Broadway at Birdland
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Last Week
November 27 , 2008
Special Guest Star Miss Barbara Cook
Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful, warm and cozy start to the holiday season!

You can't say the Broadway at Birdland series skimps on the superstars!  This whole past week, our stage was the home for some of the biggest names in the biz!  The extraordinary arranger/composer Jonathan Tunick brought his big band, The Broadway Moonlighters (below, left) to us on Monday, with Special Guest Star Miss Barbara Cook (left, thanks to Steve Sorokoff)!  Needless to say, it was a real thrill hearing her crystal voice coming out of our speakers! Many thanks to Jonathan for his music, his charm and bringing us such a historic and thrilling show! The following Cast Party was the scene for hilarity and musicality, what with surprise performances by Baby Jane Dexter, Hilary Kole, Jonny Peterson, Therese Genecco, Lee Musiker, Chris Dickerson, the cast of Glimpses of the Moon, and a newcomer named Black Betty. You can click on FLICKR to see visual proof of all the fun. I only wish we could video every event we do at Cast Party, so we could post clips for your entertainment. Until that day, you'll just have to visit us to see why we've been called “Extreme Open Mic” by ABC-TV. (We'll use that quote as long as we're allowed, by the way!) It all happens again this coming Monday, with Scott Siegel being the able guest-host, with Tedd Firth and Steve Doyle keeping the music fresh.

The extraordinary arranger/composer Jonathan Tunick brought his big band, The Broadway Moonlighters
I'm so happy that one of our all-time favorite dynamic duos, (starring Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch), is gracing the Broadway at Birdland stage this whole week, with two shows (8:30 and 11pm) through Saturday night. Their holiday show is a mainstay at the club, and last night's opening brought out some big guns in the personage of Stephanie J. Block and David Zippel. That's all of us on the left! 
I'm so happy that one of our all-time favorite dynamic duos, (starring Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch), is gracing the Broadway at Birdland stage this whole week, with two shows (8:30 and 11pm) through Saturday night.  Their holiday show is a mainstay at the club, and last night's opening brought out some big guns in the personage of Stephanie J. Block and David Zippel.  That's all of us on the left!  If you're having trouble getting into the holiday spirit, we'd love you to join us tonight, Friday or Saturday.  Just call the club at 212.581.3080 for reservations!
- Jim!
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and Theatermania.com are proud to present: Broadway at Birdland
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com are proud to announce a yearly holiday treat: a very special concert with “The Broadway Boys” on Monday, December 1 at 7pm, as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland.
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com are proud to announce a yearly holiday treat: a very special concert with “The Broadway Boys” on Monday, December 1 at 7pm, as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland.  The Boys' special guests will be Wicked's Julia Murney, Caroline or Change's Marva Hicks, and a performance by Morgan Karr, Landon Beard and Zak Resnick!

Join “The Broadway Boys” as they return to Birdland in “Not So Silent Night,” a concert which will include new arrangements, old favorites, special surprise guests, lots of holiday cheer…and belting!

"The Broadway Boys” were assembled by Jesse Nager in order to create a new sound for theater and non-theater audiences alike.  By mixing pop, jazz, gospel, and funk elements to Broadway standards, The Broadway Boys have created what has been called, “A Symphony of Sound.”  “The Broadway Boys” include Jesse Nager (Mary Poppins), Maurice Murphy (Spelling Bee), Daniel Torres (The Pirate Queen), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), Michael James Scott (Jersey Boys), and Danny Calvert (Altar Boyz).  Justin Paul will be musical director and Schele Williams will direct.

THE BROADWAY BOYS
Broadway at Birdland
Date: Monday, November 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.
315 West 44 Street, NYC
Reservations: 212-581-3080
www.BirdlandJazz.com
$25 cover, $50 VIP and $10 food/drink minimum per person

NEXT:
Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw, Ty Herndon and Rivers Rutherford - December 8!
Our Sponsors
BILLY STRITCH'S WATERS OF MARCH: THE BRAZILIAN ALBUM: "...Stritch imaginatively captures the magic of the bossa nova rhythm on some terrific cuts, including three by Brazilian music icon Antonio Carlos Jobim. Of these, probably the most memorable is "Someone to Light Up My Life," which most Americans first heard on Sarah Vaughan's legendary Brazilian album. Here Stritch captures the simple sensitivity and all the yearning poignancy the composer had in mind when he first penned it. Sergio Mendez's "So Many Stars" takes you on an indolent, dreamy, and gentle journey...[Stritch's] phrasings and delicate nuances are so insightful that the album becomes a powerful musical statement with many subtle, yet potent, moments." -- John Hoglund, Backstage. The CD and all things Billy Stritch are at www.billystritch.com.

BILLY STRITCH'S WATERS OF MARCH: THE BRAZILIAN ALBUM: "...Stritch imaginatively captures the magic of the bossa nova rhythm on some terrific cuts, including three by Brazilian music icon Antonio Carlos Jobim.
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
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.
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.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? After two years touring with the incomparable Liza Minnelli, we're bringing the show to Broadway!  Liza's At The Palace open at The Palace Theatre on December 3, and will run for 4 weeks! Check out the website for all the details. The first act is pure Liza at the top of her form, and the second act will celebrate the late, extremely great Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers' historic nightclub act that took the world by storm in the late 40's.  Cortés Alexander, Johnny Rodgers, Tiger Martina and I have worked 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!
DECEMBER 3 - 14 NEW YORK, NY THE PALACE THEATRE
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