The following Monday, November 26, we're thrilled that Peter Eldridge will be returning to our stage! Fresh from a weeklong Birdland run with New York Voices, Peter Eldridge returns to the club for a set of his original songs, standards and percussive Brazilian tunes that are romantic, vulnerable and hip. He will be joined by singer/songwriter Kate McGarry (whose cd, “The Target” rose to #1 on the National Jazz Charts), and Jo Lawry (Fulbright Scholarship/National Jazz Award Finalist). Peter plays Birdland prior to his solo tour of Europe. Peter Eldridge has released three solo recordings: “Stranger in Town,” characterized by its bittersweet swing and called the Best Jazz CD of 2001 by Boston radio station WICN; “Fool No More,” full of Peter's original compositions in a sophisticated pop style, released in the same year (both on the independent label Rosebud Records); and “Decorum,” a 2005 release of originals. Peter is also a member of the double-Grammy winning New York Voices, a vocal group he co-founded with Darmon Meader, which has recorded six studio albums and toured internationally for more than a decade, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Kennedy Center, among many others. Call Birdland at 212-581-3080 or go to www.BirdlandJazz.com!
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November 22, 2007 We love Lucie! On Sunday and Monday, Ms. Arnaz not only sang her heart out, celebrated both of her beloved parents, introduced two of her talented kids and looked gorgeous, but packed Birdland with some fabulous show folk. We loved seeing Tommy Tune, Robert Klein (who joined Lucie in a duet from They're Playing Our Song), Tony Roberts, JoAnne Worley, Danny Aiello, conductor Jack Lee, big-time showbiz attorney Mark Sendroff, composers David Friedman and David Zippel. Looks like Lucie will be doing a longer Birdland run sometime in the near future, so if you missed her, you'll soon get your chance to see and hear one of the best nightclub acts we know of! (Check out BroadwayWorld.com and Flickr! for photographic proof, thanks to Steve Sorokoff and Linda Lenzi.) |
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Monday's Cast Party was packed to the gills, crowded to the max and slave to the rhythm. Impromptu performances by most of the above people, plus Brady-boy Barry Williams (left) and the cast of Growing Up 70's, genius actor Laurence Luckenbill, Kiersten Gray, David Goldman (with Robin on conga!), Kevin Ray, Ray Jessell, William Blake, Malan Breton, Nate Lombardi, Kristen Sergeant, Charlie Parker (yes!), Jane Scheckter, Mark Brignone…and many, many more! Even Tony-winning genius composer Adam Guettel was seen surveying the talent. There were ticket giveaways for the 70's show, and surprise presents of the new “Sitcom” book by Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik (which will be our Oprah-inspired holiday gift suggestion). Next week, we do it all again. I'll be hosting in my own inimitable-yet-somehow-annoying way, along with Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle on piano and bass. We'll be celebrating the supremely talented Broadway cast of Grease, so you know there will be some swell singing and serious 50's fun! |
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I hope you're enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We're thankful for so many things this season, not the least of which is the fact that you've been a part of the Broadway at Birdland series and all the Cast Party fun. We couldn't do it without you…and certainly wouldn't want to! In keeping with the holiday spirit, would you click on Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS? Our angelic friends over at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS are having a tough time, due to the Broadway blackout. (This is usually their biggest fundraising period, bringing in 20% of their annual budget. Every week that the theaters are dark, Broadway Cares loses about $350,000.) They have just announced Team Raiser, an internet-based way to continue the fundraising. Please, please check it out and make a holiday donation on behalf of your favorite show. That's what I did. |
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Our favorite flapper is back! This coming Sunday, November 25, Nancy Anderson will be joined by Ross Patterson & His Little Big Band, along with special guests Melissa Errico (My Fair Lady, High Society, Amour) and Dee Hoty (The Will Rogers Follies, City of Angels, Mamma Mia!). Rumour has it that they'll be celebrating some of the Boswell Sisters' swinging arrangements, and you won't want to miss THAT! Nancy's show, 'Ten Cents a Dance' features standards and lost treasures from the 1920's and 30's. This fabulous show will include "The Trouble with Me is You," "My Romance," "But Not for Me," and the title track "Ten Cents a Dance." Nancy Anderson is a two-time Drama Desk nominee for her work as the title character in the Off-Broadway production of Fanny Hill and as all of the women in Jolson & Co. In 2002, she was honored with an Olivier Award nomination and a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her work as Bianca/Lois in Kiss Me, Kate, seen on PBS and available on DVD. She has appeared on Broadway as Helen in Wonderful Town and Mona in A Class Act. Please call Birdland for reservations: 212-581-3080 or click on www.BirdlandJazz.com. |
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FRANCESCA AMARI MAKES HER NYC CABARET DEBUT! Popular West Michigan vocalist Francesca Amari makes her solo cabaret debut in the capable hands of Director Barry Kleinbort and Music Director Christopher Denny. Her new show promises to delight and tickle our memories!!
SECRETLY SQUARE! Includes guilty pleasure songs from such icons as Neil Sedaka, Johnny Mathis, The Carpenters, The Captain & Tennille
& more! At THE METROPOLITAN ROOM, on Wednesday, November 14th at 10 p.m. and Saturday, November 24th at 5:00 p.m.
$20 / $15 MAC & CabaretHotline. Reservations at 212.206.0440. Christine Lavin once said of this perky, petite singer, "You are a spark plug! You hit that song out of the park!!!" Francesca will also appear later this year in the Lyrics and Lyricists Program at the 92nd Street Y with legendary cabaret performer, Andrea Marcovicci.
ONE SHOW ONLY! LYNN LOOSIER: CHRISTMAS FOR MY FRIENDS. Lynn Loosier has been a featured soloist at Lincoln Center & Jazz at Lincoln Center. She has had the pleasure to sing backup for Jennifer Holliday, Sam Harris, & local favorite Julian Fleisher. Lynn has also shared the stage with Broadway & television actor, Tom Wopat. But it is perhaps the advice from the legendary Patti Labelle that inspires Lynn's passion for sharing her gift of music, "Never stop singing,
'cause girl, YOU CAN SING." Click: http://www.lynnloosier.com/jazz.
Where: Metropolitan Room : 34 West 22nd Street : 212.206.0440
When: December 2nd at 4:00: $15 cover, 2 drink min
Where: Metropolitan Room : 34 West 22nd Street : 212.206.0440
When: December 2nd at 4:00: $15 cover, 2 drink min
SING LIKE YOU MEAN IT! So, you sing pretty- so what? If you don't know what you're singing about...no one cares. Be ready for your next audition -- come to my class. With the help of pianist and coach, Jamie Reed, we will make sure you are ready and relaxed enough to rock your auditions.
Mondays, 4pm to 7pm at Ripley Grier Studios;
4-week session =$240 (we’ll start as soon as we fill the class)
for more information, write me at singmeanit@aol.com
for more information about me- www.nancyanderson.name
for more information about Jamie- jamieRB326@aol.com
P.S. -- If you have scheduling conflicts, write and we can work it out!
KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES. You have the talent, you booked the room and the crowds came. But what about that sought-after agent who was escorting his star client to a premiere? Or that family member who got stuck out-of-town due to inclement weather? Or that best friend who got the 24-hour flu? They can all re-live your shining performance through the magic of digital video. Videographer Ken Kleiber (host of TV, internet & radio’s "That’s Kentertainment!") not only interviews the stars, he films them too. With over 6 years of videotaping experience, Ken has filmed hundreds of hours of cabarets, concerts, live theatre, dance recitals, comedy sets, interviews, on-tape auditions, parties and more. For more information on Ken’s videotaping, copying and transferring services, please contact Ken at kentertain@yahoo.com. Don’t let that once-in-a-lifetime moment be...just once!
MINNELLI & CARUSO: TOGETHER AGAIN... I'm beyond excited to tell you that I'll be performing on the road with myamazing 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, Brian Lane Green 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!
| November 29 | Palm Desert, CA | McCallum Theater |
| January 12 | Providence, RI | Providence PAC |
| January 16 | Friant, CA | Table Mountain Casino |
| January 19 | Lake Tahoe | Harrah's |
| January 25 | Guadalajara | Telmex Auditorium |
| February 23 | Palm Springs, CA | |
| March 14 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Hard Rock Hotel |
| March 16 | Jacksonville, FL | Times Union Center |
| March 28 | Ft. Myers, FL | Barbara Mann PAC |
| March 30 | Melbourne, FL | King Center |
| May 25 - 27 | London | English National Opera House |
| May 30 | Nottingham | Nottingham Royal Concert Hall |
| June 2 | Manchester | Bridgewater Symphony |
| June 4 | Birmingham | Birmingham Symphony |
| June 6 | Glasgow | Clyde Auditorium |
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.
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 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. www.squigsink.com
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!
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, 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?).
"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:
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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