MIRANDA AND CHITA IN ONE WEEK? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is thrilled and mildly nervous to present the return of YouTube sensation MIRANDA SINGS in concert on Monday, October 12 at 7pm. The event will be part of the award-winning concert series, Broadway at Birdland. This appearance is by popular demand, following last month’s sold-out concert debut. Broadway superstars Shoshana Bean and Seth Rudetsky will be forced to undergo Miranda’s vocal and artistic scrutiny with one of the much-discussed and sought-after voice lessons. You will not want to miss this lipstick-wearing, epileptic-eyebrowed, crooked-smiling beauty as she performs her magic at Birdland for one night only!

Miranda Sings is an internet character created by California-based theatre student Colleen Ballinger, and proliferated via YouTube. The character is a satire of increasingly common YouTube videos featuring mediocre or even bad singers who film themselves singing as a form of self-promotion. Miranda is supposedly from Tacoma, Washington, sings comically off-key, and, when confronted by viewers who take the videos seriously, uses the catchphrase "Haters back off!" The characterization includes facial tics, unusually active eyebrows and a crooked smile. She also wears lipstick drawn beyond all natural borders and often dances stiffly to the music she is performing. Ms. Ballinger's character has enjoyed widespread popularity, particularly among musical theatre fans, and has recently appeared as Miranda Sings at live club and theater venues in New York (The Minskoff Theatre, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party), Los Angeles and London (Ambassador Theatre).

MIRANDA SINGS

WHEN: Monday, October 12 at 7:00 pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $25 General Admission, $35 Premium, $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

THEN...

Birdland is especially proud to announce the exclusive one-week engagement (October 14 – 17) of Chita Rivera: And Now I Swing, the Broadway superstar’s second appearance in the legendary New York jazz venue. These six shows will celebrate Ms. Rivera’s newest solo release, And Now I Swing (Yellow Sound), a collection of songs that reflect her classic theater roots, along with her love for the Great American standards, rearranged and recorded by some of New York’s finest jazz musicians.

In this intimate evening of music, Rivera will sing from some of her most celebrated Broadway performances, including numbers from West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Chicago and The Rink, as well as selections from the new recording. The six-piece band will include Michael Croiter, Andy Ezrin, Jim Donica, Entcho Todorov, Charlie Pillow and Trevor Nuemann.

Universally regarded as an American national treasure, Chita Rivera is Broadway’s most accomplished and versatile dancer/actress/singer. She recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Obama, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. Chita has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and has received seven Tony nominations. Broadway history was made when Chitas’s electric perormance as Anita in the 1957 premier of Broadway’s West Side Story brought her international stardom. Chita is also well known for her starring roles in the original Broadway productions of Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bye Bye Birdie, as well as the Tony Award-winning revival of Nine, starring Antonio Banderas. Most recently, she appeared in the Broadway and touring productions of Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, a musical celebrating her spectacular life in the theater.

CHITA RIVERA: And Now I Swing

WHEN: Wednesday-Thursday, October 14-15 @ 8:30pm only;
Friday-Saturday, October 16-17 @ 8:30 & 11pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $40 general; $50 premium; $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

MAUREEN TAYLOR BRINGS HER NEW SHOW TO THE METROPOLITAN ROOM: TAYLOR MADE: BOB MERRILL. From “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window” to “People”, Bob Merrill’s vast amount of work spans the simple to the sublime. Bob Merrill celebrated the “ordinary” man. TAYLOR MADE celebrates the “extraordinary” BOB MERRILL! Directed by MAC Award winner Peter Napolitano, with musical direction by Matt Castle – accompanied by Joe Brent on guitar and mandolin. OCT 25,26 & NOV 8,9. 2 SUNDAYS @4PM, 2 MONDAYS @7PM. Where: Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd St.) Reservations: 212.206.0440. Cover: $20 plus 2 drink minimum. ($15 MAC, Cabaret Hotline, AEA, AFTRA, SAG) Click: www.MaureenTaylorNYC.com

GET A SPECIAL OFFER TO FINIAN'S RAINBOW, New York City Center Encores! Sold-out Smash Hit is Coming to Broadway! Tony Award® winner Jim Norton (The Seafarer) stars as the loveable Finian, with Kate Baldwin (Wonderful Town) as his plucky daughter Sharon, Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu) as Woody, the boy who falls under her spell and Christopher Fitzgerald (Young Frankenstein) as Og the leprechaun. To learn more, please click: http://www.FiniansOnBroadway.com/castparty.html. Use code FRBOW75 at Broadwayoffers.com to get tickets as for as little as $55! October 8th through October 28th pay just $55 for all shows; October 30 through December 20 get $59 tickets (Tues-Fri) and $75 tickets (Sat & Sun). Click here to purchase your tickets now or call Telecharge at 212-947-8844

LOVE MUSICALS? DON'T MISS THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL! Hailed by Time Out as the "Sundance for musical theater," NYMF hits town September 28 - October 18 with more than 30 hot new musicals. NYMF is where Altar Boyz, [title of show] and Next to Normal all got their start so get your tickets today to catch the hits of tomorrow! For more info visit www.nymf.org. Also be sure to catch exclusive previews of NYMF shows at Cast Party, every week during the festival!

HERE'S THE NEWEST, FRESHEST VERSION OF THE CAST PARTY T-SHIRT (modeled here by our friend Kyle Michael Kuhlman)! Kids, it's 100% cotton (yes!) in snowy white, with a Minnelli red ringer, and accompanying black and red logo announcing your love for a certain Monday night soiree! We have them in S, M, and L! Get 'em while they're HOT! $20

IN 1987 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, A SMALL TOWN GIRL MET A BIG CITY ROCKER and in LA’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. Coming to Broadway March 17, 2009 is ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

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.

CALIFORNIA NATIVE CORTÉS ALEXANDER HAS JUST RELEASED HIS DEBUT SOLO CD, SWELL. It's an eclectic mix of musical styles including pop, jazz, electronica and even a touch of country. Broadwayworld.com has called SWELL “...stunning, spectacular, new, and edgy. 5 out of 5 stars!” Cortés is the recipient of 2 MAC awards and a Backstage Bistro award for his work with the vocal group The Tonics. He spent the last two years touring the world singing and dancing with Liza Minnelli, culminating on Broadway in the Tony award winning extravaganza, “Liza's At the Palace.” SWELL is available on itunes & at CDbaby.com. For more, visit www.cortesalexander.com

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 at The Palace Theater, online and in stores.

SQUIGS DRAWS THE STARS. Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is quickly becoming known far and wide for capturing show biz folk in pen and ink. 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 onstage. Squigs is currently posting a fresh weekly sketch or two celebrating the American theatre on his Facebook page, 'Squigs Knows His Lines.' Drop by and become a fan. You can also visit Squigs' website for a look at his 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. Visit Squigs on Facebook, too!

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