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!

May 5 , 2006

First of all, I want you all to check out our new page on MySpace and sign up! Just click on MySpace.com/CastParty. All the kids are flipping out over it…it's just the hottest, newest hepcat thing. And you know how we try to stay au currant. Who knows what's next…maybe 8 Track tapes!

Monday's Cast Party was an embarassment of riches, what with royalty like Ryan Kelly (ex-Miss Staten Island) and Kate Shindle (ex-Miss America), both of whom are in the photo above! There were also lots of loyal regulars, quite a few newcomers, Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle to help create a fantastic evening. The night started with a bang, too, what with David Ippolito's concert. The guy knows how to charm a crowd with his clever, offbeat and melodious material! We can't wait for a return visit!

I'm thrilled to present Dick Scanlan (right) at Birdland this coming Monday, May 8 at 7pm! He's the lyricist/librettist of Thoroughly Modern Millie, and will recount his experiences on the other side of the footlights as an original cast member in the 1991 cult hit musical, Pageant. Set against the backdrop of the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic, this is a frank, funny and affectionate monologue about playing a woman…and becoming a man. You probably know that Dick was nominated for two Tony Awards (Best Book & Best Score), two Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy Award for his work on Thoroughly Modern Millie, the 2002 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner for Best Musical. The song he co-wrote with Jeanine Tesori for Kristin Chenoweth, "The Girl in 14G," has been performed on television and in concert halls across America, as well as having been a critics' favorite during Ms. Chenoweth's sold-out run at London's Donmar Warehouse. Mr. Scanlan and Ms. Tesori also wrote the theme song to Ms. Chenoweth's NBC/Paramount sitcom, "Kristin." In addition to his work for the theatre, Mr. Scanlan is the author of the novel Does Freddy Dance. His essays and articles on the arts have appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Village Voice, Playboy, Time Out New York and other magazines. A former actor, Mr. Scanlan originated the role of Miss Great Plains in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Pageant. This is going to be an amazing evening at Birdland, so you better call now for reservations: 212.581.3080.

"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

STEVE ROSS SEXTET SWINGS AND SINGS ASTAIRE
Sundays, April 30, May 7, 14, 28, June 4 : All Shows 7 PM
Irididum Jazz Club
1650 Broadway @ 51st Street, NYC

Cabaret legend Steve Ross returns to Broadway with his Sextet at the Iridium Jazz Club in his new show, FRED! Singing and Swinging Astaire. Steve Ross, "The suavest of all male cabaret performers..." (Stephen Holden, New York Times), brings his unique sytle and his new sextet to the New York landmark Iriduium Jazz Club in a sparkling show featuring classic hits such as "Cheek to Cheek", "Night and Day", and "Let Yourself Go" and "Stepping Out with My Baby ". Click: http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com .

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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