February 24, 2006

Monday night's Marcy & Zina Show was, as always, packed with family, friends and rabid fans of the talented songwriting duo. Their cast included Scott Coulter, Richard Todd Adams, Jill Abramovitz and Mary Faber (pictured right with Ben Schraeder), and they were all backed by a marvelous band. We're so proud that M&Z have made Birdland their musical home, and we can't wait for a return visit! The following Cast Party was one for the books, with magician Simon Lovell digging playing cards out of every orifice, Stewart D'Arietta giving a taste of his Tom Waits concert, Maggie Wirth belting out, Mark Aaron James rocking out, and Harmony Keeney swinging out. We were also happy to see our fave Brit, Andrew Pepper, on holiday from his West End gig in Mary Poppins! Of course, there were lots of beloved regulars, including Christine Lavin, Erich Bergen and Julie Garnye. Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle, on piano and bass, kept the music going strong for hours.

After a sold out engagement at Birdland this fall, two-time TONY Award nominee and EMMY winner Penny Fuller (pictured right) returns on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 pm. Directed by Barry Kleinbort with David Gaines as Musical Director, Ms. Fuller performs songs from some of her Broadway musicals as well as standards and little known gems from the Great American Songbook. Penny received TONY nominations for Applause and The Dinner Party as well as the EMMY Award for THE ELEPHANT MAN. TV audiences will recognize her from her appearances on MAD ABOUT YOU, MELROSE PLACE, MURDER, SHE WROTE, LAW AND ORDER, JUDGING AMY, ER, NYPD BLUE, LICENSE TO KILL and GEORGE WASHINGTON. Have you made reservations yet? You better do it now, because it's gonna be SRO! There's a $30 cover and $10 food/drink minimum. Call 212.581.3080 or order online at www.instantseats.com/birdland.

Next week's Cast Party will feature Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass. I've heard a rumor that The Lascivious Biddies will make an appearance, and we'll have a ticket giveaway for Scott Siegel's upcoming (March 6) Broadway By The Year Concert at Town Hall! His cast, which includes Celia Keenan-Bolger, Emily Skinner, Deven May, Mary Testa, and Michael Winther, will be celebrating the music from the Broadway Musicals of 1930! Mark Kudisch, that brilliant leading man, will direct.

"The Party simply glows with New York nightlife ambiance. It feels like a throwback to another era but it has this era's top-notch entertainers dropping in to schmooze, sing, eat, and drink. Caruso consistently provides a flow of exciting singers, and he's definitely hip, cool and classy all by himself."

-THEATERMANIA

When:

Every Monday at 9:30pm!

Where:

BIRDLAND
315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th)

212.581.3080

Click here for the official Cast Party website!

Ligeti Artists LLC
Peter Ligeti
mrligeti@aol.com
212.396.1111

Again, many thanks to our corporate and private sponsors Gianni Valente & Hilary Kole, Randy Swartz & Stage Step, Jamie deRoy & friends, Michael Estwanik, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne,Todd Forman, Steven Minichiello, Matthew Gilbert and Wild Oats Productions, as well as our Birdland sound guru Jody Dobson and Brian Wilson at SoHa Media. We can't do it without you! For those interested; it's tax deductible!
Woo hoo!