Kim Pirrella Returns in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and My Big Gay Italian Funeral

Kim Pirrella returns in the supporting lead role of "LUCIA" in "MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING" and "MY BIG GAY ITALIAN FUNERAL" at St. Luke's Theatre January 25th & 26th, February 15th & 16th

Kim Pirrella most commonly known as the matriarch of the Marco sisters on the Real Housewives of New Jersey will return in the role of Jersey girl lipstick lesbian diva "Lucia Fuccio" in both "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" and "My Big Gay Italian Funeral" on January 25th and 26th and February 15th and 16th. After sold out performances last fall she returns this winter for a double encore.

Wedding and Funeral mark Kim's NYC Off-Broadway debut. Kim has become very popular in the world of social media with her numerous food blogs and instructional videos on healthy cooking. Pirrella, a huge supporter of marriage equality, aspires to have her own food show one day but for now is currently staying focused on her career as a theatre actress. Real Housewives of New Jersey season 5 is currently in taping.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding premiered at the Actor's Playhouse in November 2003. On September 12, 2009, a revised and updated version of the play played a benefit performance at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island; the new production was produced by Dina Manzo of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and was moved to St. Luke's Theatre in Manhattan in May 2010 for a sixteen month run. During the run, the show hosted some major celebrities including Jersey housewives Caroline Manzo and daughter Lauren, Jacqueline Laurita and daughter Ashley, Teresa Giudice and Dina Manzo. Tabatha Coffey also proved to be a huge supporter of the show by making multiple appearances and hosting a hairstyling contest back in 2011.

"My Big Gay Italian Funeral" is yet another comedy from Wilkinson and uses some of the same characters from "My Big Gay Italian Wedding." The father (Joe Pinnunziato) is deceased and we introduce some new characters, namely Anthony's gay brother Peter Pinnunziato, who he hasn't spoken to in over a decade. Family drama and crazy characters unite when everything that can possibly happen at an Italian wake certainly will! Funeral opened June 16th, 2013 at St. Luke's and both shows are currently on sale till the end of May.

Presented by Bianco Productions, both productions are directed by Emmy Award-winning director Sonia Blangiardo ("All My Children", "One Life To Live, "As the World Turns") and star its creator Anthony J. Wilkinson who originated the role of Anthony Pinnunziato back in November of 2003. Both shows are General Managed by 22Q Entertainment.

The cast of Wedding and Funeral also includes Anthony J. Wilkinson as Anthony, Hugh Hysell as Maurizio, Donna Castellano as Angela, Marissa Perry as Maria, Debra Toscano as Toniann, Meagan Robar as Connie, Erik Ransom as Rodney (wedding) and Vidal (Funeral), Chad Kessler as Father Rosalia (Wedding) and Rabbi Horowitz (Funeral), Brandon Goins as Andrew (Wedding) and Ezio (Funeral), Joe Scanio as Joseph (Wedding), Drew Little as Mario (Wedding), Rocco DeFinis as Frankie (Wedding), Paul Moon as Gregorio (Wedding), David Demato as Peter (Funeral), Mustafa Gatollari as Dominick (Funeral), Beth Dzuricky as Ondine (Funeral), with ensemble members Marie Fontaine and Jonathan Wiener.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding plays every Saturday at 8pm and My Big Gay Italian Funeral plays every Sunday at 7pm. St. Luke's Theatre is located at 308 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). For tickets, call (212) 239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com.