It was a love-fest of the highest order at Birdland on Valentine’s Day! Stephanie J. Block kicked off the evening (with Billy Stritch at the piano) at 7pm with an SRO crowd filled with family, friends, and throngs of "Ozalots," her adoring fans from Boy From Oz! It was a great send-off to Steph – who leaves next week to star in the National Company of Wicked…finally playing Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, the role she created during the workshopping of the show! A highlight of the Birdland show was her dazzling performance of "Defying Gravity." We’re going to miss her, but she’s gonna make it look so easy being green! Our 9pm concert starred Christine Ebersole (again, with Billy Stritch), who ran right over from her first day of rehearsals for Steel Magnolias,opening on Broadway April 4th. The club was jammed with Manhattan swells like Marion Seldes, Bruce Vilanch, Harvey Evans, Dr. Barry Kohn (see above), Jason Moore, and Norwegian superstars Hanne Krogh and Geir Ness (below right). I’m so glad Stephanie and Christine have made Birdland their home! And if those two concerts weren’t enough, the Hilary Kole Trio jazzed onto the stage at 11pm with a wonderful show of standards, swinging and swaying!

All in all, a wonderful night!

This coming Monday, Peter Eldridge takes a one-night leave from the Grammy Award-winning New York Voices to go solo at Birdland at 7pm! I am absolutely in love with his voice and style and want to be just like him. (Not in a weird way…) Come check out the guy who is all things groovy, along with his band, which includes Tim Lefebvre on bass, Ben Wittman on drums, Joel Frahm on tenor saxophone and Seth Fruiterman, the accordion superstar! You can click on this week’s Cast Party – The Radio Show – to hear a few cuts from his CD!

Right after Peter’s set, stick around for the return of Cast Party! This week, Mark Berman will be burning up the keys, with our own Steve Doyle on bass. As you might know, you never know who will show up…but I’ve heard rumor that Earl Okin, the British "Musical Genius and Sex Symbol," will be paying us a visit. He’s done everything from touring with Paul McCartney to re-making the Wheatus tune, "Teenage Dirtbag" as a bossa nova.

Something tells me we’re in for a bit of fun, and I don’t want you missing it.

This week's Cast Party – The Radio Show is a repeat of last week’s show…with Brent Barrett, Sally Mayes and Peter Eldridge. Wait until you hear Peter's voice and songs! I'm really thrilled that he had an available night from all his New York Voices travels to solo at Birdland this Monday! Click to hear the show...then call the club at 212.581.3080 for reservations! Also...stay tuned for a Very Special Episode of Cast Party – The Radio Show. We’re gonna celebrate Liza Minnelli’s birthday in a big way! Stay tuned for details…

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