Tony n' Tina's Wedding

"Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" is one of the longest-running comedies in American theatrical history. Credited as the originator of the “environmental theatre” craze, "Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" stages a traditional Italian-American wedding and reception with the warm and intrusive stereotypes pushed to the limit. Audience members are treated as guests at the wedding by the interactive, improvisational comedy cast.

"Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" opened February 14, 1988, in New York City and has expanded its run to over 100 sites worldwide, including cities in Canada, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia.

History

The interactive, environmental comedy "Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" was the creation of the Artificial Intelligence comedy troupe. Thirteen members share copyrighted authorship: Thomas Michael Allen, James Altuner, Mark Campbell, Nancy Cassaro, Patricia Cregan, Elizabeth Dennehy, Chris Fracchiolla, Jack Fris, Kevin Alexander Leonidas, Mark Nassar, Larry Pellegrini, Sue Varon and Moira Wilson.

Original production was produced by Joe and Dan Corcoran and enjoyed steady word of mouth growth, spawning a handful of productions in other cities. Celebrities such as Frankie Avalon, [ [http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=1897676 "Frankie Avalon appears annually in Tony 'n Tina's Wedding Chicago as Tina's GodFather"] , WLS-TV Chicago news, July 2004.] soap opera actor Jeff Trachta, Rosa Blasi, radio host Scott Nevins, [ [http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2005/Jan/EEN41e6b44f2b4e5.html "'Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding' Brings Celebrity Guest Star to Times Square"] , "Elites TV", New York City, 13 January 2005.] American soccer goalie Tony Meola, John Melendez (of the "The Howard Stern Show"), and New York Mets player Lee Mazzilli have appeared in productions.

Permanent productions of "Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" have been hosted in many cities including New York City, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, Dallas, Orlando, San Francisco and Chicago.

The Chicago production, now in its 15th year, is produced by Anthony Tomaska at Pipers Alley where Frankie Avalon visits annually. Other former Chicago cast members include Brother and Sisters and Everwood creator Greg Berlanti, and Paul Stroilicite web

title=Stroili's Straight Up with a Twist to Play Off-Broadway beginning Jan. 17
url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113982.html | work=Playbill
year=2008
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accessyear=2008] , whose one man show "Straight up with a Twist" began an Off-Broadway run on January 17 2008.cite web
title=Paul Stroili Presents 'Straight Up with a Twist' Nov.9-18
url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=22585sectionID=319&articleID=640882 | work=Broadway World
year=2007
accessdate=29 January
accessyear=2008]

There are similarities to an earlier, Australian work called "Dimboola", by Jack Hibberd. It surrounds a country wedding in Australia in the 1960s with audience interaction and a breaking of the "fourth wall".

As of May 2006 "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" on tour is represented exclusively by Mills Entertainment of Ballston Spa, New York.

Prehistory

The original showcase production premiered November 11 1985, at an American Legion Hall on West 14th Street. The house band for the production consisted of members of noted downtown rock band Mildred Pierce (in their alter ego form: Las Puertas), fronted by East Village performance artist Howie Solo, with Otis Jah Baker on keyboards, David Cappello on drums, David "Bird" Hollander on saxophone, and Ted Sputnik on occasional clarinet. Solo and Baker had performed frequently with Cassaro and other cast members in cabaret acts, starting at the Lower East Side's Darinka.

Of the band members, Howie Solo (Howard F. Seligman) went on to achieve renown as an economist, singer and scholar; Otis Jah Baker (Bob Goldberg) later formed the authentic Italian wedding band Le Nozze di Carlo, as well as the semi-legendary Washboard Jungle; Cappello continues to perform as a drummer; Hollander is active in New Jersey music circles, and Sputnik (Ted Goldberg) went on to form the Ted Sputnik Experience. The band received no compensation for their participation in the development of the show.

ee also

* "Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding"
*"Joni and Gina's Wedding"
* Environmental theater
* Audience participation

Notes

External links

* [http://www.tonylovestina.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.millsentertainment.com/ Mills Entertainment]
* [http://www.tonyntina.com/ Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding in Chicago]
* [http://www.tonyandtinaorlando.com/ Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding in Orlando]
* [http://www.tonyandtinasanfrancisco.com/ Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding in San Francisco]
*imdb title|id=0375145|title=Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding
* [http://www.tonyandtina.org/ Tony and Tina]
* [http://www.tonyandtinasweddingthemovie.com]