France Joli Joins MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING Tonight

France Joli makes her Off-Broadway Debut in Anthony J. Wilkinson's "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" tonight, January 19^th at St. Luke's Theatre for One Night Only! It's sure to be one of the most amazing and exciting nights for Anthony Pinnunziato and his Big Gay Italian Family and Friends!

"The universe works in marvelous ways," says Joli. "I gave thought to my goals and desires for 2013 recently, and one of them was to get back to acting. Less than a week later, I was offered the chance to play a role in "My Big Gay Italian Wedding." I couldn't be more excited to make my Off-Broadway debut in this wonderfully witty and meaningful comedy."

On July 7, 1979, an unknown, 16-year-old French Canadian female vocalist named France Joli performed her new single Come To Me for the first time before a throng of 5,000 on Fire Island at a benefit now infamously known as Beach '79.

Joli left the stage a star and became a media darling who appeared in all the popular publications and on all the hot TV shows of the day. Come To Me became a smash hit that sold 3 million copies globally, rose to number one on disco charts around the world, and reached number 15 on Billboard magazine's pop chart. Befitting this fairytale, Joli portrayed Cinderella in the 1980 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

More than 32 years following that incredible debut, Joli still performs Come To Me and subsequent hits such as Gonna Get Over You, The Heart to Break the Heart, andFeel Like Dancing on the dance music circuit. She draws a crowd at every performance. Even those of a younger generation-who may not know her by name-realize they're fans of Come To Me once they hear Joli's first few bars.

Joli's latest single, released in early 2012, is a dance cover of Leonard Cohen's iconic ballad Hallelujah. It was remixed by DJs Julian Marsh, Twisted Dee, and Joel Dickinson and made available both on iTunes and on a limited edition CD titled France Joli Hallelujah: The Remixes. The song's official music video-which was shot in the High Desert of Southern California near Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park-is on YouTube.

In 2013, Joli's recordings of the Donna Summer classics "I Feel Love" and "This Time I Know It's For Real" will be part of the tribute album released by San Juan Music.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding performs at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave.) Tickets are $69.50 - 99.00, including $1.50 restoration fee, and are available at www.telecharge.com or by phone at 212/239-6200. For more information visit: www.BigGayItalianWedding.com.

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