March 17, 2006

First of all, if you'd like to read a thrilling and incisive interview with noneother than ME, click on www.actorslife.com. Now…on to business. Monday night was a Monster Cast Party, showcasing some of the most thrilling talent we've seen in a long time, and that's saying a lot. First of all, Janis Ian's (in the picture at right) performances of “Jesse,” “At Seventeen” and “My Autobiography” started the evening like twenty sticks of dynamite! A cheering throng that included Michael Feinstein, Rex Reed, Mark Hudson and Linda Lavin, couldn't believe their luck to be able to hear this legend in such an intimate and casual setting. The New York Times was there to record the entire event, so watch for that. Many thanks to the constantly supportive and gracious Christine Lavin for suggesting Cast Party as the spot for Janis to hang during her stay in town! Christine favored us with a hilarious song she wrote 20 years ago that actually mentions Janis, which was terribly appropriate! Brian Charles Rooney, who is in rehearsals for Threepenny Opera (as Lucy Brown!) sang his lungs out, Lodi Carr was “Old Fashioned,” David Ippolito asked us to “Get Outta The House,” Carol Shaw sang about “My Romance,” Lawrence O'Keefe sang his “Sensitive Song,” The Lascivious Biddies sang about “Carol,” and then, songwriters Gary Burr and Victoria Shaw were “Ready To Say Goodnight.” There were loads of newcomers and so many beloved regulars…I wish I could list them all! But they'll all be back soon, we hope! Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle worked overtime as the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra, and we couldn't have had more fun.

Tuesday night, the aforementioned Victoria Shaw went Under The Covers again, joined onstage by bazillion-selling songwriters Gary Burr, Mark Hudson and Billy Mann. From Garth to Pink to Jessica to Cher, these four geniuses have written the songs that make the whole world sing…but to hear the stories behind the tunes and to hear them with just piano and guitar is the best gift. They'll be back in July and I can't wait.

JIM BRICKMAN! How lucky are we? He usually performs in big, huge concert venues, but we persuaded him to do two very special, intimate concerts at Birdland this coming Monday and Tuesday, March 20 and 21 at 7pm. He's bringing with him two Broadway singers or great note: Stephanie J. Block and Mike Eldred. Of course you know Stephanie from her Broadway debut as Liza Minnelli opposite Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz and as Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked. Mike was in the final cast of the Broadway company of Les Miserable, and sings with symphonies all over the world. Mr. Brickman (up there, in the pic), a platinum-selling pianist and composer, has already established himself as America's most popular romantic pianist with the enormous success of compositions like “Valentine,” “The Gift,” “Love of My Life,” “Simple Things” and “Peace.” Call Birdland and get a seat for these concerts NOW! It's gonna be SRO! That's 212-581-3080 or www.instantseats.com/birdland.

"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

SCOTT & BARBARA SIEGEL TO BE HONORED IN ROAST, TOAST & TRIBUTE SERIES! It's a benefit concert that will feature yours truly, plus many Broadway by the Year veterans and cabaret stars!

CAROLYN MONTGOMERY (Nightlife Award winner) and Reveille Productions is producing Roasts, Toasts and Tributes, celebrating New York's finest and most beloved cabaret personalities. The date for The Siegels event is Sunday, March 26th at 8:00 pm at The Theater at St. Clement's Church (423 West 46th Street, NYC; 212.246.7277 Ext. 29). As decided by The Siegels, proceeds for this benefit will provide cash prizes to winners in the cabaret categories of The Nightlife Awards. Tickets are $20.00 in advance ($23/door) and from SmartTix (212.868.4444). For more information, see www.roaststoaststributes.com.

What do MICHAEL C. HALL, KERRY BUTLER, CHEYENNE JACKSON, ESTELLE PARSONS, JULIA MURNEY, DEVEN MAY, HUNTER FOSTER, MICHAEL ARDEN, JAMES BLUNT and the GOO GOO DOLLS all have in common? Their secret weapon…voice teacher Liz Caplan! Her student ANA GASTEYER (upcoming Threepenny Opera) says, “Studying with Liz has changed my approach to singing on every level. In the two years we have worked together, she has combined phenomenal technique with tailor-made specifications to meet a huge variety of professional demands. Her tireless enthusiasm and expertise have empowered me physiologically and emotionally to become a better singer than I had ever imagined. It's like physical therapy and good, old-fashioned psycho-therapy for your vocal chords!” Visit www.LizCaplan.com for more information, but tell Liz you heard about her at Cast Party!

As always, 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!

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