John Jay seniors studying the craft of an unfolding story were treated to a special insider's take on how those tales get told. One of the most iconic cast members on one of the most highly acclaimed television series of all time, "The Sopranos," walked down the aisle of John Jay High School's auditorium, stepped up on a chair and sat on the edge of the stage.

Wearing jeans and a sweater, Edie Falco looked way more casual than her character ever did, but her voice was immediately recognizable. Carmela Soprano. "I grew up on Long Island, in a Swedish/Italian-American household," said Falco, now a resident of Pound Ridge. "I knew exactly who this woman was," she said, referring to Carmela, the wife of crime boss Tony Soprano. "It’s not a mafia series. It’s about a family."