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Last Week
September 11, 2008
Cellist Peter Sachon
Monday's Jeff Blumenkrantz concert packed Birdland with a gigantic crowd, unbelievable musical talent, and some of the best music and arrangements ever!  Oh, how we love Jeff!  Every time he pays us a visit, we're more impressed with his songs.  And his cast was pretty impressive, too!  Everyone went nuts for the performances by Theresa McCarthy, Sally Wilfert, Alysha Umphress and cellist Peter Sachon (left).  They're all invited back any time!  Check out the wonderful photos Steve Sorokoff took on our Flickr site!

Paul Shaffer

Critic and Town Hall impresario Scott Siegel stood in for me at Cast Party on Monday night while I was away doing the Liza show, and damn if he didn't have a great night in my absence.  How did that happen?  Well, he's really good at what he does.  Also, “Late Night With David Letterman” music man Paul Shaffer (left, by Steve Sorokoff) came in and performed “It's Raining Men,” which he wrote, along with a few Hebrew prayers!  Right after that, the fabulous Marilyn Maye (below, left) got up and sang a couple of tunes.  Marilyn Maye -- you know -- Johnny Carson's favorite singer, who performed on “The Tonight Show” a record 76 times?  Of course she comes to Cast Party!  Along with those two supah-stars, Scott brought in a great mix of talent. Two-time Tony-nominee Martin Vidnovic performed, and so did jazz star Jack Donahue and Nightlife Award winner Scott Coulter.  There was lots of comedy, too.  Broadway star Jill Abramavitz, two of the “Lascivious Biddies,” and a very blonde and hilarious Joan Crowe had folks spitting up their cheese plates with laughter.  Messy, but it was a good messy.  Speaking of comedy, Scott found a guy from Salt Lake City…Kevin Christianson, who said he played for The Tabernacle back home.  Well, actually he said it was The Tavernacle, where he played in the piano bar, but everyone was impressed either way.  There was folk music, thanks to Casey Glasse, the woman who originated the role of Patsy Cline in Cline Every Mountain.  No, that's not right.  What was that show?  Well, that's what Google is for.  There was old music: Sarah Rice, the original Joanna in Sweeney Todd, sang a song circa 1910.  Anna Bergman (below Marilyn, left) gave us a taste of her upcoming Feinstein's concert. Cast Party regular, Jeanine Tolve who never sings; she just watches every week (what is it now, almost five years straight?) actually got up at the end of the night and closed the show.  (Maybe you'll sing for me one of these days, Jeanine?

We also had a slew of fresh new singers, whom Scott had presented in his July Broadway's Rising Stars concert at Town Hall.  They were sensational!  Of course, Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle were extraordinary as the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra - and will join me upon my triumphant return this coming Monday to do it all over again!  Dig through that trunk and find the zippiest, swingin'-est ditty, dust off your vocal chords, and join the Party!  (By the way, if you're in the St. Louis area, I'll be at the brand new Bezemes Theater tonight and tomorrow night, singing and dancing with the spectacular and be-dazzled Liza Minnelli!)- Jim!

Marilyn Maye

Anna Bergman
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and Theatermania.com are proud to present: Broadway at Birdland
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com, the leading source for exclusive theater information and live-events tickets nationwide, are proud to present LAUREL MASSÉ on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 7:00p.m., as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland.
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com, the leading source for exclusive theater information and live-events tickets nationwide, are proud to present LAUREL MASSÉ on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland.

LAUREL MASSÉ, founding member of Grammy award-winning vocal group Manhattan Transfer, toured internationally for seven years with the group and recorded five albums. In 1979, a serious automobile accident forced her departure, and after two years of convalescence, she began recording, as well as touring again as a solo artist, both in the States and in Europe.

The first two of her solo albums, Alone Together and Easy Living, both hit the Billboard Jazz charts, and the third, Again, was a People magazine pick.  Feather & Bone, her 2000 release, was chosen by audiophile magazine The Absolute Sound as "a recording of extraordinary musical and sonic value".

Throughout the course of her career, LAUREL has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, the London Palladium, Salle Pleyel de Paris, the Hollywood Bowl, The Smithsonian Institution, as well as numerous American and Canadian jazz festivals and clubs such as the Blue Note, The Roxy and Harrah's, Caesar's Palace, MGM Grand, and the Hilton in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe.

The Chicago Tribune has called her “one of the best vocalists in jazz...Indeed, there is something almost otherworldly about Massé's emotional magic...as though like Fred Astaire she seemed merely to be down here on a visit,” and The New York Times has praised Laurel for a “marvelous sense of style, a purity of tone that is evident in everything she does and uses it to a brilliant effect, a technical tour de force, a dazzling performance.”

PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
WHEN: Monday, September 15, 2008 at 7:00p.m.
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th Aves), NYC
Tickets: $25 + $10.00 Food/Drink Minimum (Per Person)
Tickets can be purchased Online: www.BIRDLANDJAZZ.com; or by Telephone: 212.581.3080.

In the future: Michele Lee (September 22), Betty Buckley (September 23 - 27), Alexander Gemignani (September 29), Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen (October 6), Jason Robert Brown (October 13), Ron Abel (October 20) and The NYC Debut of WING, October 20 at 9:30.
Our Sponsors
FRANCESCA AMARI IS "SECRETLY SQUARE"! Guilty pleasure songs from such icons as Neil Sedaka, Johnny Mathis, The Carpenters, The Captain & Tennille and more! Barry Kleinbort, Director. Chris Denny, Music Director. WHEN: Mondays, September 22nd and 29th at 9:30 P.M. WHERE: The Metropolitan Room at Gotham, 34 West 22nd St Betw. 5th & 6th Ave. COVER: $20/15 MAC & Cabaret Hotline, Call: 212.206.0440, or click: THE METROPOLITAN ROOM.
FRANCESCA AMARI IS "SECRETLY SQUARE"! Guilty pleasure songs from such icons as Neil Sedaka, Johnny Mathis, The Carpenters, The Captain & Tennille and more!
THE LASCIVIOUS BIDDIES BRING THEIR ANGELIC VOCAL HARMONIES, WICKED SENSE OF HUMOR AND POLY-STYLISTIC CHOPS to Manhattan's Zipper Factory on Monday September 22nd. With retro glamor and a knowing wink, The Biddies spin tales of local characters and foreign affairs arranged for upright bass, piano, ukulele, glockenspiel, guitar and the lush sound of four voices – all in original music. Steve Smith of Time Out NY calls them "Sex and the City transformed into a modern jazz quartet." Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal says, "Jazz, pop, rock, country…they just mix it all together and serve it up. That's what I call a hot dish." DETAILS: September 22nd, 2008 7:30 pm. 336 West 37th St bet. 8th and 9th Ave. Tickets: www.thezipperfactory.com or call 212.352.3101; For dinner and drinks: The Zipper Factory Tavern: 212.695.4600; FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.biddiesmusic.com
THE LASCIVIOUS BIDDIES BRING THEIR ANGELIC VOCAL HARMONIES, WICKED SENSE OF HUMOR AND POLY-STYLISTIC CHOPS to Manhattan's Zipper Factory on Monday September 22nd.
THE MAC/ASCAP SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE IS CELEBRATING WOMEN SONGWRITERS, Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 PM. Featuring Francesca Blumenthal, Phoebe Kreutz, and special guest Christine Lavin, with an interview by Jamie deRoy. WHEN: Wednesday, October 15 @ 6 PM. WHERE: Triad Theater, 158 West 72nd St., New York, NY 10023. MAC HOTLINE (212) 465-2662. MAC and ASCAP members FREE, all non-member guests $10. NO MINIMUM but Drinks are available and  encouraged!!! For MAC info, click: www.macnyc.com. For The Triad, click: www.triadnyc.com.
THE MAC/ASCAP SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE IS CELEBRATING WOMEN SONGWRITERS, Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 PM.
BILLY STRITCH AND CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, "SUNDAY IN NEW YORK": selections culled from the pair's recent live show in NYC. In a review, Stephen Holden of the New York Times commented: "Ms. Ebersole, a bright, zany soprano and ebullient clown, can whirl on a dime and evoke an inexpressable sorrow under a facade of garrulous pluck. When she adds a spinning vibrato to her lemony voice, she can turn into a playful latter-day Kathryn Grayson or Jeanette MacDonald. Mr. Stritch, a pop-jazz pianist and gifted arranger, is a solid exponent of the gregarious, swinging Vegas style epitomized by Steve Lawrence." Listen to song samples, buy the CD, and learn about all things Billy Stritch at www.billystritch.com.

BILLY STRITCH AND CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, "SUNDAY IN NEW YORK": selections culled from the pair's recent sold out run at The Metropolitan Room in NYC. Listen to song samples, buy the CD, and learn about all things Billy Stritch at www.billystritch.com.
TEDD FIRTH, OF THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, is a New York City based accompanist, jazz pianist and arranger. He has accompanied many renowned artists, including Lee Ann Womack, Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Margaret Whiting, Maureen McGovern and Marilyn Maye. Among the jazz musicians he has worked with are John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Benny Golson and Joe Morello. Mr. Firth's New York appearances include the Blue Note, Birdland, the Iridium, the Algonquin, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, and the Russian Tea Room. Tedd's arrangements have been performed by the Philadelphia Pops and the Ocean City Pops. Find him on MySpace Music at www.myspace.com/teddfirth.
TEDD FIRTH, OF THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, is a New York City based accompanist, jazz pianist, and arranger. He has accompanied many renowned artists, including Lee Ann Womack, Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Margaret Whiting, Maureen McGovern and Marylin Maye.
STEVE DOYLE, THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASS PLAYER, has been an active part of the jazz and cabaret scene in New York for the past 18 years, performing with many internationally renowned artists including Bucky Pizzarelli, Billy Stritch, Tony Desare, Rigmor Gustafssen, Klea Blackhurst, Hilary Kole, Dave Stryker, Steve Slagle, Christine Ebersole, Pekka Pylkannen, Stephanie Block, K.T. Sullivan, Emily Skinner, Freddie Bryant, Marilyn Maye, Lari White and many others. Get the full scoop and check out his 1997 CD, Presence, at www.stevedoyle.com .
STEVE DOYLE, THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASS PLAYER, has been an active part of the jazz and cabaret scene in New York for the past 18 years performing with many internationally renowned artists
BROADCAST YOURSELF…BEFORE SOMEONE DOES IT FOR YOU. Introducing…"I." An ongoing collaborative web series. A story told in snippets. At www.youtube.com/ichannel -OR- www.connectwithi.com. "I." (also referred to as "iChannel") is an ongoing interactive web series in which a man's life is taken over by an online audience - YOU. Together, Sebastian Arcelus (Jersey Boys), Craig DiFolco, and Michael Izquierdo (New Jerusalem) have forged a path into the world of truly interactive television by directly linking the "subject" to his "audience" in this comically existential adventure. With 34 episodes already filmed and more on the way, they invite you to join in and connect with "I." Is your life worth watching? Check out "I." PLEASE NOTE: Texts that appear in "quotes" within the episodes are actual user comments. If you comment or post a video response, it may very well appear in a future episode.
BROADCAST YOURSELF…BEFORE SOMEONE DOES IT FOR YOU. Introducing… "I."An ongoing collaborative web series.  (pictured: ichannel welcome page)
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.

JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano.
ELAINE PAIGE , THE "FIRST LADY OF BRITISH MUSICAL THEATRE," HOSTS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS WEEKLY RADIO SHOW on BBC Radio 2 every Sunday night. The program is devoted to musical theatre and film music from Hollywood, Broadway and the West End. The celebrated star of Evita, Cats, Chess and Sunset Boulevard has interviewed a host of stars including Angela Lansbury, Sir Elton John, and Michael Feinstein, and continues to delight audiences with a unque mix of show music and juicy interviews. Click on BBC: Elaine Paige on Sunday to hear the current show.

ELAINE PAIGE , THE "FIRST LADY OF BRITISH MUSICAL THEATRE," HOSTS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS WEEKLY RADIO SHOW on BBC Radio 2 every Sunday night.
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!

KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES.
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 celebrating 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, Tiger Martina and I are working hard to approximate the blend and unique sound that Bob, Dick, Don and Andy Williams brought to Kay's ingenius vocal arrangements. With dazzling direction and choreography by Ron Lewis, and old pal Billy Stritch at the piano, this project is an absolute dream come true!

SEPTEMBER 11 SAINT CHARLES, MO BEZEMES THEATER
SEPTEMBER 12 SAINT CHARLES, MO BEZEMES THEATER
OCTOBER 29 ROME, ITALY AUDITORIO SANTA CECILA
NOVEMBER 1 FLORENCE, ITALY TEATRO VERDI
NOVEMBER 4 MALTA MALTA CONVENTION CENTER
NOVEMBER 7 BARI, ITALY TEATRO TEAM
NOVEMBER 10 TORINO, ITALY TEATRO REGGIO TORINO
NOVEMBER 12 GENOA, ITALY TEATRO CARLO FELICO
NOVEMBER 14 MILAN, ITALY AUDITORIO ACHIMBOLDI
MINNELLI & CARUSO: TOGETHER AGAIN
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.
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:
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

Squigs draws the showbiz! www.squigsink.com - this week's pic - L-R: Steve Doyle, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch - The Cast Party Symphony Orchestra!
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.

Jim Caruso ferociously models the official Cast Party t-shirt
The Cabaret Exchange
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?).
About Us
Look at all the illustrious people!
When:
Every Monday at 9:30 PM!

Where:
BIRDLAND
315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th), NYC
212.581.3080

"...an extreme open mic!" -- ABC-TV

"Jim Caruso is uber-talented!" -- Entertainment Weekly

"Pianist Billy Stritch is thrilling...guaranteed to send you into orbit."
-- Rex Reed, New York Observer

"A vital pulse point of the musical-theater bloodstream: Every week a star or standard might be born." -- Time Out New York

"Bassist Steve Doyle gives firm support and swings solidly." -- Jazz Times

BEST OF NEW YORK Issue -- New York Magazine

"Starrier than the Hayden Planetarium... a hotspot where Broadway and Hollywood tip, twirl and hit the mic. It's become the place to cruise, schmooze, sing and be seen." -- Playbill

"The Broadway at Birdland series is a talk of the town carnival of talent, and is like no other happening in Manhattan It's evolved into an integral part of New York nightlife." -- John Hoglund, TheaterScene.net
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Copyright Jim Caruso's Cast Party®, All Rights Reserved, 2006-2008. Newsletter by: Traverse City Web Design

Click for more featured concerts! www.castpartynyc.com/Concerts.htm