Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding facts for kids
Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding is a super fun and interactive play where the audience gets to be part of the show! It's a special type of performance called dinner theater, which means you get to eat a meal while watching the play unfold around you. Imagine going to a wedding where you're not just a guest, but you're also part of the story!
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About the Show
This exciting show was created by a husband-and-wife team, Paul and Darlyne Franklin. Darlyne Franklin wrote the play. The rights to the show are owned by a company called Dillstar Productions, located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
What is Dinner Theater?
Dinner theater is a unique way to experience a play. Instead of sitting in a quiet theater, you're usually in a restaurant or a special event hall. You enjoy a meal while the actors perform around you, sometimes even at your table! It makes you feel like you're really part of the story.
Where Has It Been Performed?
Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding has been performed in many cities across the United States. Some of these places include Anaheim, California, San Diego, California, Palm Springs, California, Chicago, Illinois, Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts.
The Story of Joey and Maria
The play tells the story of a wedding between two young lovers, Joseph Anthony Gnocchi and Maria Angelina Cavatelli. The wedding and the party afterwards happen in a restaurant in Boston's North End. This restaurant is owned by the bride's cousin, Carmine Cannoli, who is also the host of the wedding.
Meet the Characters
One of the funniest things about the show is that all the characters are named after Italian dishes! For example, the groom is Joey Gnocchi, and the bride is Maria Cavatelli. The priest who performs the wedding is Pastor Fazool. Joey's best friend, Rocco Ravioli, is his best man. Maria's cousin, Louisa Ravioli, is a bridesmaid.
The Wedding Ceremony
During the wedding ceremony, things get a little crazy! Joey's old girlfriend, Viola Vermicelli, shows up unexpectedly. She's still in love with Joey, even though he's about to marry Maria. Joey is very much in love with Maria and tries to make it clear he doesn't want Viola there. But don't worry, Joey and Maria still get married!
The Reception Party
After the wedding, the party begins! Carmine introduces all the characters one by one. Joey's best man, Rocco, gives a funny toast while everyone enjoys dinner.
Fun Audience Participation
Once dinner is over, the actors walk around and chat with the audience members. The party continues with fun Italian-American traditions, like singing together and dancing the tarantella. There's also a traditional bouquet toss and garter toss. If you catch them, you might even get to go on stage for a hilarious situation!
A Special Guest Arrives
Later in the party, a very important guest arrives: Don Ziti, Maria's godfather. He brings a special gift for the new couple. This gift is given to Joey's cousin, Louisa, to keep safe. But then, the gift seems to go missing! A male guest from the audience might even be playfully "accused" of taking it. It's all part of the fun and games, and everything turns out fine in the end. Joey and Maria then get ready for their honeymoon, sharing one last dance before heading off to celebrate their new life together!
How the Show Works
What makes Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding so special is that most of it isn't written down beforehand. The actors make up a lot of their lines and actions on the spot! This is called slapstick humor, which means it's full of funny physical comedy and unexpected jokes. Because so much is improvised, every show is a little bit different and full of surprises!