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Victoria Shaw and Friends
Victoria Shaw and Friends

April 26 , 2007

Toxic Audio’s Monday night show (left) was as thrilling as ever…this 5-person accapella group is vocally as brilliant as they come…and they’re hilarious and dazzling to watch, too.  All in all, a fabulous way to start the week!  We can’t wait for their return, as always.

The following Cast Party, hosted by Christine Pedi, Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle – was jammed to the walls!  Barry Lloyd, an old friend from San Francisco, surprised us all with an appearance and ingenius performance.  Christine Lavin (below, left, thanks to Mark Rupp) sang her own parody of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” with a slew of Cast Party regulars including Joan Crowe and David Ippolito singing backup.  Ms. Pedi’s Talk Radio cohort, Barbara Rosenblatt (who plays many a crazy caller in the show) scatted “When Sunny Gets Blue.”  David Ippolito showed his stuff…and proved why he’s famous as the Guitar Man of Central ParkTony DeSare took Prince’s “Kiss” and made it swinging and sexy…as if he had any other choice.  The Toxins (see above) stuck around and performed for the Party-ers, collectively and separately.  Michelle sang “Tangerine” with Steve Doyle on bass, and Jeremy & Shalisa sang a lullaby in honor of all the Mommys and Daddys who need some ‘alone time.’  Our own Rene Ruiz closed the night sublimely.  Just another fun night at Birdland…and we’ll do it all over again next Monday.  Come…hear the music play, for Lord’s sake!!

- Jim!

 
 

Toxic Audio is coming to Birdland!

This coming Monday, April 30 at 7pm, we’re thrilled to present “The Spirit Of Spring - Songs of Love, Sex and Other Violations!”  Composer Steve Marzullo (left) will once again take the Birdland stage, along with his original songs, and a bevy of Broadway beauties to sing them.  His special guest stars will include Judy Blazer, Terri Klausner, Liz Callaway, Andrea Burns, Liz Larsen, Ann Harada, Kate Baldwin, Theresa McCarthy, Nina Hennessey, Suzanne Fiore and Rachel Ulanet.  Marzullo has been a musical director/pianist/conductor on the Broadway scene for the past twenty years, working on Once On This Island, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, Grease (revival), Suessical and Falsettos.  His compositions include “I Hid My Love” and “Burning The Sauce” from Audra McDonald’s The Seven Deadly Sins, “The Night You Decided To Stay” from Michael Winther’s performance of Songs From An Unmade Bed, “Why Do I Go To The Theater” from The Audience, and incidental music for The Irish Curse (New York Fringe Festival 2005).  Call the club now to see this amazing cast sing Steve’s gorgeous songs! 

That’s 212-581-3080 or www.InstantSeats.com/Birdland.  Tickets are $25 plus a $10 food/drink minimum. 

 
 

Jamie deRoyJAMIE DEROY AND FRIENDS PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH LARRY GATLAN AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM. See Larry Gatlan Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15th and 16th at the Metropolitan Room. Tickets are $25 with a 2 drink minimum. -- And don't miss 'Jamie deRoy and friends', Jamie's award winning show at 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. Tickets are $20 with a 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 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 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

This newsletter brought to you each week by Jim Caruso and Traverse City Web Design.

 
 

Copyright Jim Caruso's Cast Party®, All Rights Reserved, 2006. Newsletter by: Traverse City Web Design


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