Founder of The Peoples Improv Theater
Writing and Auditioning for SNL
Ali Reza Farahnakian was born in Esfahan, Iran in the fall of ‘68. He came to America in the summer of ‘69. He is an immigrant. He is not eligible to seek the office of the presidency in America and is therefore a second class citizen in this country. Maybe that’s why he got into “comedy”. His teachers include Michael McCarthy, Charna Halpern, Del Close, Maryanne Thebus and Wynn Handman. He is an alumnus of ImprovOlympic, The Second City Chicago and SNL. He was a founding member of UCB and The PIT. He has acted at The Steppenwolf, BAM, and Playwrights Horizon. He has been in numerous TV shows, commercials, films and voiceovers. He has been doing this work for over three decades because he loves it and because it doesn’t seem like work. We started The PIT in 2002 in New York City.
You can check out his website at www.AliRezaFarahnakian.com.
Spread the Word !
Learn what an SNL packet looks like and what they may be looking for. A commercial Parody is the assignment for the class in the SNL format. Under 3 pages in the format.
In July of 1999 I auditioned for SNL. I was at The Second City at the time. I had one week from when I found out to put together 3 characters and 3 impersonations in under 5 minutes to be recorded on the monologue stage at 8h inside 30 Rock. After a day of paralysis and panic, I got to work, with my Second City Director Jeff Richmond. What I was able to do there has made all the difference in my life. Don't wait until you get the call, get ready now. Q+A based.
