Being a fancypants theater snob I must confess that My Big Gay Italian Wedding, now playing at St. Luke's Theater, isn't the type of theatrical fare usually on my itinerary. But it stars reality TV sexbomb Reichen Lemkuhl and is produced by Real Housewives of New Jersey glamourpuss Dina Manzo so I thought I'd give a whirl. Well. From now on you can keep your Shakespeare and Ibsen because I'll be kiki-ing and carrying on with the crazy cast of characters at St. Luke's. I loved it.

Anthony, a gay Italian from Brooklyn, is marrying his dream man Andrew and hilarity ensues when  Anthony's kooky but lovable friends and family get involved in the wedding. Particularly guffaw-inducing is Randi Kaplan as Anthony's old-school Italian mama Angela and Carla-Marie Mercun as Aunt Toniann. Brian Anthony and Fabio Taliercio provide some dark and handsome eye candy and gays and gals will be thrilled to hear that Lemkuhl does have an underwear scene! If you want Theatuh (with a British accent), this isn't the show for you. But if you want to tickle your funny bone and have fun, My Big Gay Italian Wedding will be right up your alley. We caught up Lemkuhl and Manzo to get the scoop on MBGIW.

Mickey Boardman: What made this role irresistible to you, Reichen?

Reichen Lehmkuh: I've been looking for a play for the past six years and it's just perfect. When I read the script I loved that the play dealt with a really current social issue for our community.

MB: Dina, from watching Real Housewives show, there's always this kind of show-biz side to you. How did you end getting involved in My Big GayItalian Wedding?

Dina Manzo: Anthony Wilkinson, who wrote it, is a dear friend of mine. I just believe in what he's doing so much. Ithink it's hilarious, it's heartfelt and especially to Italians andgays everywhere -- it really speaks their language. Coming from anItalian family I understand the little jokes in there. I justthink it's so clever. I believe in what he wrote and I believe in the reasonbehind it and equality. I am a huge supporter of the gay community aswell. It just made sense for me to take part in it.

MB: So is this going to be your first time on stage, Reichen? I know you've hosted the Mr. Gay Philadelphia pageant. (Mr. Mickey was a judge at the pageant.)

RL: Yeah, I don't know if that would count as a musical theatre this would be my first time on stage in New York. I've been doing theatre all through my boyhood. In elementary school, I always went out for the school plays and and somehow I would always manage to get the lead.  It was very important for me to get the lead role and if I didn't have it I didn't want it. But after going into the military and going to LA where everything is so focused on film and television, I guess I kind of left that side of my life.

MB: Dina, when you got involved, did you have an idea of producing entails or was it a learn-as-you-go kind of situation?

DM: This is my first time producing anything, but it was a really excitingprocess. I got to be part of the casting, and that was really amazingto see -- five different actors bringing something different to thesame character and reading five different ways

MB: Do you think that because you come from a reality show people take you less seriously when you're auditioning for things?

RL: You do have to prove yourself somewhat. A lot of people don't what you're doing behind the scenes. I've been going to acting classes for the past fourteen years and Amazing Race isn't going to show that. I think Amazing Race was great because we were just known as the Gay Team and you didn't know much else about us.

MB: How long have you committed to do the show in New York?

RL: The show is open-ended and I have the option to stay with it if I want to, which is great. I had to pick up my whole life in L.A. and move everything to New York. I even brought my car out here, I am such an L.A. person. But I actually do like having my car here. Everyone was like 'You're going to hate it!' But I love it --  jumping in the car in the city and going places.

MB: What is your impression of New York?

RL: I love New York. I'm attracted by all the different types of people. It's been a rough move, I lost my cat when I got here. I lost her to cancer, she finally couldn't take it anymore. After I got here, I had to have a vet come and put her to sleep. So that was really rough to go through that. And very intense rehearsal days before the play at the same time. It was a lot of stress. I lost some weight. But it's getting better, I am adjusting and I'm healing a little bit from the shock of my kitty dying. But yeah, I will get through it.

MB: New York is very stressful place but once you get on it, you'll be a hard bitch just like the rest of us. Have you and Dina had much time working together?

RL: I met her when I came into town to read with people who hadn't yet been cast for the play. They had already offered me the part and I got to meet her then. Ever since then, every time I get to hang out with her we have a great time. Sometimes she calls me her husband, and I call her my wife. I really love her, we get along and she's so sweet. And it's funny because the people who produce the Housewives shows are the same production company shooting my TV Show now A-list New York. It's cool.

MB: Tell me about this show!

RL: It's called A-list New York, and it's a new series on LOGO coming out in fall. It's following six guys in New York City from different backgrounds, some of them just moved here like myself, some have been here a long time. Basically six guys who have different lives and things going on in New York and how they are making it.

MB: You're definitely going to be here for a while then.

RL: I am definitely going to be here for six months. I went down to TriBeCa today and I started looking at lofts and condos for sale. It's amazing. I am actually picturing myself living in a TriBeCa loft. I have been in L.A. for 14 years, and never thought I would be in New York. I think I might stay here a while.

MB: Wow! Alright, well welcome aboard.

MB: Dina, since Real Housewives of New Jersey is back on how do you feel about doing the show now? Have you learned anything the first season?

 DM: Actually, I am not really comfortable with the whole reality world. I don't particularly love the whole process of it, but I have my reasons for doing it. I have a charity for children with cancer that I wanted to get it out there. As far as learning anything, there's nothing I can change about the whole process. We don't get to see the episodes until a couple of days before, so there's always a little cringing while you watch and wonder what they are going to do with the scene. But I just try to be myself and be treated for who I am, and how I am feeling, it's about all you can do in that situation.

MB: Since you have so much experience planning events and weddings, did you put your two cents in about how the show's wedding is presented.

DM: No. They do have a wonderful event planner that's part of the show, who is hilarious. I would never step on his toes.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding is currently running at St. Luke's Theater. Tickets are available here.