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June 2 , 2006

The stifling Memorial Day heat couldn't keep a few hundred music-lovers from Birdland on Monday night! We even had a surprise visit from my old pal Michael Orland (in the center, right, with Eric Strong and me, with thanks to photog Mark Rupp). Michael happens to be the pianist/arranger/musical director for "American Idol," and was in town to do "Regis & Kelly" with the top 4 Idol kids, including soon-to-be-superstar Taylor Hicks. His presence caused quite a bit of excitement and many full-out performances. After hearing that the age cut-off for “Idol” contestants is 29, I calmed down a bit, but my mother, who played a medley of her hits, is still holding onto the dream.

And now, a couple of annoucements...

For three years, I wrote a column for TheaterMania.com called "Jim Caruso is...PRYING!," in which I asked hundreds of witty and smart show folks a slew of questions. I'm happy to announce that the column is returning...but this time, with a techo spin! "PRYING!" will now be a monthly video podcast available on TheaterMania and in this newsletter. Within the next few weeks, you'll also be able to subscribe to the show so it can be delivered right to your computer! Our premiere work of art goes up today, so check it out! You'll see me at the recent Drama Desk Awards speaking with folks about their all-time favorite audience moment...and you might be surprised at the answers I got! (Many thanks to Erich Bergen, video producer and camera man extraordinaire!)

And...

You simply have to click on Jim Caruso's Cast Party to see our new site! Our dazzling web-diva, Kate Botello, has been working herself into a frenzy updating the whole shebang, and we can't wait to have you peruse. Many thanks to Meredith Londigan from 3+Co. Design for the new design vibe, and for our brand new groovy flyer! You will LOVE the new pix on the site, and we thank clickers like Mark Rupp, David Goldman and Genevieve Rafter Keddy! Of course, Bill Westmoreland is the genius photog who did some shiny new photos of me and Mr. Stritch!

This coming Monday, June 5, the talented cast of Broadway's The Light In The Piazza show their "lighter" side one last time before they end their successful run and scatter to the showbiz winds. It will be an evening of fun, frivolity and fabulous singing starring David Burnham, Patti Cohenour, Aaron Lazar, Laura Griffith, Jennifer Hughes, Felicity LaFortune, to name just a few. Andrew Byrne will serve as musical director, and the event will be hosted and directed by David Bonanno. Special surprise guests are also expected. You better call Birdland now for tickets! (212.581.3080)

While I'm in the Mediterranean being all-at-sea, Cast Party will be in the very capable hosting hands of Christine Pedi (pictured above)! If you don't know her, you have no idea what you're missing! She's famous for her long association with Forbidden Broadway, and her brilliant impressions and comedy have earned her a Drama Desk nomination and an LA Ovation Award. She made her Broadway debut in Rob Marshall's revival of Little Me, and can be heard daily on Sirius Satellite Radio's "Broadway's Best" station, playing showtunes and interviewing theatre legends. "Sopranos" fans may recognize Christine as the dearly departed Mrs. Bobby Baccala...it was a brief but pivotal role - he loved her so much he couldn't bear to defrost her ziti! Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle - on piano and bass - will be on hand to keep the evening swinging, so you know it will be a fun night!

"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 JUNE ISSUE of Cabaret Scenes Magazine contains a fantastic feature on the history of Cast Party, and you've gotta check it out! Many, many thanks to Peter Leavy for the wonderful words, and to Keith Meritz and Frank Dain for making it all happen!

TONY-NOMINATED CAROLEE CARMELLO, 3-time Grammy winning star of Ring of Fire LARI WHITE, Hairspray Original Star MARY BOND DAVIS added to Town Hall's BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1978 cast!

The Monday, June 19th Broadway by the Year concert also includes Bryan Batt (who is also directing), Chuck Cooper, Felicia Finley, Julie Garnye, Nancy Opel, Noah Racey, Christine Pedi, and Lennie Watts. They’ll sing songs from shows like Ain’t Misbehavin’, Ballroom, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Eubie, On the Twenthieth Century, Runaways, Working, and others! Tickets are $45 and $40. Tickets can be purchased at The Town Hall Box Office or through http://www.TicketMaster.com or at 212.307.4100.

JENNA ESPOSITO, a Cast Party regular for over a year, romps through the ups and downs of her relationships with the other half in her new show I Hate Men: Songs for the Scorned. It runs Tuesdays in June (6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27) at the Duplex (61 Christopher St.). All shows at 7 p.m. $15 cover charge + 2 drink minimum, but wait – there’s a Cast Party discount - $10 cover for Cast Partyers! Music Director is Fortune Esposito, Director is Erv Raible. With Fortune Esposito, guitar; David Crone (6/7 & 6/20) and Richard Schacher (6/14 & 6/27), piano, Steve Doyle, bass, and guest singer Kelly Esposito-Broelmann. Reservations: 212-255-5438. Click: http://www.jennaesposito.com

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

www.Theshowstore.com presents Cabaret legend Steve Ross in his return 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 Iridium 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 ".
To book tickets online, click here.

On Monday, June 5 at 7pm, the theatre community kicks-off Pride month with a one-night-only, star-studded Broadway concert. "Broadway Backwards" will feature an evening of Broadway showtunes...with a twist. Can you imagine songs from Dreamgirls, but the "Dreams" happen to be three men? Or one of Broadway’s most appealing leading ladies singing "I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face?" from My Fair Lady? Or two of Broadway's hottest leading men singing "We Kiss in the Shadow" from The King and I? See and hear Broadway's finest voices tackle gender-reversed songs from the musical theater. Scheduled to appear: Michelle Blakely, Steven Brinberg, Andrea Burns, Charles Busch, Paul Castree, Matt Cavenaugh, Harvey Evans, Cheyenne Jackson, Priscilla Lopez, Karen Mason, Andrea McArdle, Michael McElroy, Pamela Myers, Kurt Peterson, Julie Wilson, Hosted by Seth Rudetsky, Direction by Robert Bartley, Musical Direction by Michael Lavine. The LGBT Center, 208 West 13 Street, NYC. Click Broadway at the Center for more details!


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/Goods.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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