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!

June 16 , 2006

Greetings, Cast Party-ers!

Your editrix, Kate Botello, here (that's me, at right, Cast Party-ing with the impossibly gorgeous Benjie Randall). Our dapper host, Jim Caruso, is off hosting a Broadway-themed toga party at some remote Greek isle or other, so I thought I might take a turn at penning your newsletter this week.

First: many, many thanks to Christine Pedi for stepping in so nimbly to fill Jim's shiny shoes at the Cast Party, and in last week's newsletter. Did we luck out to have her or what? Christine: you rule.

At last Monday's Cast Party, brilliant people showed up and sang stuff, and incredibly talented elbows rubbed other incredibly talented elbows (perhaps an attempt at cross-genius-pollination). You know how I know that? Because that's what always happens!

Next week, the Big Caruso returns to Birdland. Be sure to come in and throw him a fabulous welcome-home Cast Party, because he'll be telling you all about it via...

(drumroll please)

The totally new, improved, re-designed Cast Party Newsletter to go with the new Cast Party Site! Coming next week!

Ciao babies,
Kate

The Summer Series continues!

Monday, June 19th at 7:00, Birdland, in association with Theatermania.com, presents an evening with David Burnham (pictured at right).

Currently appearing in Light in the Piazza, this dashing leading man will sing favorites from the contemporary and classic Broadway songbook, as well as Johnny Mercer standards and Christine Lavin specialty tunes. Christopher Denny serves as musical director. There is a $25 cover charge and a $10 food or drink minimum.

As a special bonus, Stephanie J. Block guests! You might know her from Broadway's The Boy From Oz opposite Hugh Jackman as Liza Minnelli, Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked, and the upcoming Pirate Queen...and she'll be headlining next Monday and Tuesday, the 26 and 27 at Birdland! Tickets for these shows are going fast, so call now for seats: 212.581.3080 or click your tickets instead: 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 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.


BROADWAY CAFE SOCIETY.com is a fansite that celebrates theater and movie showtunes of yesterday, today and tomorrow. We also pay tribute to all the artists -- past and present -- that make the genre the unique art form that it is. Features include entertainer profiles, jukebox, news and more. Become a member and receive our colorful monthly e-newsletter and other mailings. Membership is free. Join us at Broadway Cafe Society.com...where showtunes come to play!


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





MARK ALAN JONES IN, "WRITTEN IN THE STARS". The Zodiac and the stars will determine which songs will be sung at this astrological cabaret. Previously, "You Drink, I Sing" was listed as a critic's pick in Time Out New York. "Minnie Pearl Does Broadway" was sold out. "59 Minutes No More, No Less" was a race to the finish. Now, come see what song has been chosen for your sign! Musical Direction by David A. Shenton/Directed by Darron Cardosa. Saturday June 24 6:00 PM, Sunday June 25 7:00 PM, Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. 212.757.0788 after 4:00 PM, $12 cover/two drink minimum.






HAVE YOU HEARD STEVE DOYLE play piano and sing? Here’s your chance. The Men’s Warehouse takes the stage this Friday in the East Village hot spot Jimmy’s 43. The ‘Menz’ feature jams with overtones of jazz, funk, drum and bass, samba and polka. Infulences include Madness, Mac Davis, Joy Division, Consuelo Velazquez, and so much more… DJ South High spins vintage vinyl on his old school flip-top turn table and speaker contraption. Join the Men’s Warehouse downstairs at Jimmy’s this Friday and enjoy the cozy ambience, good food and large selection of Belgium beers. Set’s are 9PM and 10:30PM with a $5 cover charge per set. Men’s Warehouse, Downstairs at Jimmy’s 43, 43 E. 7th St., East Village. Click: www.myspace.com/menswarehouse

BILL WESTMORELAND has photographed some of the most Beautiful Women in show-biz and he really lucked out when Hilary Kole (at left) called for his artistic talents. “She is drop-dead gorgeous and a delight to photograph...I always have to cut the photo shoot short because with Hilary I could go on forever...the camera loves her! I’m waiting for the day when Hilary will grace the cover of Vanity Fair as the ‘chanteuse extraordinaire’...and if I’m lucky I’ll be the one to photograph her!” You can contact Bill at bwphotography@aol.com. (Bill Westmoreland...Beautiful Women...)



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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