Mekka Joins 'My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish...'

This summer, The Big Apple gets "The Big Ragu" when Eddie Mekka stars in Steve Solomon's long-running comedy MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH & I'M IN THERAPY! at the Westside Theatre downstairs (407 West 43rd Street).  Best known to television audiences as Carmine Ragusa on the classic sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," Mekka assumes the role of "Steve" beginning on Tuesday, July 15th. Through July 13th, Steve Solomon, the show's creator and original star, returns to the New York production for three weeks before Mekka assumes the role.

Prior to his seven seasons on "Laverne & Shirley," Mekka began his career as a New York trained actor earning Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominations for his performance as the title character in "The Lieutenant." Other Broadway credits include Stephen Schwartz's The Magic Show and Tom Stoppard's Jumpers. Most recently, Mekka starred in national tours of Grease with his television co-star Cindy Williams, Fiddler on the Roof and The Goodbye Girl.  On film, Mekka has been seen in Dreamgirls, Beaches, A League of Their Own and Top Of the World.  His recent television credits include "24," "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "The Bold and the Beautiful," "The Big Easy," "The Jamie Foxx Show" and as Detective Murdoch in the Fox T.V. movie "Catch Me If You Can".

"This marks my first time on a New York stage in three decades," says Mekka.  "People know me best for my television work, but the stage has always been my first love and I've never left it. Nothing beats getting up in front of a live audience and there's nothing like playing to a New York audience. Steve has written an incredibly funny show with a lot of heart. I've always been a big fan of Steve's and the show so I can't wait for the therapy session to begin."

Twice the holidays!  Twice the hollering! Twice the guilt!  After sold-out engagements around the country, Rodger Hess, Abby Koffler, Howard Rapp, Arnold Graham and Ed Frankel present Steve Solomon's MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH & I'M IN THERAPY!.  One part canoli, one part kreplach and two parts prozac, ITALIAN+JEWISH=THERAPY is written by Steve Solomon is directed by John Bowab (Legends!, The Unsinkable Molly Brown). The scenic design is by Ray Klausen; Lighting design by Brian Nason; and sound design by Carl Casella.

WOR Radio raves "The show's a big hit! It's an hour-and-a-half of laughter! Hysterically funny!"  while Joe Franklin of Bloomberg Radio calls the show "the sleeper hit of the season!"  WCBS-TV heralds the show as "A funny look at family relationships" that WWOR-TV raves "brings down the house!"

Having headlined throughout the United States and Europe for over twenty years, creator Steve Solomon and stories relate to the wacky side of the human condition, combining comic voices, sound effects and astounding characters  - bringing alive a myriad of people from all walks of life. ITALIAN+JEWISH=THERAPY has toured in over 50 cities around the United States, Canada and Bermuda, playing to sold out audiences and return engagements.

Steve Solomon's MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH & I'M IN THERAPY! plays at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street, between 9th & 10th Aves.). Via subway, take the 1/2/3/7/A/C/E/N/R/Q/W/S trains to 42nd Street/Times Square. Performances are Tuesday at 7:00PM, Wednesday – Saturday at 8:00PM with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00PM. Tickets are $61.25 - $71.25.  For tickets call Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200.  Visit www.ItalianJewishTherapy.com.

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