Off-Broadway veteran actor and producer Anthony J. Wilkinson will preview a new comedy, “My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure,” in Sound Waves Theater at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The show’s preview debut is slated for Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com or Ticketmaster.com. All shows are subject to change.
This is the first time Wilkinson has launched a new show beyond New York City’s off-Broadway area, and My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure is scheduled for a full preview period and official opening in the fall. He has opened six shows off Broadway –- My Big Gay Italian Wedding, Boys Just Wanna Have Fun, My Big Gay Italian Funeral, My Big Gay Italian Midlife Crisis, The Real Housewives of Secaucus and My Big Gay Italian Christmas, which was successfully revived at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in December.
In this chapter of Wilkinson’s two-decade-running life saga, Anthony Pinnunziato sells his now billion dollar company, “Body Body” and opens the first gay and lesbian casino in Atlantic City. Anthony’s novel idea, Pinnunziato Palace, opens in Atlantic City with much awaited excitement from the community, but problems and obstacles quickly arise. New love triangles and quadrangles, new crazy characters and new life challenges for Anthony Pinnunziato can all be expected.
“Given the nature of the show and my extended relationship with Hard Rock Atlantic City, I felt that I wanted to open the show there,” said Wilkinson. “The team and management have overwhelmingly supported my brand, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, making this the perfect place for the birth and creation of the new show.”
“My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure” Based on Two Decades of Series Success
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 fully out Equity cast in 2010. The run was expected to last six weeks but wound up extending 14 times in the same location.
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.
HEADLINER ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
Saturday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m. – Nikki Glaser – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. – The 3 Kings Ultimate Elvis Experience – Sound Waves
Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m. – Kumar Sanu & Sadhana Sargam – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. – UpDating – Sound Waves
Friday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. – Widespread Panic – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m. – Widespread Panic – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. – Widespread Panic – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 p.m. – Rod Stewart – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Mar. 8, 8 p.m. – Smokey Robinson – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Frturday, Mar. 8, 7 p.m. – R&B Promotions Presents Fight Night – Sound Waves
Saturday, Mar. 22, 8 p.m. – Il Volo – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Mar. 28, 9 p.m. – Yacht Rock Revue – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Mar. 29, 8 p.m. – Jowell & Randy – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Mar. 29, 8 p.m. – Sal Da Vinci and Arisa – Sound Waves
Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m. – Peter Frampton – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m. – The Wallflowers – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m. – Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 18, 8 p.m. – Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m. – Bongwalk Empire with Cypress Hill – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. – Zac Brown Band – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. – Zac Brown Band – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m. – Brit Floyd – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. – Sunidhi Chauhan – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, June 27, 8 p.m. – Incubus – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, July 11, 8 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Saturday, July 12, 8 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Sunday, July 13, 6 p.m. – Totally Tubular Festival – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, July 26, 8 p.m. – Chicago – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, July 27, 7 p.m. – Chicago – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. – Toto + Men at Work + Christopher Cross – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. – Train – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m. – I Love the 90s Tour with Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Rob Base, Young MC – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. – Foreigner – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. – Foreigner – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
With the legendary Atlantic City Boardwalk as its backdrop, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has become Atlantic City’s go-to entertainment destination. The property features an award-winning gaming floor that offers 2,425 slots, 130 table games, and a dedicated Sportsbook. Boasting more than 15 food and beverage offerings, guests are able to enjoy fine dining at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Kuro, and Il Mulino, to casual fare at Hard Rock Cafe, YOUYU Noodle Bar, Sugar Factory and Fresh Harvest Buffet. The music-inspired resort offers guests a glimpse into the world’s most valuable and largest music memorabilia collection, along with services from Rock Spa® & Salon, which offers rhythm and music inspired treatments like the Soul Survivor Massage. With more than 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space, Hard Rock Atlantic City can fit any bill from intimate board meetings to large-scale conferences. For more information or to book your stay, please visit hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.
About Hard Rock®
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 309 locations that include owned, licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Its Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties around the world. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 88,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock Hotels has been honored by J.D. Power’s North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study as the number one brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for two consecutive years, and among the top Upper Upscale Hotels for four consecutive years. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021 and has since been honored fourfold. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World’s Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop
