2016 marks the 20th annual Senior Directed Cabaret. Playing to sold out houses each of its two performances, the event raised a record-setting $7,000 for Project Graduation.

The directors, Frank Marasa and Julia Dunn compiled the best of SNL, Mad TV and Key & Peele to put on the perfect comedy cabaret. Some skits included SNL’s “Stuttering Sergeant”, Mad TV’s “Can I Have Yo’ Number” and Key & Peele’s “Manly Tears”.

“They were all so funny. Some of the skits Dunn and Marasa directed were funnier than the ones on TV,” said Michaela Diemer, ‘20.

Based on the audiences overwhelming reaction, the stand out skits were Point Place Police Department, Men in White Shirts, and Taste Test.

Point Place Police Department starred Tommy Brennan, ‘16, and Ryan Lawler, ‘16. The boys stood on stage with a table covered with snacks and spoke to one another with their mouths full. Much to the audience’s dismay, food flew out of the boy’s mouths and onto each other in a hysterical yet shocking manner.

“I was laughing so hard but I was gagging even harder. Can you believe they did that” Said Natalie Ricevuto, ‘16.

Men in White Shirts included all of the male casts members. They ran around the stage in white shirts and acted out different objects. For example, they all aligned up like bowling pins while one of them rolled around the floor and knocked them down. The varying types of skits appealed to almost all audiences. “My favorite was the fishing scene. I liked when they flopped around,” said 5th grader Emma Haley.

Taste Test included John Reily, ‘15, Jenna Alshay, ‘16, Matt Venuti, ‘15 and Kristen McEnroe, ‘16. McEnroe played an eccentric taste tester while Venuti played the uncaring Hidden Valley Ranch employee. The skit ended with McEnroe dumping ranch dressing on herself. An artistic decision she will never forget. “I’m going to smell like ranch forever,” said McEnroe.

This year also had a record breaking number of cast members, with over 150. Each cast member had to audition for their role at Church of the Holy Family. Per tradition, SDC is a no-cut show, therefore some of the characters are non-speaking extras.

“My friends and I were just extras in a couple skits. We went to the cast party and bought SDC shirts, we had just as much fun,” said Senior Gia Monte.

Church of the Holy Family is also where Dunn and Marasa held rehearsal during the Winter Break. There was a rehearsal almost every day during the break, ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours long.

At the end of the night Dunn and Marasa called last year’s directors, John Lucich and Tom LaSalle, to the stage. Per tradition, Dunn and Marasa threw pies in the faces of the alumni for raising more money than last year.

“This is for all the times you called the show Tom & John Part 2,” Dunn said as she crashed pie into Lucich’s face.

Overall it was an outstanding show. There were many laughs and even the occasional tear. With SDC 2016 all wrapped up, it’s now time for next year’s directors, Marissa LaSalle and Elena LeVan to begin their preparations.