TONYS WIFE

Chi Chi Donatelli and Saverio Armandonada meet one summer on the Jersey shore before World War II. Chi Chi is a talented and ambitious singer-songwriter working in a local blouse factory looking for her big break, while Saverio, a singer already on the rise, is fronting a touring band and has the good looks and smooth vocals that make success seem assured. It isn't long before Saverio becomes Tony Arma, and he and Chi Chi form a duo; together they navigate the glamorous worlds of nightclubs, radio, and television. Soon they're married and all goes well until it becomes clear that they must make a choice: Which of them will put ambition aside to build a family and which will pursue a career? What compromises will they make to achieve their dreams? And on the road to fame and fortune, how will they cope with the impact these compromises have on their marriage, family, and themselves? From the Jersey shore to Hollywood, from New York City to Las Vegas to the hills of northern Italy and the exuberant hayride of the big-band circuit in between, Tony's Wife tells the story of the twentieth century in song. Secrets are revealed, promises are broken, and loyalties are tested as the Armas juggle the demands of careers and family life in pursuit of their American dream.