you laughing all night.

The show consists of a panel of performers who create characters, scenes and songs on the spot, in the style of short-form improvisation games, many taken from theatresports. Topics for the games were based on either audience suggestions or predetermined prompts from the host. 


The doors open at 7:00 and the show will start at approximately 7:30 PM. Admission costs $8 and will once again be held in the Monsignor Farrell Lobby. If you were fortunate enough to catch the "Farrell Players'" performance of Anything Goes this year, you will definitely see some familiar faces in the show.


For those of you who haven't seen the famous Whose Line Is It Anyway? show, take a look at the clip below to get a feel for what Improv is all about.

Opening Up This Weekend....

 If you're looking something to do this weekend (April 21, 22, 23, 24) check out these shows opening up on the island!

Wagner College
Disney's Beauty and the Beast 
April 21, 22, 23, 24
        28, 29, 30
May 1, 2
All shows are at 8:00 PM
Special performances that have 2PM shows are:
April 23, May 1, May 2
To purchase tickets in advance call the Box Office at:
(718) 390-3259


Wagner College puts on about four high quality performances a year. This is the last of their season so don't miss out!

St. Joseph By the Sea High School

Thoroughly Modern Millie
April 23, 24, 25, 30

May 1, 2

Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 PM

Sunday performances are at 2:00 PM

Tickets will be available at the door.

Monsignor Farrell's 7th Annual 

Rock & Roll Oldies Show
April 24th
6:30 - 11:00 PM
$65 per ticket
To purchase tickets call: (718) 987- 2900 ext. 230


A night of great "Oldies" filled with Leslie Gore, Jay Siegel songs/performances and much much more!

 

St. John Villa Academy

Once on This Island

April 22, 23, 24

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door

To purchase tickets call (718) 447-4150

This is also the last weekend for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the College of Staten Island!

"Bon Voyage" to Monsignor Farrell's Production of "Anything Goes"

The Farrell Players will close the curtains tonight on their final of four performances of "Anything Goes." Directed by Andrew Monteleone and choreographed by Tanya Nicklaus-Garaffa, "Anything Goes" proved to be a truly enjoyable show. A cast of fifty-one talented and dedicated high school students (freshmen-seniors) put an extraordinary amount of hard work into making this show a success. Every show that the Farrell Players put on rarely disappoints. Go check out this high quality, low costing night on the town!

"Anything Goes" marks Mr. Monteleone's tenth year as director and sixteenth year as musical director at Monsignor Farrell. In addition to him being a member of the physicals faculty, he is also the founder and president of the Subset players (another local theater group on the island that does performances mainly in the summer.) This is Tanya's fourth year as the choreographer of the Farrell Players. A graduate from Muhlenberg College, Tanya has an astounding resume in dance and theater. I had the privilege of working with "Monte" and Tanya on two shows as a Farrell Player. Performing both Guys and Dolls and South Pacific (2006 and 2007)  was a wonderful experience for me. I had the opportunity to make friends that became more like family as well as working with professionals. I personally encourage students to become part the drama club at whichever school they attend. It is really an amazing and rewarding feeling to be up on stage when the curtain closes, knowing that people are applauding for all of your hard work that you and your cast put in over the past few months!

The cast includes boys that are members of the Monsignor Farrell drama club as well as girls from schools all over Staten Island. Many of these boys work with Mr. Monteleone over the course of the school year as part of the Forensics team where they travel to various competitions. Some of the leading roles in the show include: Caitlin Branen as Reno Sweeny, James Boland as Billy Crocker, Megan Mandile as Hope Harcourt, and Thomas Fagoni as Moonface Martin. With support from a fabulous chorus, and an eleven piece orchestra (two of which were students) well known songs such as "I Get a Kick out of You," and "Friendship" are very memorable performances. Some may know the song "I Get a Kick Out of You" as made famous by Mr. Blue Eyes himself- Frank Sinatra! The title song of "Anything Goes" at the end of Act I is a real showstopper! 

Anything Goes is set in the 1920s/1930s on a ship, the S.S. American. The set constructed with the help of the stage managers and stage crew (also Monsignor Farrell students) is amazingly done as if the whole performance takes place in and around the ship.
It proves to be an entertaining performance as the audience watches Billy and Moonface Martin encounter endeavors in their search for love and money. For $16 a ticket, Anything Goes is a definite hit! Do not miss the last performance tonight at 8:00 PM at Monsignor Farrell High School.
Bon Voyage!