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 19, 2006

Euan Morton (right, being kissed by Taboo co-star Liz McCartney) jammed Birdland on Monday night! The show was a brilliant combination of his Broadway hits, beloved songs by The Carpenters, and original tunes from his new CD, NewClear. After the show and a short meet-n-greet, he scurried to the Skirball Center to pick up an Obie Award for his fabulous performance in Measure For Pleasure! (Congrats to our own Christine Ebersole, who also won for her work in Grey Gardens!) The post-show Cast Party was equally inspiring, with the cast of Ring Of Fire entertaining us all night! MANY thanks to Jeb Brown for wrangling everyone, and for singing his heart out on the Birdland stage for the first time! Tony-winner Jerrod Emick sang "Folsom Prison Blues" and Grammy-winner Lari White sang "All Over Again," and it was all way too much fun! Later, Lari was joined by her husband, singer/songwriter Chuck Cannon, and they crooned an amazingly sexy version of Chuck and Victoria Shaw's hit, "I Love The Way You Love Me." The entire audience was in love, or in lust, or in something. Father/daughter jazzers Freddy and Niki King came all the way from Scotland to swing for us, Tony DeSare showed his stuff, and Jeremy Goddard made a memorable Birdland debut! Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle made up the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra as only they can! Next week, Billy Stritch will be at the eighty-eights, with Mr. Doyle on bass.

This coming Monday, May 22, I'm thrilled to present Jule Styne in Hollywood, celebrating the CD from PS Classics by the same name. It's a recording of both standards and forgotten gems from Styne's illustrious film catalog, including his 10 Academy Award-nominated songs. Performers joining us will include Maria Friedman (pictured right), Leslie Uggams, Norm Lewis, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock, Johnny Rodgers, Klea Blackhurst, Sara Zahn and The Lascivious Biddies (cast subject to change). These dazzlers will sing Styne standards like "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend," "Some People," "It's Been A Long, Long Time," "I'll Walk Alone," "You Make Me Dream Too Much" and "Put 'em In A Box, Tie 'em With A Ribbon," among many others. Jule Styne is perhaps best remembered as the composer of such Broadway smash hits as Gypsy, Funny Girl, and Bells Are Ringing, but before he turned his attention to the stage, he was one of Hollywood's most prolific tunesmiths. This night will be a sell-out, so you better call Birdland NOW (212.581.3080) or click on 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

For online booking information, click: The Show Store

THE JEFF RIEBE FUND. We need your support!
May 20th at 1:00 p.m.
Territory Studio
153 West 27th Street, Suite 1001 New York, NY

On April 21, 2006, 40-year-old Jeff Riebe was hit by a drunk driver, as he walked down a New York City street. Jeff is currently in a coma, with extensive brain and bone injuries. To support Jeff and his family, events are being hosted in NYC, Minneapolis and San Francisco. Monies raised will be used for rehabilitation expenses and travel costs for the family during Jeff's hospitalization period. We're asking for your support. Jeff is a loving friend, brother, son, actor, event planner and all around great guy. For more information on how you can help, click here (.pdf format, 188K). For a fact sheet about Jeff, click here (.pdf format, 50K).


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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