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 Psst - after you've read all of the Cast Party scoop, be sure to spend a moment with our fabulous sponsors!
November 10, 2006
Oh, what a night! Peter Sachon's Birdland debut, “Strings Attached,” was a triumph in every way. The music was sublime, the cast was top-notch, and the house was packed with showbiz razzle-dazzle. Broadway's favorite cellist played everything from Bach to Bernstein to Blumenkrantz...and an original piece written especially for him by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz (with Peter, left, by Mark Rupp). Adding their exquisite voices to the show were Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara (seen below left) and Michael Winther. Many thanks to Michael Estwanik, who suggested the idea, and to the afore-mentioned Ms. Clark, who directed the whole shebang. You really have to see all the beautiful photos on our FLICKR site. |
 The following Cast Party was thrilling, hilarious, scary, and entertaining, as always. Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle kept the music pumping...and performances by newcomers like Beth Bright, Tina Jensen, and Tommy Mazza made everyone happy. The amazing Jeff Harnar and Alex Rybeck gave us a taste of their brand new tribute to Cy Coleman, Collected Cy, currently running Sundays and Mondays at Feinstein's at the Regency. (****Highly recommended!) And gorgeous Sarah Rice, the original Johanna from Sweeney Todd, made a surprise appearance, which hopefully won't be her last. Our favorite Lucie Arnaz played audience member, and cheered everyone from ringside. Oh...how we love Lucie. So guess what? We do it all again next Monday night at 9:30! I won't be there to host the insanity, but I'm happy to tell you that Christine Pedi (singer/impersonator/goddess) will be keeping it all together, along with Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle. I'd love to be a fly on the wall...Christine is so funny and sings her face off. Go visit her and sing something upbeat and perky!
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|  It's true!! Actor/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels (left) is coming back to Birdland to perform his original material this coming Monday, November 13 at 7pm. You know him from great films like “Terms of Endearment” and “Dumb and Dumber,” but Jeff has been writing songs since the 1970's, something most people didn't know, because - unlike numerous other celebrities - he kept them to himself. A few years ago, someone suggested that he might raise funds for his pet project, the Purple Rose Theater in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan, by going on stage and singing some of those songs. Lo and behold, a musical star was born! The concert will be a collection of his original songs, which humorously and often touchingly, reflect on his life and career. “If William Shatner Can, I Can Too” is his take on celebrities trying to be taken seriously as musicians. You know the ones. “The Dirty Harry Blues” describes the joy of being killed by Clint Eastwood on film. He bares his heart in “Kathy,” which describes his first date with his wife, and then thanks his mother for support and guidance in “Momma Never Left Her Oldest Boy Alone.” The cover charge for this concert will be $25, and there will be a $10 food/drink minimum. All proceeds will go to the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Michigan. (Escanaba in Love, the long-awaited sequel to Jeff's hilarious play/movie, Escanaba in Da Moonlight, is running at the Purple Rose right now! Yay! --ed., a lucky Michigander) Call Birdland (212.581.3080) or get your tickets online at www.instantseats.com/birdland.
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 Coming up in the Broadway at Birdland series...The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook (Monday, November 20 at 7pm, with Liz Callaway, Victoria Clark, Mary Testa, Alysha Umphress & Michael McElroy) and Jack Donahue (Monday, November 27 at 7pm). December will bring Debbie Gravitte's "Big Band Broadway" (Monday, December 4 at 7pm), Melissa Errico (December 11 & 12 at 7pm), Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch (December 17 at 8pm), and Toxic Audio (December 18 at 7pm)! Do we live to make you Broadway and music fans happy? You betcha! Call Birdland (212.581.3080) or click for tickets: www.instantseats.com/birdland.
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 MAC/ASCAP SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH AT IRIDIUM @ 6 PM with Special Guest, Rupert Holmes. MAC and ASCAP are pleased to announce the newly formatted Songwriters’ Showcase, in which the work of three songwriters will be presented, plus the appearance of a Special Guest. In this new format, we will hear three songs from each of our featured songwriters, to get a more in-depth feel for their writing than the previous one song per writer approach of our past Showcases. The three-featured songwriters for this Showcase are: Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy, The Audience, Woman with Pocketbook, Precious Little Jewel), Pete Mills (The Pursuit of Persephone, Lonely Rhymes, The Alchemists, Illyria, The Taxi Cabaret, and The Flood) and Deborah Abramson (Travels With My Discontent, Songs of Innocence And Experience, Marco Polo). Our Special Guest is Tony/Emmy/Edgar award winner Rupert Holmes. Mr. Holmes’ eclectic, stellar career credits include “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Remember WENN,” “Where The Truth Lies,” as well as the hit pop song “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” and many other writing and producing achievements. Showcase seating will be first come, first serve at Iridium, 1650 Broadway at 51st St. @ 6 PM. The event is free for MAC/ASCAP/BMI members and only $15 for the public. Food and beverage service is available, so join us for the showcase, and enjoy the great food at Iridium!!! For more information, please go to www.macnyc.com or call 212-582-2121. Hosted by Jamie deRoy.
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 Wednesday, December 6th at the Metropolitan Room: TOM ANDERSEN * DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN * SCOTT COULTER * TIM DI PASQUA * JULIE GOLD* ANDREW LIPPA * CHUCK SWEENEY as MISS PEGGY LEE * SAL VIVIANO * NOAH WEISBERG * KRYSTOF WITEK. Celebrate the holiday season with acclaimed cabaret performer Jamie deRoy when she salutes the holidays with a special Holiday Show 2006 edition of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie deRoy & friends on Wednesday, December 6th (8PM) at the New York hotspot The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues). This special event will feature the following artists: cabaret stars Tom Andersen, Scott Coulter, and Tim DiPasqua; acclaimed singer Donna Lynn Champlin; Grammy Award-winner Julie Gold; award-winning composer Andrew Lippa; acclaimed celebrity impersonator Chuck Sweeney; Broadway leading man Sal Viviano; Broadway funny man Noah Weisberg and noted violinist Krystof Witek. Barry Kleinbort is the director of Jamie deRoy & friends and Lanny Meyers serves as musical director.
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 CRITICS RAVE, YOU SAVE! See "Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY!" for only $56, and get a special bonus gift! "ASTOUNDINGLY ENTERTAINING! Don't miss the year's most unexpectedly captivating show." - Time Out NY "FORGET ANY SUSPICIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT VENTRILOQUISM ON BROADWAY! 'The Two and Only!' holds its own with panache!" -John Simon, Bloomberg News Master ventriloquist Jay Johnson (from TV's classic Soap) conjures the story of his life and art with the support from a stage full of hilarious characters. Save 30% for performances through 11/22. Go to www.TheTwoAndOnly.com/bonus for a special video message from Jay and to claim your free gift (with purchase).
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 ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13th AT 7:30 pm, well-known Broadway performers and composers will reveal their classical chops in BROADWAY HIGH NOTE: Theater Stars Go Classical at the Minetta Lane Theater in New York City. Proceeds from the one-night-only performance will benefit Greenwich House Music School's scholarships and music education outreach programs. An exciting roster of performers and composers will demonstrate their impressive musical talents when they hit the heights, singing and playing songs from their classical repertoire. At press time, the cast includes: Jennifer Hope Wills, Eddie Korbich, Max von Essen, Jim Walton, Nancy Anderson, Christiane Noll, Glenn Seven Allen, Susan Powell, Michael Winther, Ray Jaramillo McLeod, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Peter Sachon, Brian Childers, Ben Moore, Michael Slattery, and Ann Runolfsson. The evening will also include an aria by Stephen Schwartz, the Tony Award-winning composer of Wicked, Godspell and Pippin. The musical director for the show will be Cathy Venable. Directing the show will be Michael Schiralli, Jim Caruso is overseeing the event as producer, and Matt Berman is technical director. Tickets are $75 and $150, and can be ordered by calling 212.242. 4770 or emailing gharts@greenwichhouse.org.
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 WHEN DONNA MCKECHNIE CALLED BILL WESTMORELAND to photograph her, he said "Cassie...come on down!"...Well, he didn't really say that but it makes for good copy! Bill did say, however, that photographing the legendary Tony Award winner from A Chorus Line was a breeze, literally. "Donna just kind of floated in and so gracefully positioned herself for each pose. It made my job so easy. She has such grace and poise that I thought I was watching a performance with each click of the camera!" You can see Bill"s author photo of Donna in her new book, TIME STEPS MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE from Simon & Schuster. You can reach Bill at bwphotography@aol.com.
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 CHARLIE
LAPSON'S SIGNATURE COLLECTION is the culmination of years of training, world travel, and professional
experience as one of Hollywood's top designers. His luxurious
handbags and men's wallets are produced by factories in Tuscany, Italy
made of fine Italian leather. Lapson's handbags and clutches have
been worn by the elite of Hollywood to numerous red carpet events
and on camera as well.
Celebrities such as Felicity Huffman, Eva
Longoria, and Debra Messing can be seen
at award shows adorned with Charlie
Lapson Jewelry. The collection is created by using the
most brilliant diamonds and precious gemstones mixed with 18 kt gold,
and molding them into works of art. Celebrities dazzle with glamorous
bold statement pieces. Look for large colored gemstones and mixes
of textures with unique shapes.
Style fit for a star!
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|  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!
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|  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. |
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 Sean Corcoran and
Brian Wilson at SoHa Media. We can't do it without you!
Click
here to advertise with us. It costs
less than the average banner ad, and you're guaranteed to be seen by
tons of fabulous people (look, you're reading this right now,
yes?).
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|  "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), NYC
212.581.3080
Bookings for Jim Caruso's
Cast Party® for theaters, arts presenters,
corporations and private events:
Ligeti Artists LLC
Peter Ligeti
mrligeti@aol.com
212.396.1111
For online booking information, click: The
Show Store
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