If you’ve ever wanted to crash a wedding, here’s one for you – and no one will get mad at you for doing it.

The MSU Riley Center, together with the Meridian Little Theater, is seeking actors and actresses for major roles in the upcoming Off-Broadway production of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” to play in the MSU Riley Center June 4-8.

“Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” is an interactive Off-Broadway show that spoofs an Italian-American wedding – complete with a pre-show cash bar, a ceremony and reception full of mishaps and mad-cap comedy, plus a buffet dinner with wedding cake, music and dancing.

“As a ‘guest,’ you are part of the action; you literally come in and act like you’re at a wedding,” said Penny Kemp, marketing director for MSU Riley Center. “You come in and are seated, there’s a ceremony, you go through the buffet line – along with the actors – and while you’re eating the acting is going on around you. There’s also a toast, dancing and lots and lots of fun.”

Since opening Feb. 14, 1988, in New York City, this unique theatrical experience has won over the hearts of thousands of people, in more than 100 cities worldwide, including Japan, Australia and many European cities.



The birth of the show



According to the official “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” Web site, the idea for the show was originally conceived at Hofstra University while Mark Nasser and Nancy Cassaro (the original Tony n’ Tina) were undergraduates. Both in the drama department from 1977-1981, they made up these characters and would often improv with each other, acting out the roles of two Italian boyfriend-girlfriends from Queens, just for fun.

As their professional relationship continued (after both moving to New York), after graduating from Hofstra, their characters continued to develop as well. Soon after the idea to present an interactive wedding, where the audience played the guests, was proposed and in 1985, was acted upon. Three performances were planned, actors invited their friends and family, and at this point it became clear to Joe Corcoran that this was an “event “that would appeal to an audience, well beyond traditional theater goers.

Corcoran mounted another production of the show, this time for several weeks, where it caught the eye of People Magazine, then The New York Times, Time Magazine, followed by hundreds of media outlets throughout the world that had immediately embraced this simple, yet genius, concept to create a familiar environment where audiences could eat, drink and dance … all while interacting with characters that seemed oh so familiar.

In February 1988, the first commercial production was capitalized and presented by Corcoran and his London based brother Dan on Waverly Place (in Greenwich Village) with the church ceremony taking place at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. As the audience attended the church service, then walked all together, with the cast, across Seventh Avenue to Waverly Place the show became a fixture of the Greenwich Village neighborhood, running at that location for the first 11 years.

Since opening countless notables have been among the hundreds of actors who are part of the “Tony n’ Tina” “family”, including: Lee Mazzilli, Tony Meola, Aida Turturro, Phil Rosenthal (original priest and Creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond”), Patrick O’Neil, Reid Hutchens, Robert Cea and Chrisitine Nagy.



Want to be in a wedding?



Men and women ages 19-60 are needed for the production. Only people with outgoing personalities need apply, Kemp said. No experience necessary, but improvisational skills and acting experience is helpful. Auditions will be interviews and some actors will be asked to improvise. Those interested are asked to bring a photo.

Actors must be available for rehearsals, May 31-June 3, and all performances, June 4-8. Rehearsal schedules will be provided at the audition.

“This is an excellent opportunity to work with professional actors from the New York production,” Kemp said. “We encourage everyone interested to come out and audition.”

Casting call times:

Auditions are scheduled for 2 p.m. May 17 and 18 at the MSU Riley Center,2200 Fifth St. in downtown Meridian. Below are casting call times

by age and gender. However, anyone unable make their designated time is encouraged to come whenever possible.

• From 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m – Female characters in their 20s to 30s

• From 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. – Male characters in their 20s to 30s

• From 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. – Female and male characters in their 40s-50s-plus

For more information about the auditions, call: MSU Riley Center at

(601) 696-2203 or Meridian Little Theater at (601)482-6371.

For tickets to the show, call or visit the MSU Riley Center box office: Phone: (601) 696-2200; address, 2200 Fifth St. in downtown Meridian.

Or, visit the Web site www.msurileycenter.com

CAST OF CHARACTERS



• Father Mark: Priest, 30s-50s, sincere, tries to be funny, and one of the gang.

• Barry: Best man, 20s-30s, everybody’s pal, drug dealer.

• Connie: Maid of honor, 20s-30s, sarcastic, jaded, party girl, 8 months pregnant. Barry’s girlfriend.

• Dominic: Usher, 20s-30s, bouncer at strip club, bull dog, dumb.

• Donna: Bridesmaid, 20s-30s, cute, aspiring “American Idol” winner, and a good singer. Dominic’s girlfriend.

• Johnny: Usher, 20, Tony’s little brother. A flirt.

• Marina: Bridesmaid, 20s-30s, wants to be loved desperately, tag-along, and the gang’s doormat. Always smiling.

• Josephina Vitale: Tina’s mom, 50s, strong willed, controlling, brash and a martyr.

• Luigi: Tina’s great uncle, 65-80, Old World gentleman.

• Joey: Tina’s brother, 20s-30s, gay, loves “show biz.”

• Sister Albert Maria: Tina’s cousin, nun, 20s-30s, sings, family oddball.

• Tony Nunzio Sr.: Tony’s dad, 50, owner of a strip club, charismatic in a sleazy way, sees himself as a king.

• Madeline Monroe: Tony Sr.’s girlfriend, 20s-30s, stripper, great body, hard living.

• Grandma Nunzio: Tony’s grandma, 60s-70s, spry, a little crazy,

matchmaker.

• Michael Just: Tina’s ex-boyfriend, 20s-30s, just got out of re-hab, a pot head.

• Sal Antonucci: Photographer, 40s-50s, pushy, loud, eccentric.

• Loretta Black: Vinnie’s wife, 30s-50s, ex-pageant girl.

• Niki/Vikki Black: Caterer’s daughters, teens-20s. Totally opposites. Niki is the Goth type; Vikki is “Daddy’s little girl.” (Also serve as assistant stage managers)

• Mickey Black: Caterer’s brother, 40s-50s.

• Aunt Rose: Tony’s aunt; 40s, cosmopolitan, urbane, big-city girl.

• Rick Demarco: Videographer, 20s-30s, hired to videotape wedding,

flamboyant, flirt, Joey’s boyfriend.