Live from Northvale, it’s Thursday night!

Starring the Butabi brothers and the Spartan cheerleaders, Nathan Hale School students aired their own version of "Saturday Night Live" last week.

The April 10 variety show pieced together sketches, dance and musical performances with a cast of more than 50 middle school students in grades 6-8.

"It was great and very funny," said middle school Principal Michael Pinajian, one of more than 500 audience members. "And parents enjoyed seeing their kids up onstage."

Organized by teachers Lisa Pitingola and Danielle Trujillo, the variety show is the first of its kind to the school after a two-year hiatus from school performances. SNL rehearsals started as early as January, incorporating the students’ unique personalities with original scripts.

The fruit of their efforts: a 25-act lineup inspired by cellular commercials, SNL favorites and hit reality shows like American Idol.

Parents and musicians Chris Bovasso, Josh Charles and Rich Silverstein signaled oncoming acts with their live music playing. An applause box and strobe lights proved unnecessary in generating excitement from the crowd.

Student Tom Ferrante, clad in an oversized navy blazer, played Hollywood personality Ryan Seacrest and led the audience through the show.

Highlights from the variety show included students Christina DeVincenzo and Carmen Firenze singing "Do you believe in magic?" In a lyrical dance performance, student Amanda Ocampo impressed crowd members with a difficult combination of switch-kicks, fouettes and axel turns.

The audience both booed and hollered at Nathan Hale’s own Simon Cowell from American Idol who said to one unlucky auditioner, "If you had sung that song 2,000 years ago, people would’ve stoned you."

And who could forget "the perfect cheer" in a carefully choreographed routine led by Spartan cheerleaders Arianna and Craig, played by Jordan Motisi and Scott Bargisen?

"[SNL] was a positive event for everyone," said Pinajian.

E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711