December 16, 2005
You
never know. Some nights, Cast Party is filled with Broadway babies. Other
nights, everyone has a guitar. This past Monday's soiree happened to be
packed with cabaret royalty, including Steve Ross, Mary
Cleere Haran, Maude Maggart, Nancy McGraw,
and KT Sullivan. David Budway, a brilliant
jazz pianist and singer finally sampled our wares, Christine Lavin
played guitar and…wind chime, and Christine Pedi
(pictured right with KT) did "The Twelve Impersonations
of Christmas." (If you haven't heard it, you must run to
A Broadway Diva Christmas.
Her Bernadette is astonishing and who else does Angela
Lansbury?) It was a wonderful Party, with many thanks to Natalie
Douglas for kicking off the night with her wonderful sold-out
concert, Black, White and Blues. “Sold
Out” is a great way to start any night, and this concert was one
of her all-time best!
I'm so happy that BroadwayWorld.com,
the theater website where my radio show resides, is celebrating the holidays
with us this Monday, December 19 at 7pm.
Editor-In-Chief Rob Diamond and director Eddie
Varley have been busy assembling an awesome cast of theater faves,
including Michael McKean, Billy Porter,
Joey Dudding, Andrea McArdle, Ron
Bohmer, Felicia Finley and some extremely merry
guy in a red velvety suit. (No…not Carson Kressley.)
The show is so close to being sold out, I shouldn't even mention it…but
call the club at 212.581.3080 and we might be able to
squeeze you in. It'll be an intimate evening of some of the holiday's
best-loved tunes and lots of surprises, you can be sure! I'm so happy
that Mark Hartman will be musical directing. All proceeds
will go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of
our all-time favorite organizations.
As if that weren't enough, the following night, Tuesday, December
20, the amazing Christine Ebersole (pictured
above) will be on the Birdland stage, along with her musical
partner-in-crime, Billy Stritch! It's their fourth gig
with us, and we're thrilled, especially since Christine's club appearances
are a rarity due to her starring role on the WB's “Related!”
The show will be a dazzling concoction of Broadway tunes, standards, and
holiday songs…all wrapped in Christine's wry take on life. No one
sings like Ebersole. No one swings like Stritch. This is one of the best
acts in the business, so call the club now for reservations (212.581.3080).
Where else can you hear
performances by some the best voices on the Broadway and music scene
live from the Birdland stage? This week, I'm happy to entertain you
with Rebecca Luker, Susan Egan, Jeff
Blumenkrantz, Christine Pedi, Brian
Childers, Tony Middleton, Christine
Lavin, Keala Settle, Kim Kassira,
and David Ippolito.
You will also hear one of the funniest takes on The Cabaret Scene direct
from the Charles Busch/Julie Halston (pictured above)
extravaganza a few weeks ago. This tongue-in-cheek sketch also starred
Marion Seldes, who is absolutely hysterical as cabaret
diva Florence Edelman (currently starring in S'Wonderful,
S'Marvelous, S'Florence).
Tune in every Tuesday and Friday night
at 8pm exclusively on BroadwayWorld.com!
We're a podcast,
now, too! Go to The Radio Show
for all the info!
In the words of Liza Minnelli, "Cast Party
IS New York!"
Cast Party Radio Show is produced by Brian
Wilson at SoHa
Media.
I
sure hope to see you this Saturday, December 17 at Merkin
Hall (West 67 Street) for “David Ippolito's
Annual Year End Holiday Concert.” If David (pictured
right, with Hilary Kole) looks familiar, it's because
you've seen him playing his guitar for the throngs on 'The Hill' in Central
Park for years. He's also a Cast Party regular, and he brings his extremely
clever material to us on a weekly basis! There will be loads of special
guests on the 17th, including me! I won't tell you what we have planned,
mainly because David won't tell me what we have planned. I'm nervous,
but excited as hell. Call the box office at 212.501.3330.
The tickets are only $20 and I promise you will have a ball. Get ready
to enjoy (probably) the only Festivus Carol sing-along
in Manhattan.
"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
BIRDLAND
315 West
44th Street (between 8th & 9th)
212.581.3080
corporations and private events:
Ligeti Artists LLC
Peter Ligeti
mrligeti@aol.com
212.396.1111
Woo hoo!
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