Trivia players at the New York Firehouse Grille in Peekskill hear from one of many characters every Tuesday—from the likes of Kim Kardashian and Ozzy Osbourne to less identifiable, more ambiguous acts.
Buchanan resident Michael Mascari, 23, is working toward a career in acting, so he grabs hold of "any facet of the entertainment business" he can get his hands on. Right now, that means adding comedy into the mix during weekly trivia sessions at the restaurant where he waits tables. There he can showcase the characters he's created and the voices he's been practicing since age 3.
"It's all for the entertainment of the customers," Mascari said, adding that he tries to engage folks and make the game interactive.
His goal each week is to get people to laugh.
He does that by "disconnecting from himself" and transforming into a character. Sometimes he picks a popular celebrity to imitate. His choices have included Amanda Bynes; Pauly D from the Jersey Shore; and a floral-donning Kim Kardashian who was sorry Kanye couldn't attend.
He recently alternated between the mumbles Ozzy Osbourne is known for and the clarification provided by Sharon Osbourne.
Other times, Mascari, a graduate of that State University of New York at Fredonia, debuts a character he's created. He's constantly merging personality traits he says "wouldn't typically be associated."
The result is often a "conglomerate." One of his characters is Tony the Lounge Singer. Another goes by the name Jolessa. She's very opinionated, self-aware and self-sufficient. And she says plenty of things Mascari would never.
"The character just takes over," he said.
By the time Mascari welcomes everyone to trivia and flies through a run-down of the game, he's already acting. Depending on that night's getup—which usually consists of a costume he's sewn himself, and possibly a wig—folks may have a hard time figuring out who he is.
If he gets an audience member asking who he is, he stays in character, says "something witty" and continues with the show. There are also occasions when people are offended.
"You can't please everybody," he said between rounds one recent Tuesday. But overall, most folks are "welcoming and open."
"I'm really just grateful that they allow me to do this," said Mascari, who dreams of one day making it to Saturday Night Live.
Owner Alex Asadoorian is happy to have Mascari leading trivia.
"People are hysterical," he said of the half dozen teams that typically attend.
Kendall Helbock, a Cortlandt Manor resident, is one of those hysterical trivia players.
"He's funny and he's energetic," she said of Mascari, recalling the time he dressed up as the Starburst Berries and Cream Little Lad. "We're here almost every Tuesday."
The New York Firehouse Grille is located at 63 Welcher Avenue in Peekskill.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
