Amanda Green and Tom Kitt, along with their cast and band, put on a positively kick-tuchas show Monday night. As always, they had almost as much razzle-dazzle in the packed house as they did on stage! Mike Nichols (right, with Mandy and Tom) was sitting in the front row, absolutely swooning over their choice, urbane material. Also, composer/lyricist Adam Guettel (below, with Julia Murney), whose The Light In The Piazza will be opening on Broadway come spring, was there to support his pals. The following Cast Party was a blast, too, featuring two, count ‘em, two ukulele ladies. Phoebe Kreutz was a scream, as usual, and Jill Anderson evoked the ‘20’s with great panache. I gotta get me one of them ukes. Then we learned that Steve Doyle, usually at the bass behind the piano, actually has legs! He sat at the grand, played, sang, and killed! A first…but definitely not the last!

Speaking of Adam Guettel...listen to the composer himself singing "Hero and Leander" on his MYTHS AND HYMNS CD. Click here.

This coming Monday, February 7th, we have a great night planned for you! At 7pm, Julia Murney (right) takes the stage for one of her rare concert appearances! It’s so close to being sold out, I hate to even bring it up…but if you call Birdland now, you might still get a seat! 212.581.3080. I only pray she sings my favorite Bobbie Gentry song, "Fancy," like she did in her last show. After Julia, I’m thrilled to tell you that Cast Party will be celebrating the release of The TheaterMania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings, compiled and edited by Michael Portantiere. I have it on good authority that Broadway notables like Rita Gardner, who created the role of The Girl in the original Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks; Stephanie D’Abruzzo and Barrett Foa from the cast of Avenue Q; Christine Pedi from Forbidden Broadway; impressionist Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand; Richard Kind, currently starring in The Producers; and the legendary George S. Irving will all be there, singing the songs that got ‘em into the book! I also hear that Sally Mayes will be in the house, and we can raise a glass to her brand new CD, appropriately titled, "Valentine." All that, plus Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle on piano and bass, along with YOU, will help make it a night to remember!

This week, I have a chat with composer David Friedman, whose songs have been recorded by Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Petula Clark and the late, great Nancy LaMott. Since his Listen To My Heart revue ran Off-Broadway, he’s been busy producing the first posthumous LaMott CD, recorded live at Tavern On The Green in 1995. It’s a hauntingly gorgeous disc, and one I’m proud to play for you on Cast Party – The Radio Show! Then, we’ll chat with Hilary Kole (see photo, right), currently starring in Singing Astaire, and getting ready for her late-night Valentine’s Day concert at Birdland. If you haven’t heard this girl swing, you’ve gotta tune in… you’ll be a fan! Now you can listen to Cast Party – The Radio Show in two wonderful ways! It still airs Tuesday and Friday nights on BroadwayWorld.com Radio at 8pm. Or, by popular demand, you can listen any time "on-demand" by clicking over to the Cast Party page itself. Does it get better than that? No, we didn't think so.

Click here for the Cast Party Radio Show on BroadwayWorld.com! Produced by Brian Wilson at SoHa Media.

Newsletter by Love Bomb Productions for Jim Caruso's Cast Party, All Rights Reserved 2005