Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City announces a new residency at Sound Waves starring three-time Daytime Emmy winner and writer Anthony Wilkinson. The residency will feature three of Wilkinson’s most famous productions, “My Big Gay Italian Funeral” on April 12 and 13; “My Big Gay Italian Midlife Crisis” coming this fall, and “My Big Gay Italian Christmas” coming later this year.
As part of the celebration, Wilkinson and Hard Rock Atlantic City leadership joined together on Friday, Jan. 19 to present a $25,000 donation to Garden State Equality. The organization is dedicated to lifting up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities through education and advocacy to advance the movement for equality in New Jersey and nationally.
Tickets for the first show of the residency, “My Big Gay Italian Wedding,” go on sale Friday, Feb. 9 and can be purchased at HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com andTicketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. All shows are subject to change. Subsequent ticket on sale dates will be announced soon.
Born and raised in New York, Wilkinson began his career as an Intern Writer at ABC Daytime’s “One Life To Live,” working his way up to the position of Associate Director for which he earned 11 nominations and three Daytime Emmy Awards, and was a two-time recipient of the Directors Guild of America Award. In 2017, Wilkinson was cast in the Soap Opera “Tainted Dreams,” which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
In 2003, Wilkinson’s original production of “My Big Gay Italian Wedding” opened Off-Broadway at the Actor’s Playhouse and later moved to Theatre Four in the spring of 2004. The restaged production debuted in 2009 at the St. George Theatre to rave reviews prompting an explosive revival on Restaurant Row with a full out Equity cast in 2010. The run was expected to last six weeks but wound up extending 14 times in the same location.
During the run, the show hosted major celebrities in efforts to raise money and awareness for marriage equality and the Trevor Project. Aside from New York City, the show played in over 30 cities in the US as well as Edinburgh, London, Toronto, Sydney, Vancouver, Hong Kong and parts of Ireland and France. On March 1, 2018, the show’s Italian film version “Puoi Baciare Lo Sposo” debuted in Italy.
Wilkinson currently resides in Staten Island, NY and has been employed by Woodbridge Township for the last seven years as the Executive & Artistic Director for the Avenel Performing Arts Center.
HEADLINER ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. – Stevie Nicks – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. – Hannah Berner – Sound Waves
Saturday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. – Tedeschi Trucks Band with Special Guest Little Feat – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. – Tedeschi Trucks Band with Special Guest Little Feat – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. – Valentine’s Soul Jam – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m. – Flogging Molly – Sound Waves
Saturday, March 2, 8 p.m. – Disco Night Fever Mania – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, March 2, 8 p.m.- Starship featuring Mickey Thomas – Sound Waves
Friday, March 7, 8:30 p.m. – Jubin Nautiyal – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m. – Tamia & Joe – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, March 15, 8 p.m. – Voyage – Celebrating the Music of Journey – Sound Waves
Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m. – Voyage – Celebrating the Music of Journey – Sound Waves
Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Bert Kreischer – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. – Breaking Benjamin with Daughtry and Catch Your Breath – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. – Yacht Rock Revue – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. – Brit Floyd – Sound Waves
Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. – Brit Floyd – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m. – SESSANTA: Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 12, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Funeral – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Funeral – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. – Cypress Hill with Action Bronson and Sublime with Rome – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 26, 8 p.m. – Dionne Warwick – Sound Waves
Friday, May 3, 8 p.m. – Mötley Crüe – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 4, 8 p.m. – Mötley Crüe – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, May 5, 8 p.m. – Victor Manuelle – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. – Steve Martin and Martin Short – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. – David Foster and Katharine McPhee – Sound Waves
Friday, May 10, 8 p.m. – Kelly Clarkson – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 10, 8 p.m. – Tyler Henry – Sound Waves
Saturday, May 11, 8 p.m. – Kelly Clarkson – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 11, 8 p.m. – Tyler Henry – Sound Waves
Thursday, May 16, 8 p.m. – Penn & Teller
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. – The String Cheese Incident – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. – Penn & Teller
Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m.- Steve Martin and Martin Short- Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. – An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katharine McPhee – Sound Waves
Friday, May 24, 8 p.m.- Heart – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m. – Silvestre Dangond – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, June 22, 7 p.m. – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Thursday, July 18, 8 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Friday, July 19, 8 p.m. – Totally Tubular Festival- Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, July 19, 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Saturday, July 20, 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Friday, August 23- Bush – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, July 21, 3 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. – Creed and Three Doors Down – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
