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January 3, 2008 Merry Christmas. Happy Chanukkah. Happy New Year. Now. Back to work! Don't get me wrong. I like to fa la la as much as the next guy, but we have showbusiness to produce here, kids! This coming Monday at 7:30, Birdland will be up to it's beak in Broadway supah-stars! The concert celebration of Scott Alan's new CD, “Dreaming Wide Awake” will feature some serious A-listers, including Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block (left), Liz Callaway, Danny Calvert, Eden Espinoza, Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carly Jibson and Jill Zadeh. The band will consist of Sean McDaniel, Jake Ezra Schwartz, Steve Gilewski, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf and Blair Lawhead. Jesse Vargas, who arranged and orchestrated “Dreaming Wide Awake,” will serve as the evening's Musical Director. The show has been sold-out for decades, but if you get to the club early, you can snag some bar seats. Those tickets will be $25 plus a $10 food/drink minimum. After the concert and subsequent cd signing, I'll be delighted to host the first Cast Party of 2008! Who will show up? Who will sing? Who will thrill? Who will - not thrill. I can't wait to find out. |
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As if I even had to say it, we're over-the-moon about the upcoming Chita Rivera concerts. On Monday, January 14, the awesome Miss R. (left) will be singing up a storm and dancing her gorgeous legs off at Birdland at 7pm and 10pm. “Chita Loves Broadway Cares” will be a joyous celebration of the Broadway family that she loves so much - and they'll be in attendance to cheer her on, believe me! The first show sold out before we had time to announce it, so we were thrilled to add the second show. There are a few seats left for that one, and bar seats are available and reserve-able. Call the club NOW (212-581-3080) to catch one of the all-time iconic razzle-dazzlers. Many thanks to my co-sponsor TheaterMania.com, for being so incredibly supportive on this project! We won't be doing a formal Cast Party after the Chita show, although something tells me that the music and celebrating will go on and on into the night! |
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SO many brilliant performances are coming up in the Broadway at Birdland series! On January 28, Amanda Green will ask the musical question, "Does This Song Make My Ass Look Phat?" with a cast that includes Brooks Ashmanskas, Jenn Colella, Jonathan Dokuchitz, Jeny Foote, and Amy Spanger. Musical director for the evening will be Matt Gallagher. On February 4, Curtains star Jason Danieley (left) will perform "Love: A Work In Progress." February 11 will find Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen back on the Birdland stage, celebrating the third anniversary of their unique and expanding collaboration. On February 18, Billy Stritch will be in concert singing those brilliant Mel Torme songs from his brand new CD "Billy Stritch Sings Mel Torme." Country/pop fans will be excited that Victoria Shaw will be returning to our stage with another edition of "Under The Covers," co-starring Richie McDonald (lead singer of the supergroup "Lonestar") and Grammy-winner Marcus Hummon. If that isn't a great two months of entertainment, I'm not sure what is! Call Birdland for reservations - 212-581-3080 or www.BirdlandJazz.com.
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JAMIE DEROY & FRIENDS - ANIMAL TRACKS! Enjoy this "purr-fect" new CD on Harbinger Records, ANIMAL TRACKS! Produced by Jamie deRoy & friends,
this "best in show" album features many of Broadway & Cabaret's biggest and brightest stars paying affectionate tribute to a variety of members from the animal kingdom. Proceeds to benefit The Humane Society of New York. Animal Tracks is available at CDBABY.com.
"FINN-TASTIC! UPROARIOUS AND MOVING" - VARIETY. Over twenty hits from one artist's exceptional career unite in splendid harmony in Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn. Effortlessly woven together, these treasured tunes by the composer of the acclaimed Falsettos series and the Tony Award®-winning smash hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tell personal, haunting, and often hilarious tales from Finn's rich and touching human songbook. Make Me A Song brims with spectacular highlights sure to delight both fans and newcomers. Tickets available at Box Office located at 340 West 50th Street, through telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. Playing at New World Stages!
JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano. "Jim is funny, facile and fabulous! He performs with charm, wit and style, and is vastly entertaining." -- Michael Feinstein. "A cabaret-lover's dream!" -- Chip Deffaa, New York Post. "An unbeatable act of jazz, pop, comedy and conversation that is different from anything else in town." -- Rex Reed, New York Observer.
"This impish, twinkling-eyed performer exudes the buoyant spirits of a conetmporary vaudevillian…with an extremely tart lemon tucked firmly in his cheek." -- Stephen Holden, New York Times.
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!
| January 12 | Providence, RI | Providence Performing Arts Center |
| January 16 | Friant, CA | Table Mountain Casino |
| January 19 | Lake Tahoe | Harrah's |
| February 21 | Santa Barbara, CA | Chumash Casino |
| 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 |
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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