The 2022 Dinner Gala Honorees
Frank Cafaro
The Spirit of St. Genesius Award
The Spirit of St. Genesius Award is given to individuals who have strongly supported our schools' performing arts programs and have made a lasting impact on our students' lives. This award recognizes our educators and mentors that have been involved in our schools outside a traditional director/musical director/choreographer role.
Since 1974, Frank Cafaro, AFSC, has been a presence behind the scenes - and on stage - at St. Peter's Boys. Born and raised on Staten Island, Frank attended St. John Villa Elementary School, New Dorp High School, and St. John's University. In 1973, Frank began his tenure at St. Peter's Boys teaching history and religion while also serving as guidance counselor. A constant and strong of the St. Peter's Boys' drama program, Frank began his work backstage in 1974 during the tenure of legendary impresario Carl William Lesch. Over the course of the next four decades, Frank would also appear in cameo roles in "The Most Happy Fella, "Brigadoon," "My Fair Lady," "Sugar," "Paint Your Wagon," "On the Town," "South Pacific," "The Music Man," "Damn Yankees" and "West Side Story."
"Anyone who walks through the doors of St. Peter's knows Mr. Frank Cafaro. So it is no surprise that he has often graced our stage," said Michael Taccetta, current director of St. Peter's Drama. "His love and compassion for theatre shines through to our students not just in all his support behind the scenes but onstage as well. Keep an eye out for him in our upcoming production of 'Guys and Dolls' this May!"
Jennifer Straniere (posthumous)
The Spirit of St. Genesius Award
The Spirit of St. Genesius Award is given to individuals who have strongly supported our schools' performing arts programs and have made a lasting impact on our students' lives. This award recognizes our educators and mentors that have been involved in our schools outside a traditional director/musical director/choreographer role.
A community advocate, accomplished director, stage manager and costume designer, Jennifer Straniere knew what it meant to serve the team she led and brought characters to life on the stage she held most dear. Her great devotion and passion for the arts served as a guiding light to others, including young adults in local theater, where she dedicated her entire life to improving the lives of her fellow professionals.
Jennifer volunteered with Staten Island Civic Theatre and the Staten Island Children's Theatre, the Looking Glass Players, the Shakespearean Theatre, the Jewish Community Center, Center Stage Productions, Staten Island Summer Musical Theatre, Temple Israel Players, Seaview Playwrights Theatre and Neverland Theatre. A recipient of numerous honors and awards, she was presented with the First Generation Award from the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC, and received the Chai Society Award from Wagner College. For her extraordinary volunteer efforts and her strong leadership qualities, she was named an Advance Woman of Achievement in the Class of 2009.
Casey Jost, '03
Distinguished Alumni Award
CASEY JOST, a 2003 graduate of Msgr. Farrell High School, is a writer, actor, and musician born and razed (not a typo) in Staten Island, New York. While in high school, Casey appeared in DAMN YANKEES, ON THE TOWN, and 12 ANGRY MEN at Msgr. Farrell; ANNIE, GODSPELL, BYE, BYE, BIRDIE, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at St. John Villa; and HELLO, DOLLY! at St. Joseph Hill.
Casey can be seen as the host of TruTV's INSIDE JOKES, an offshoot of the network's popular IMPRACTICAL JOKERS series, on which Casey also serves as supervising producer. Prior to Jokers, Casey was a staff writer on LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON and contributed to BILLY ON THE STREET. As a performer, Casey can be seen in the Paramount comedy, STATEN ISLAND SUMMER, various episodes of the Game Show Network's LIE DETECTORS, Comedy Central's INSIDE AMY SCHUMER and the Hulu series, DEADBEAT. Casey and his brother, Colin, are currently writing the UNTITLED TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MOVIE for Paramount.
"Casey and Joe, whether it was on the Farrell stage, bus rides to forensics tournaments, or 'improv'ing in front of a packed audience, have been making myself and everyone around them hysterical with laughter," said Andrew Monteleone '20 CWL Educator of the Arts honoree. "I am truly honored to recognize this comedy team for not only pursuing their passion for comedy as a career but also to witness them stay true to the Farrell Player tenants of humility and gratitude. They are truly deserving of this honor, and I couldn't be prouder of their continued and distinguished successes."
Joe Imburgio, '04
Distinguished Alumni Award
JOE IMBURGIO is a writer and musician from Staten Island. He graduated from Msgr. Farrell High School in 2004 and made his first stage appearance freshman year as a Political Hack in the Farrell production of Fiorello which sparked a yearslong obsession in Joe to uncover the murderer of the eponymous mayor Fiorello La Guardia, presaging the nascent cultural fixation on true crime stories epitomized by the podcast Serial.*
Joe also acted in the Farrell productions of Damn Yankees, 12 Angry Men, 1776, On The Town, and How To Succeed in Business... as well as a disastrous appearance in the St. John Villa production of Bye Bye Birdie. In addition to performing on stage, Joe was a top ranking member of the Farrell Forensics team, competing in the Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, and Duo categories. Joe met who would turn out to be his future bandmates and writing partners in high school, including Casey Jost - whom he is excited to share this great honor with. Joe and Casey would go on to write and produce for the hit truTV show Impractical Jokers, as well as host an ongoing podcast together called The JV Squadcast. He prefers not to discuss his college years. After graduating from Binghamton University, he worked as a pizza delivery driver for Marie's Gourmet on 977 Victory Blvd for several years before - in a lapse of judgement - he was hired as a writer for his first TV gig on Jokers.
Joe is also known for his work as a guest curator at the Staten Island Museum, putting together the Impractical Jokers Homecoming exhibit in 2018. He, along with Casey, has scored many original songs that have appeared on Impractical Jokers and continues to perform with his band Bueno.
*Later, with the invention of Wikipedia, Joe would discover that Mayor La Guardia hadn't been murdered, but in fact died of pancreatic cancer.
James McBratney
The Community Enrichment Award
For the last decade, Jimmy has been an invaluable supporter and sponsor of the Minty Awards.
"A 'passionate Staten Islander' James McBratney is synonymous with support and commitment to the Island community, especially when it comes to the Minty Awards, other non-profit organizations or local schools," said 2020 Community Enrichment Award winner Charlie Siedenburg.
"From gift certificates to 'Dine to Donate' events to picking up water when a local pipe bursts, James is always there to lend a helping hand. He's also a talented performer having seen him as Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" for In The Wings."
Hello Dolly St. Peter's Boys, 1971
Outstanding Show Award
Carl William Lesch's most celebrated production starred Pam Nelson (2017 Distinguished Alumni) in the title role of Dolly Levi and a cast of nearly 70 students from St. Peter's Boys and Girls high schools. The show ran for several record-breaking weekends, concluding with Carl's legendary car raffle that benefitted the schools' theatre programs.