Photo Coverage: New Jersey 'Housewives' in Rehearsal for GAY ITALIAN WEDDING

Following the September 1st performance, My Big Gay Italian Wedding will host a post-show celebration of the opening night of the "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars. A limited number of premium tickets for that evening's performance will include access to the party. A portion of the proceeds raised from tickets sales to the party and from every ticket sold for the September 1st - 4th performances will benefit Marriage Equality New York, an all-inclusive organization whose mission is to educate the public by raising awareness of the important right of all persons to enter into legally recognized gender neutral civil marriage with all the benefits and responsibilities that entails.

For the four performances featuring "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars, My Big Gay Italian Wedding will have a special performance schedule: September 1st, 2nd and 3rd at 8PM with a 2PM matinee on September 4th. Tickets for these four performances are $79.50.

Planning a wedding can be hell... or a hell of a lot of fun! At My Big Gay Italian Wedding, Off-Broadway's hilarious new comedy by Anthony Wilkinson, two handsome grooms, one overbearing Italian mother, a jealous ex-boyfriend, the wedding planner from Hell, and an assortment of kooky family and friends all gather together for an evening with lots of laughs and lots of heart.

Presented by Sonia Blangiardo, Dina Manzo (of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey") in association with Anndee Productions, Donna Dicrescento, Eileen Caruso and Frank Levinson, My Big Gay Italian Wedding currently features Daniel Robinson, Anthony J. Wilkinson, Bryan Anthony, Tricia Burns, Eric Carpenter, Brett Douglas, Liz Gerecitano, Leah Gerstel, Randi Kaplan, Chad Kessler, Kevin McIntyre, Carla-marie Mercun, Erik Ransom, Meagan Robar, Joe Scanio, Adam Zelasko. Directed by Teresa A. Cicala, the production features choreography by J. Austin Eyer, original music and lyrics by David James Boyd, scenic design by Rob Santeramo, costume design by Philip Heckman and lighting design by Graham Kindred.

When the original production of My Big Gay Italian Wedding premiered in 2003, the idea of gay marriage was a fantasy. In 2010, the International debate on Gay Marriage reaches new heights: Gay Marriage is now legal in eight and a half countries (Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and parts of Mexico) and six states in the US (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and District of Columbia). So playwright Anthony Wilkinson has gone back to the typewriter and brought his acclaimed comedy into this new era of hope and optimism for same sex marriage.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE & TICKET SCALE FOR SEPT 1ST-4TH:
For four performances only, Sept. 1st - 4th, the stars of the hit Bravo reality series "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star in My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Performances are Wed, Thurs and Fri at 8PM with a matinee Sat at 2PM Tickets are $79.50**, including $1.50 restoration fee, and are available at Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200. A portion of the proceeds of every ticket sold for these four performances will benefit Marriage Equality New York.

A limited number of $150 tickets for the Sept. 1st performance will include access to the opening night party with "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."

My Big Gay Italian Wedding plays Thurs, Fri and Sat at 8PM at St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street. By subway, take the A/C/E to 42nd Street. Tickets are $69.50, including $1.50 restoration fee, and are available at Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.