Photo Flash: World Premiere of Joe Gulla's GAY.PORN.MAFIA at the New York Live Arts Theater

Presented in association with The Downtown Urban Arts Festival, Joe Gulla's "GAY.PORN.MAFIA", directed by Brian Rardin, had its World Premiere at the New York Live Arts Theater this past Saturday, April 14th.

"GAY.PORN.MAFIA" is a collection of Gulla's (internationally and) nationally-produced, award-winning short comedies: "Gayfever", "Fall and Rise", "Reel Wood", "Knock Off!" and "Sleeping With The Fish"!

Bob Criso of "Hi Drama" said, "The show highlights various sharply-observed characters from the playwright's experience including a closeted gay priest, a closeted family physician treating a young man for "gay hay fever," a macho Mafia thug you would never suspect was gay, a ditsy Italian-American secretary with big hair and no apparent brains working at a gay-oriented art-gallery, the Mafia takeover of that gallery once there is big money to be made and another gay priest who accidentally drops in on a gay party in Spain and is "converted."

"They are all funny, closer to farce, but they also have a point and are all connected to both Gulla's experience and imagination. The acting was first-rate all around, convincing and with perfect timing. 'You put cheese on your linguine with clam sauce?' the big-haired secretary shockingly exclaims, noting a cardinal sin in any Italian-American family. It's a line worthy of SNL and Rosanna Rosannadanna. The delivery was impeccable."

Criso goes on to say, "GAY.PORN.MAFIA" is candid, wise, edgy, never obscene and has plenty of guaranteed laughs, even if you're not Italian."

The cast of GAY.PORN.MAFIA" includes: Jeff Riberdy, Tony Nominee Lou Liberatore, Todd Butera, Andrea Cordaro, Joe Gulla, Aaron Dalla Villa and Emily Dinova.

When asked what's next, Gulla answers enthusiastically, "Well, it's our hope that GAY.PORN.MAFIA will have a life beyond this festival. That's my main focus for the remainder of 2018. However, next month, I am off to Northern California where my solo play, "FAGGY at 50" will have its West Coast premiere on the strength of its Sold Out run last year at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater!"

Joe Gulla is a regular performer at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. His play, "The Bronx Queen" and "GARBO" won the 2016 and 2017 Downtown Urban Arts Festival "Audience Award" respectively. As an actor, Joe played "Joey" in San Francisco's "Tony & Tina's Wedding" for many years and "Frankie" in Off-Broadway's "My Big Gay Italian Wedding". He also starred on NBC's "LOST", one of television's first adventure reality series.

Photo Credit: Fusion Box Films