New Jersey arts and entertainment news, features, and event previews. – New Jersey Stage
(CLIFTON, NJ) — The Theater League of Clifton will hold auditions for its dinner/theater production of My Big Gay Italian Wedding on June 22 and 23 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at Mario’s Restaurant (710 Van Houten Ave) in Clifton. Call backs are slated for June 24 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, if necessary.
In the play, Andrew and Anthony are getting married – and everyone wants to “help”! My Big Gay Italian Wedding spins into a hysterical fiasco as everyone tries to have their way. From a saboteur ex-boyfriend to a loud, opinionated, outspoken Italian mother, personalities and culture collide in a music and dance-filled extravaganza.
The dinner/theater show will feature 14 cast members. Mike Stracco of Hawthorne is the director, while Clifton residents Mark Peterson and Jalmari Vanamo will serve as co-producers. Peterson is the president of the theater group.
Performance dates for the show are September 18, 24, and 25 at 8:00pm, September 19 and 26 at 4:00pm, October 1 and 2 at 8:00pm, and October 3 at 4:00pm. All performances will be held at Mario’s Restaurant.
My Big Gay Italian Wedding was written by Anthony Wilkinson. A born and raised New York native, Anthony is a graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences for English and Creative Writing. He started his career as an Intern Writer at ABC Daytime’s One Life To Live in 1996 and during his fourteen years there he worked his way up to the position of Associate Director. While in that position he earned three Daytime Emmy Awards and was a four-time recipient of the Directors Guild of America Award. Anthony’s original production of My Big Gay Italian Wedding started his other passion in the theatre world, when it opened Off-Broadway in 2003 at the Actor’s Playhouse and later moved to Theatre Four in the spring of 2004. In 2006, Anthony wrote and starred as “Rio La Rocca” in the Off-Broadway production of Boys Just Wanna Have Fun. Anthony restaged My Big Gay Italian Wedding in September of 2009 at the St. George Theatre for an audience of almost 2,000 people.
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After much discussion and huge debates with regards to the topic, its rave reviews and success prompted an explosive revival on Restaurant Row with a full out Equity cast in April of 2010. The run was expected to last six weeks, and extended 14 times in the same location. During the run, the show hosted some major celebrities in efforts to help raise money and awareness for marriage equality and the Trevor Project. Aside from New York City, the show has already played in multiple cities in the US as well as Edinburgh, London, Vancouver, Hong Kong and parts of France.
Cast of My Big Gay Italian Wedding:
ANTHONY PINNUNZIATO – 20s – 30s male. Our every-man. Pollyanna guido from BayRidge. LEAD
ANDREW POLINSKI – late 20’s-30’s male. Handsome and stylish, yet devoted to one man only. Dashing and charming. LEAD
ANGELA PINNUNZIATO – late 40’s female. A lovingly over-bearing, overpowering Italian mother hen. Rules the roost with an iron fist and a wooden spatula. Anthony’s mother. LEAD
JOSEPH PINNUNZIATO/FATHER ROSALIA – late 40’s male. Joseph is Anthony’s loud Italian father whose word is law and whose home is his castle. Father Rosalia is the crush of every parishioner, both male and female. Note: These two roles can be played by the same actor if needed. LEAD
MAURIZIO LEGRANDE – late 20’s-40’s male. Outlandishly dressed, over the top, flamboyant wedding coordinator. Has an accent that cannot be pegged down. LEAD
GREGORIO – 20’s-30’s male. Smoking hot and extremely narcissistic. Does not take rejection will. Always has something up his sleeve. LEAD
MARIO – 20’s-30’s male. Uptight fashionista, Anthony’s best friend and protector. The most fabulous dancer in Brooklyn. Anthony’s Best Man. SUPPORTING
LUCIA – 20’s -30’s female. Brassy, trendy Italian woman. Anthony’s dependable, reliable best friend. A feminine, pretty lipstick lesbian, classy and sophisticated until challenged. Maid of Honor. SUPPORTING.
CONNIE – 20’s-30’s female. Lucia’s nemesis. Just as pretty, but much tougher. The gum chewing mouth of a truck driver who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Bridesmaid. SUPPORTING
MARIA – 20’s female. Anthony’s flighty, heavy-set,sweet and self-absorbed baby sister. Aspirations of stardom, but a fizzled sense of reality. She is a Broadway actress wannabe and fancies herself a tremendous singer. SUPPORTING
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RODNEY – 30’s male. Sassy and spirited. Always up for an adventure. In love with Frankie. Reveals himself in drag in Act Two. All ethnicities can work in this role.
AUNT TONIANN – 30’s- early 40’s female. Angela’s fussy younger Italian sister.Lives to torment her brother-in-law. Sports the biggest of hair and always (thinks she’s) dressed to the nines. SUPPORTING
FRANKIE – late 20’s-late 30’s male. Tough,good-looking Italian stud. No-nonsense,out, and proud. The straight acting gay guy in the bunch. Groomsman. SUPPORTING
Founded in 2005, the Theater League of Clifton is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the arts through theatrical performances, while providing quality entertainment for all ages. The Theater League of Clifton welcomes volunteers in all aspects of performance and production.
originally published: 06/14/2021