Kim Pirrella, sister of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga, is walking down the aisle in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and My Big Gay Italian Funeral, which play in in repertory at St. Luke’s Theatre. Pirrella will play Lucia Fuccio on October 12 and 13, filling in for Liz Gericitano while she takes a leave of absence for her real-life wedding.
Starring and written by Anthony Wilkinson, My Big Gay Italian Wedding and My Big Gay Italian Funeral are both loosely based on his own Italian family. Wedding centers on Anthony Pinnunziato (Wilkinson), a gay Italian-American from a large, outspoken family who wants to marry his boyfriend Andrew (Brandon Goins) in a traditional wedding ceremony. Funeral tells the story of the same family, who is mourning the death of Anthony’s father. In both productions, Pirrella will play Lucia, a New Jersey lipstick lesbian with a diva attitude.
In addition to guest appearances on Real Housewives of New Jersey, Pirrella is a food blogger who posts instructional videos about healthy cooking. She will make her off-Broadway debut in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and Funeral.
In addition to Gericitano and Wilkinson, Wedding and Funeral star Donna Castellano, Marissa Perry, Hugh Hysell, Debra Toscano, Liz Gerecitano, Meagan Robar, Erik Ransom, Chad Kessler, Brandon Goins, Joe Scanio, Jody Lyn Flynn, Marie Fontaine and Jonathan Wiener. Wedding also stars Nick Varrichio and Paul Moon, while Funeral stars Brian Patrick Murphy, Mustafa Gatollari and Beth Dzuricky.