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 Psst - after you've read all of the Cast Party scoop, be sure to spend a moment with our splendid sponsors.
January 12, 2007
Oh, it was fun to get back into the swing of things with the first Cast Party of the New Year! Monday started off with a huge bang, celebrating Eda Sorokoff's birthday with some of the most talented people anywhere! The following Cast Party was a blast onstage and off, where we spied showbiz glitteratti like Daisy Prince & Cortes Alexander (left), Gary Mule Deer & Lari White (below left), Alexander Chaplin, Adam Guettel, Christine Lavin, Jamie deRoy, David Ippolito, Christine Pedi, Hilary Kole, lots of beloved regulars and a few newcomers! Many congrats to Mr. Mule Deer for his kick-butt Letterman appearance the following night. I've long been a fan, and it was a thrill to have him on our stage! Check out the great photos (thanks to Mark Rupp) on our Flickr! page!
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 A trajillion thanks to Scott and Barbara Siegel, as well as all the 30 other New York critics and judges, for honoring our very own Broadway at Birdland Series with a 2007 Nightlife Award! As you probably know, the Nightlife celebrates cabaret, comedy and jazz performances every year at Town Hall, and instead of acceptance speeches, the winners perform upon receiving their honor...and wait till you hear who we have chosen to perform! This year, the event will be held on January 29 at 7pm. Click on Nightlife Awards for more information!
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 Award-winning Broadway and cabaret star JASON GRAAE (left) will debut his new show called “GRAAE'S ANATOMY” at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, NYC, on Monday, January 15 at 7 PM. He will be joined by musical director Alex Rybeck and surprise guests. Cover is $25 with a $10 food/drink minimum. For reservations call 212.581.3080 or go to www.InstantSeats.com/Birdland. Jason Graae, who won the 2006 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the 2006 New York Nightlife Award for his solo show “Coup de Graae,” was cheered by The New York Times as “an Al Jolson-like singing and dancing clown who executes lyrics with perfect comic flourishes.” Jason also won the Bistro Award for 'Best Major Engagement' and was named one of Time Out New York's 10 Best Cabaret Shows Of 2004. What IS "Graae's Anatomy?” It is a show in which Jason sings from the heart, breathes through his nose, touches a nerve, and tickles the funny bone. It includes Jason's somewhat twisted and sometimes even humorous take on songs by Bucchino, Sondheim, Mercer and more. Come see the man who the New York Times said is "in the twilight of his potential as a Broadway juvenile lead!” Jason Graae has appeared on Broadway in A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING, FALSETTOS, STARDUST, SNOOPY!, DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP? and off-Broadway in FOREVER PLAID, OLYMPUS ON MY MIND, ALL IN THE TIMING and HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDAH, for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination as Best Actor in a Musical. In Los Angeles, he won an Ovation Award for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY Y2KLA and the Artistic Director's Achievement Award for FULLY COMMITTED. He originated the role of Houdini in RAGTIME, played Marcellus in THE MUSIC MAN at The Hollywood Bowl, starred in GRAND HOTEL and THE GRAND TOUR at The Colony Theatre, and many shows in the Reprise Series. His many TV credits range from “Six Feet Under,” 'Friends” and “Frasier” to several PBS specials, and his films include Disney's “Home on the Range,” “On Edge,” “Gepetto,” and “The Dukes of Hazzard in Hollywood.” He made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as featured vocalist in Twyla Tharp's “Everlast” with American Ballet Theatre and made his Los Angeles Opera debut as Njegus in “The Merry Widow,” repeating the role with the Houston Grand Opera and New Orleans Opera. He played Frosch in the San Francisco and Washington National Opera productions of “Die Fledermaus” and he was featured as Offenbach in the LA Opera's “The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein” with Frederica Von Stade, directed by Garry Marshall. Jason has recorded over 40 CDs, including and his two solo CDs: “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile-Jason Graae sings Charles Strouse” and “Jason Graae LIVE at The Cinegrill” (Fynsworth Alley).
Then...on Monday, January 29th at 7pm, Tony-winner Cady Huffman will celebrate her birthday onstage at Birdland! This gorgeous glamour-girl will tell it like it is, and discuss her aspirations to be an operatic soprano and the fact that she made her Broadway debut as a drag queen! With songs ranging from Tinpan Alley to rock and roll and composers from Townsend to Sondheim, Cady will give you what you want and a lot more than you expect! Call the club now for reservations...this will sell OUT! 212.581.3080 or www.InstantSeats.com/Birdland.
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On the CD, At The Movies, Dave Koz, a multi-Grammy nominated sax player with two Gold albums and ten Top 5 hits to his credit, takes center stage on eight instrumentals: "Over The Rainbow," "As Time Goes By," "The Pink Panther," "Summer of '42," "Cinema Paradiso," "Schindler's List," "It Might Be You" and "The Shadow of Your Smile." The 40-piece orchestra enlisted by Koz and producer Phil Ramone provides a majestic, sweeping soundscape for the saxophonist and his guest vocalists, including Vanessa Williams, who contributes an exquisite version of "The Way We Were," and Johnny Mathis, who perfectly captures the bittersweet quality of "The Shadow Of Your Smile," from The Sandpiper. Other highlights include Anita Baker's elegant rendering of "Somewhere," from West Side Story and Donna Summer's shimmering version of "A Whole New World," from Disney's Aladdin. Barry Manilow duets with Koz on a hip arrangement of Henry Mancini's "Moon River," and India.Aire delivers a deeply personal performance of "It Must Be You," from Tootsie. At The Movies is a must-have for music and film lovers everywhere. Disappear into another world and spend some time At The Movies.
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 SQUIGS DRAWS THE SHOWBIZ! Justin “Squigs” Robertson will draw for food. He’ll draw for fame and fortune too, but first things first. Since 1993, Squigs has captured showbiz folk from the backyard to Broadway, including many ladies and gents who have wowed the crowds at Cast Party. His theatrical style is aided and abetted by his parallel life on the stage – a character man drawing characters. His favorite song is “It’s Only A Paper Moon”; he loves sushi; and he genuflects upon merely hearing the name of Al Hirschfeld. Well-known in the Los Angeles theatre scene where he's based, Squigs is working at kicking up the art a notch (or 7). Come see what's happening at the website: www.squigsink.com. Stop by anytime, and drop a line to say “hello.”
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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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