Psst - after you've read all of the Cast Party scoop, be sure to spend a moment with our fabulous sponsors at the end of the page!

April 28, 2006

Maybe it's the spring weather, but Cast Party was as crowded as I've seen it in months this past Monday night! There was a line of about a hundred people outside Birdland (pix by Mark Rupp, right), excited to partake in everyone's favorite Monday night showbiz soiree! The party was a blast, with everyone from The Fabulous Pink Flamingos to Julia Joseph to the tapping, tromboning Todd Londagin. Lots of beloved regulars, too. Where would we be without them? Join us next Monday for even more fun! Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle will make up the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra.

You've seen him performing his thoroughly original songs surrounded by hundreds of fans on lazy Central Park afternoons. He's celebrating his 15th year entertaining New York City by actually coming inside! David Ippolito will be in concert at Birdland this coming Monday, May 1 at 7pm. And what a story he has. In June of 1992, he spent nearly all of his money on a tiny amplifier and, with a microphone that was duct-taped to a stand, he went to Central Park on a sunny, weekend afternoon. He found a spot by The Lake facing a small, grassy hill where 3 or 4 people were relaxing...reading newspapers or lying in the sun. He asked if he could play a few songs for them, and when they all said "yes," he played James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James". By the end of the day, David had sung to over 500 people. One of those people happened to be Senior Editor of the New York Times, Jack Rosenthal. The following Monday morning, a quarter page article about a spontaneous "Concert in the Park" appeared in the Times. That was all the validation David needed. He would have to return again and again to "The Hill", which is exactly what he has done. He has subsequently been featured in the New York Times, the Post, the Daily News, Parade Magazine, PBS, CBS-TV, ABC-TV, and WB-11 news. His original tune, "City Song,” dedicated to the city he loves, was used to close NBC's television coverage of the 2001 N.Y.C. Marathon. He's appeared on ABC's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” and as an actor, he's landed multiple national TV commercials and has done several regional musical theater productions. Recently, backed by "some of the best session musicians and nicest people anywhere,” David has performed several SRO concerts at Merkin Concert Hall, and is currently developing a series of weekly, concert/storytelling sessions at The Soho Playhouse in New York City. So join us at Birdland this Monday night at 7pm. There's a $25 cover and $10 food/drink minimum. Call 212.581.3080 or visit http://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

BROADWAY BY THE YEAR 1968!
Monday, May 1 @ 8pm
Town Hall
123 West 43 Street, NYC

Scott Siegel is proud to present another dazzling evening of Broadway showstoppers, this time from the year 1968! The show will be directed by Brad Oscar, star of The Producers, who will perform alongside Scott Coulter, Annie Golden, Lisa Howard, Lorinda Lisitza, Jack Noseworthy,, Jonny Peterson, Chip Zien, and MORE! The musicals from which music will be drawn for the concert includes Hair, The Happy Time, Darling of the Day, Golden Rainbow, George M!, New Faces of 1968, Her First Roman, Zorba, and Promises Promises. Tickets are available at The Town Hall box office from noon to 6 pm every day but Sunday, or they can be purchased through TicketMaster: 212-307-4100. Tickets are $45 and $40. Click: http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=5551.

Our updated t-shirt is now available in Tootsie-Roll brown with safety-cone orange trim, as seen at left, where Jim reveals his secret identity as -- Superhost! Show your love for a certain Monday night Open Mic extravaganza by wearing this 100% cotton, Peruvian-made, American-printed piece of art! The wry "Got Mic?" logo is on the front, and our logo is on the back. They're only $20 and available if you click http://www.castpartynyc.com/merchandise.htm.

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 http://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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