Tony N' Tinas Wedding 10 years later by Al Bresloff

Tony N' Tina's Wedding continues to play to sell-out crowds at up to 8 shows a week in Piper's Alley located at 230 W. North Avenue (at Wells ) in the Old Town area. 3,000 performances and lots more to come. For those of you who do not know what this show is, it is an interactive satire of an Italian-American Wedding in which the audience participates in the festivities along with the thirty-two cast members in all aspects of the traditional Italian nuptials. More than simply watching a production, the audience experiences the mishap- plagued ceremony, receiving line, champagne toast, catered reception (Italian Buffet), dancing to live music (Donny Dolce & Fusion) and pretty much the usual wedding "stuff". From the church to the banquet hall, you get the sense that you are in for a fun evening and these actors do not let you down.

The majority of the cast members (as well as the servers) take on many roles. Each show has a different cast of players, who are in fact the same actors, but playing different roles. This has to help to keep the show fresh and based on how hard the performers have to work during this almost three hours of merriment, this is the way to keep the show fresh (and as hard as it may seem to comprehend, 10 years into the show, it is better and fresher than I remember it during the first week).

Jessica Iovinelli is a wonderful Tina and Jeff Mauro's Tony is perfection. Damian Greco as Michael, Tina's ex who shows up at the wedding will remind you of Matthew Broderick in looks and Charles Greenia gives us a wonderful Father Mark. Joe Gerace as Uncle Lui is quite the lover boy as he makes the rounds of the ladies in the audience and Leah Koop makes Tina's cousin, Sister Albert Maria seem like she really was the "bad" girl gone good ( who if she drinks enough, could be bad again). Tony's Grandmother is played by Mildred Lombardi who before the play even begins will work with the audience in setting the mood.Vinnie and Loretta (the caterers and party hosts are delightfully played by Marisa Paonessa and Corrado Marcucci, Jr. and Jeny Wasilewski will leave men breathless as Madeline.. Christopher Matthesen is hysterical as Tina's hysterical brother Joseph and Jillian Applegate as the pregnant maid of honor, Connie are true scene stealers.

This is one heck of a fun evening. The food is a salad, pasta, bread and cake meal, but the dinner is only part of the production. We go for the fun, the theater-- the food is just an extra that happens to be filling and tasty.As in the past, often guest celebrity guests join the cast. The legendary Frankie Avalon will reprise the role of Tina's Godfather from July 22-27th and during the anniversary, many more surprises will be in store for audiences who attend. Performances are: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 5 and 9 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. (Sunday is considered "family night" and is suitable for ALL ages). To purchase tickets, RSVP to (312)664-8844. For more information, visit www.tonyntina.com.