Hosts Larry, Gret, and Concetta welcome Chase Winton to discuss her life-changing first experience seeing Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and becoming the original company’s first understudy in 1988. Chase recalls subbing as Marina, then joining the main cast and moving to Los Angeles to play Connie, where she met her future husband, who played Barry. They compare the intimate New York production to the much larger LA space and demanding Equity schedule, describe cast life in LA, and recount a short-lived TV adaptation effort involving Christopher Guest and a live presentation. Chase breaks down Connie’s character, iconic slippers, wearing the pregnancy belly, and audience interactions, shares celebrity and lookalike moments, and emphasizes the show’s grounded, character-based comedy and evolving bits and music across generations.

Tony n' Tina's Wedding: Creating a Theatre Tribe is a twice-a-month podcast that follows original NY director and later collaborators of the sensational Off-Broadway hit, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, that features interviews and memories of the show that created friends that became family world-wide.

This podcast is produced by Virtual Arts, and edited by Christy Patti. Virtual Arts is a theatre and event company that connects artists and audiences globally to realize the full potential of online and in person productions by developing authentic works of hope, humor and humanity. We offer assistance, guidance and production value for online community outreach events that raise awareness and support families and artists world-wide.

Website: virtualartsproductions.org

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/tonyntinaswedding.podcastfacebook.com/VirtualArtsProds

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In this episode, our hosts chat with two original members of the Black Staff Catering Team, Judy Sheehan, who created the role of Nikki Black, and Carolyn Scott, who created the role of Theresa Marie Black.

In Part 1, Judy shares memories from the earliest Tony n’ Tina workshops in SoHo, including performing as the singing “gorilla gram,” playing Grandma, and later originating Nikki Block’s Walkman-wearing, punk-leaning attitude. She recalls how the show evolved over its first year, the demands of interactive performance, and stepping in last-minute to play Donna and sing with the band. Judy discusses the catering family dynamic, pre-show calm before the audience arrived, and how the company built community through elaborate celebrations and creative events.

In Part 2, Carolyn reminisces about early days of working with Joanna and performing at Carmelita’s. They discuss how the show moved through cities, including a Canadian production that closed after three consecutive snowstorms, and a move to Los Angeles, and Carolyn’s subsequent 30-year career in Canada. They share behind-the-scenes stories like a catering-table mishap that dropped a pan of ziti and became a critic’s favorite “bit,” Carolyn’s cast caricatures, and how improvisation, intimacy, understudies, and the “black staff” shaped the show’s unique sense of family and lasting friendships.

Tony n' Tina's Wedding: Creating a Theatre Tribe is a twice-a-month podcast that follows original NY director and later collaborators of the sensational Off-Broadway hit, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, that features interviews and memories of the show that created friends that became family world-wide.

This podcast is produced by Virtual Arts, and edited by Christy Patti. Virtual Arts is a theatre and event company that connects artists and audiences globally to realize the full potential of online and in person productions by developing authentic works of hope, humor and humanity. We offer assistance, guidance and production value for online community outreach events that raise awareness and support families and artists world-wide.

Website: virtualartsproductions.org

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/tonyntinaswedding.podcastfacebook.com/VirtualArtsProds

Instagraminstagram.com/tonyntinasweddingpodcastinstagram.com/virtual.arts.prods

#offbroadway #podcasts #virtualarts

Guest Vinnie Floriani joins the podcast to recall how he joined the original company, first reconnecting with Nancy Cassaro years after a 1970s middle-school play. He describes creating Sal, the obnoxious wedding photographer at Carmelita’s, and later stepping in as Father Mark, including the challenges of pacing, improv, and staying in character. Vinnie reflects on the show’s realism, subtle peripheral performance, and memorable bits, and discusses going to LA, deferring and abandoning law school, and shifting from acting to music. He shares later work as an elementary teacher, winning a Parents’ Choice Award for children’s music, adopting two children from Colombia, rebuilding after Helene, teaching GED in a city jail, and thoughts on how cell phones and social media changed the audience experience.

Tony n' Tina's Wedding: Creating a Theatre Tribe is a twice-a-month podcast that follows original NY director and later collaborators of the sensational Off-Broadway hit, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, that features interviews and memories of the show that created friends that became family world-wide.

This podcast is produced by Virtual Arts, and edited by Christy Patti. Virtual Arts is a theatre and event company that connects artists and audiences globally to realize the full potential of online and in person productions by developing authentic works of hope, humor and humanity. We offer assistance, guidance and production value for online community outreach events that raise awareness and support families and artists world-wide.

Website: virtualartsproductions.org

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/tonyntinaswedding.podcastfacebook.com/VirtualArtsProds

Instagraminstagram.com/tonyntinasweddingpodcastinstagram.com/virtual.arts.prods

#offbroadway #podcasts #virtualarts