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Victoria Shaw and Friends

April 19 , 2007

'Under The Covers With Victoria Shaw' is one of my all-time favorite evenings in the Broadway at Birdland series.  This past Monday, Vic outdid herself with another songwriter round-robin, co-starring some of the most successful country and pop composers in the business.  That's Gary Burr, Victoria, Richie McDonald and Hilary Scott to the left.  We can't wait to have them all back for more brilliant music and behind-the-scenes stories!  The following Cast Party was exceptional.  Christine Lavin was soooo funny, the crowd wouldn't let her leave the stage.  Charlie Cochran brought his Palm Beach chic back to town, Sean Patrick Doyle absolutely became Audra McDonald (check him out on www.myspace.com/seanpatrickdoyle and click on "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man..."), and Shannon Turner belted some serious Janis Joplin.  A few dozen students from the Danish Academy of Musical Theatre were there to catch the fun…we're so international!  Lots of beloved regulars and some newbies made it a night to remember!  (Feel free to check out our Flickr! site to see what everyone wore.)  And guess what?  It all happens again this coming Monday, with Christine Pedi, Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle overseeing the merriment!  Drag out your upbeat, peppy ditties, dust off your toe shoes and fire batons and get your freak on at Cast Party!
- Jim!

 
 

Toxic Audio is coming to Birdland!

Wheeee!!!  We're so proud to present the return of the award-winning acappella group, Toxic Audio to Birdland on Monday, April 23 at 7pm.  With over 200 Off-Broadway performances, a Drama Desk Award, and a recent 2005 Artist of the Year honor by the CARA Awards, Toxic Audio have certainly made their mark on the New York Theater scene.  Rated #1 in the Wall Street Journal/Zagat Theater Survey, TOXIC AUDIO became New York's highest recommended show, receiving higher audience ratings than The Lion King, The Producers, Hairspray and BlueMan Group.  During their run at the John Houseman Theater in New York City, they won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for most “Unique Theatrical Experience.”  They have since performed as special guests for the Mayor of New York's Gracie Mansion, for the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, for Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival, as well as a successful world-tour.

The five vocalists in Toxic Audio use no instruments other than the human voice to create complex sonic textures, rhythmic drumbeats, thumping bass lines and searing guitar-like solos in their performance of contemporary pop songs, timeless classics, jazz-scat and vocally-orchestrated original compositions.  Toxic Audio features the unique and varied talents of Jeremy James, Shalisa James, Rene Ruiz, Paul Sperrazza and Michelle Mailhot-Valines.  Sound design is by John A. Valines III.  Call Birdland at 212-581-3080 for reservations, or click on www.InstantSeats.com/Birdland!  There is a $35 cover and $10 food/drink minimum. 

Coming up on Monday, April 30, 'The Music of Steve Marzullo', starring Judy Blazer, Terri Klausner, Liz Callaway, Melissa Errico, Andrea Burns, Liz Larsen, Ann Harada, Kate Baldwin, Theresa McCarthy, Nina Hennessey, Suzanne Fiore and Rachel Ulanet.  Of course the brilliant Mr. Marzullo will be at the piano accompanying this bevy of beauties.  You will absolutely love his songs!  Call Birdland now - 212-581-3080.

 
 

Jamie deRoyJAMIE DEROY AND FRIENDS, THURSDAY NIGHT VARIETY SHOW AT THE METROPOLIAN ROOM. Jamie deRoy brings her award winning show to the Metropolitan room, Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm. Special guests include Mary Bond Davis, Gay Marshall, Karen Mason, Jeffrey Pirrami, Jay Rogers and William Finn. The show is directed by Barry Kleinbort with Lanny Meyers as musical director.

Metropolitan Room: 34 West 22nd Street : Reservations: 212.206.0440 : $20 cover, 2 drink minimum

Karen Ziemba"here! on Broadway," a podcast hosted by Jim Caruso, is a joyous celebration of the showbiz scene featuring music and conversation with Broadway's most dazzling personalities.  Click on www.myspace.com/hereonbroadway to subscribe.

This week, Jim was delighted to join Tony-winning actor-singer-dancer Karen Ziemba in her dressing room at the Al Hirschfeld Theater to discuss her starring role in the new Broadway musical, Curtains!  Karen received the Tony award-along with the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards-starring in Susan Stroman and John Weidman's hit musical, Contact, at Lincoln Center Theatre.  On and Off-Broadway, Karen has played murderers and marathoners, a daughter of the West, and the daughter of an American President.  She starred as Roxie Hart in Kander and Ebb's Chicago, and Rita Racine in their Steel Pier (for which she received her first Tony award nomination as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations), and starred in the “new Gershwin musical,” Crazy For You.

Upcoming episodes will feature Curtains star Karen Ziemba, playwright/performer Charles Busch, Drowsy Chaperone co-writer Lisa Lambert, and Broadway's Phantom Howard McGillin.


PS CLASSICS, THE LABEL DEDICATED TO THE HERITAGE OF BROADWAY AND AMERICAN POPULAR SONG, has joined forces with prolific cabaret producer Jamie deRoy on a new CD celebrating songwriters from the worlds of Broadway, pop, country and cabaret. MINNELLI & CARUSO: TOGETHER AGAIN... I'm beyond excited to tell you that I'll be performing on the road with my amazing friend Liza Minnelli quite a bit this next year!  We're re-creating Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers' historic nightclub act that took the world by storm in the late 40's and early 50's.  Cortes Alexander, Johnny Rodgers, Clarke Thorell and I are working hard to approximate the blend and unique sound that Bob, Dick, Don, and Andy Williams brought to Kay's ingenious vocal arrangements, with Billy Stritch will be at the piano.  Watch this space for details...hopefully we'll be coming to a theater near you!

  • April 13-14 : Niagra Falls : Fallsview Casino
  • April 21 : Antwerp, Belgium
  • April 24 : Copenhagen, Denmark
  • April 27 : Stockholm, Sweden
  • April 29 : Helsinki, Finland
  • June 10 : Santiago, Chile
  • June 13 : Buenos Aires
  • June 15 : Uruguay
  • July 19 : Cohasett, MA : South Shore Music Circus
  • July 21 : Hyannis, MA : Cape Cod Melody Tent

Christine Ebersole will appear at the 2007 Nightlife Awards, Monday January 29th at Town HallON 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 TootsieAt The Movies is a must-have for music and film lovers everywhere.  Disappear into another world and spend some time At The Movies.


Squigs draws the showbiz! www.squigsink.com - this week's pic - Christine Ebersole as Little Edie in 'Grey Gardens'SQUIGS DRAWS THE STARS.  Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is well known in the Los Angeles theatre community for capturing show biz folks in pen and ink, and his acclaim is quickly spreading across the country.  He loves sushi.  His favorite song is 'It's Only A Paper Moon'.  And he genuflects upon merely hearing the name of Al Hirschfeld.  His whimsical illustration and design is aided and abetted by his parallel career as an actor and entertainer.  You can visit www.squigsink.com for a look at Squigs' take on such talented friends of Cast Party as Jeff Blumenkrantz, Julia Murney, Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, Bob Martin and Liza Minnelli.

Charlie Lapson: Style fit for a star!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!

Liz Caplan, voice teacherWHAT 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!


Jim Caruso ferociously models the official Cast Party t-shirtOUR 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?).

 
 

Look at all the illustrious people!"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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Copyright Jim Caruso's Cast Party®, All Rights Reserved, 2006. Newsletter by: Traverse City Web Design