Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to welcome singer/songwriter KATIE THOMPSON to the Broadway at Birdland series on Monday, February 16 at 7pm.

Katie Thompson will be making her Birdland debut, and will be joined by some of today's brightest Broadway stars singing her songs and praises, including Shoshana Bean, Lisa Brescia, Carly Jibson, Carrie Maonlakos, Ann Harada, Molly Pop, Natalie Weiss, Julie Reiber and Kate Shindle. Katie recently returned from the Los Angeles's sold-out run of her first musical R.R.R.E.D., which was Pick of the Week in Backstage Magazine, LA Weekly, Stage Scene LA, and Burbank Leader. Thompson and a bevy of Broadway stars will perform songs from the debut CD “What I've Done Right,” as well as songs from “KT: Live” and “R.R.R.E.D.” Backstage West said Thompson has "knockout vocal calisthenics, and segues from Merman to Buckley to Tori Amos with beautifully constructed songs.” The Glendale News called Thompson “gloriously beautiful and indisputably talented.”

As an actress/singer she has been featured on Michael Mclean's “The Forgotten Carols,” “The Ark,” and Scott Alan's “Dreaming Wide Awake.” Katie has performed in NYC in “Broadway's Acoustic Soul,” “Broadway Loves Country,” and “Broadway Idol” -where she made the Top 3. Katie has been involved in the workshop of several new musicals including: Anything at the Tisch, Scott Alan's Piece, Duncan Sheik's The Lighthouse Project, and Giant, a new musical by Michael John LaCiusia and Sybille Pearson.

KATIE THOMPSON

WHEN: Monday, February 16, 2009, 7pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
COVER CHARGE: $25 General Admission / $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

UPCOMING SHOWS:  Jason Danieley (February 23), The Broadway Boys (March 2), John Bucchino & Friends (March 9), Christine Pedi (March 16), Kate Shindle & John McDaniel (March 23)

STILL NEED VALENTINE'S DAY PLANS?  Grab your gal, or pal, and come on down to feel the good, good, good vibrations at ‘Nab-A-Date!’ Join Lee Cavellier, Cedric Jones & Cast at 8pm at The Reprise Room for a fast paced musical spoof of all those ‘dating games’ out there, accompanied by dinner and drinks. Our bachelorettes will parade, persuade and serenade in hopes of harpooning the heart of our hunk.  Then stick around and win some great take-home prizes from our Valentine’s Day raffle! See the prize list, cast, and more info at www.Nab-A-Date.com or visit http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=NAB for Tickets now!

JAMIE DEROY & FRIENDS CELEBRATE THE ACADEMY AWARDS! A special Academy Awards edition of Jamie deRoy & Friends, the MAC Award-winning variety show, will be presented Feb. 16 at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan (34 West 22nd Street). The evening will feature Oscar-winning songs. Among those scheduled to lend their talents to the 7 PM performance are film critic and columnist Rex Reed, Jacques Brel star Gay Marshall, Company and Cabaret actress Leenya Rideout, comedian Steven Scott and Nightlife Award winner Daryl Glenn. Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz will be the evening's special guest. Barry Kleinbort will direct the concert with Lanny Meyers as musical director. There is a $25 cover charge and a two-drink minimum; call (212) 206-0440 for reservations. And...don't miss "Jamie deRoy & friends" on MNN, every other Tuesday at 4:00 PM & Time Warner, Channel 67 and RCN, Channel 85

SCOTT SIEGEL'S BROADWAY JUKEBOX - AT BIRDLAND. NEW STARS! NEW SONGS! EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT! ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 6:30 PM: LISA HOWARD (Putnam County's 25th Annual Spelling Bee - pictured at right), JACK NOSEWORTHY (Sweet Smell of Success), TONY YAZBECK (Gypsy) TO STAR! Musical Director: Cathy Venable , Director: Scott Coulter. Hosted by Scott Siegel. After a triumphant launch last week with a show that received a standing ovation, Scott Siegel's BROADWAY JUKEBOX continues as planned with a different cast and an entirely different slate of Broadway show tunes. The audience at Birdland will once again choose the songs that the cast will sing. And what a cast! They'll sing at least a dozen classic Broadway songs that the audience will pick. [Please note that the series will not perform on Oscar night, February 22, but will resume on Sunday, March 1st]. Keep up to date - make friends with Scott on Facebook, or tell us you're coming!!

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.

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.

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 .

DAVID BUDWAY (CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA) IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE PIANISTS ON TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SCENE. He is deeply rooted in Classical, Jazz and Rock and Roll Music. In 1992, David made his classical debut as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. His recording credits include Hubert Laws, Branford Marsalis, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Clark Terry, Michael Brecker, Christiane Noll and others. David has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Liza Minnelli, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Ravi Coltrane, Jimmy Heath, Mark Murphy, Joe Pass, Roger Humphries, Art Farmer, Regina Carter, Dave Liebman and The Mingus Big Band. David composed music to the motion pictures “Lift”, and “Giant Steps”, and won two prizes in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition. Look for David's soon to be released Jazz CD “Strike Up the Bud”. Click: DavidBudway.com, or www.myspace.com/davidbudway.

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.

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!

LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...THE 2-CD SET! Two years of touring with the incomparable Liza Minnelli resulted in a triumphant run of Liza's At The Palace at The Palace Theatre. Check out the website for beautiful video footage, photos, and the brand-new 2-CD set of this unforgettable show. The first act is pure Liza at the top of her form, and the second act celebrates 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 worked hard to approximate the blend and unique sound that Bob, Dick, Don and Andy Williams brought to Kay's ingenius vocal arrangements. With old pal Billy Stritch at the piano, this project was an absolute dream come true! Hurry to: LizasAtThePalace.com for an exclusive preview of the 2-CD set available now at The Palace Theatere and online and in stores February 3, 2009!

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

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.

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